Thriving Communities Grants Community-Based Approach

Thriving Communities Grants Community-Based Approach

In line with our equity commitment, Philanthropy Northwest aims to streamline the application process and make it easier to request funding.

Partners to Support You

Your program officer is here to help. If you have questions or would like to discuss your project plans, please schedule an appointment or reach out directly to your program officer:

For Alaska or Oregon, contact Jacquie Braden.

Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Time Zone: Alaska
Phone: 907-318-2923

jbraden@philanthropynw.org

For Idaho or Washington, contact Jason Pretty Boy.

Location: Boise, Idaho
Time Zone: Mountain
Phone: 206-558-5136

Jason Pretty Boy headshot

jprettyboy@philanthropynw.org

For tribes in any area, contact Melissa Koepp.

Location: Rainier, Washington
Time Zone: Pacific
Phone: 206-558-5367

Melissa Koepp headshot

mkoepp@philanthropynw.org

In addition, we are partnering with technical assistance providers, foundations, and organizations to support community leaders in developing your projects and completing your applications. 

Alaska Idaho

Alaska Conservation Foundation

Denali Commission 

Rasmuson Foundation

Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health 
Oregon Washington

Nonprofit Association of Oregon

Northwest Health Foundation 

Inatai Foundation 

The Russell Family Foundation
Tribes

Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians

Native Americans in Philanthropy

More Ways Community Is Involved

We are also engaging an advisory group and task force to help us co-design the program, and recruiting peer reviewers from and within communities to participate in the grants evaluation and decision process.

Advisory Group

Task Force

Peer Review Group

Role: Helps guide and ensure the grant strategy, approach, application, and evaluation criteria support principles of simplicity, inclusivity, and accessibility.

Membership: Includes seven philanthropic partners, our collaborative pass-through funding partners, and EPA Region 10 project officer. See list below.

Role: Develops the evaluation criteria for scoring applications, designs work plan templates, and establishes metrics for applicant project outcomes.

Membership: Includes regional environmental justice leaders, community members from Justice40 areas, and a subset of advisory group members. See list below.

Role: Scores applications using the evaluation criteria.

Membership: We are currently recruiting peer reviewers from and within communities.

Individuals cannot be part of an organization applying for a Thriving Communities grant.

Interested in Becoming a Peer Reviewer?

If you are not applying for a Thriving Communities grant, but would like to be involved, Philanthropy Northwest is looking for peer reviewers to evaluate the applications. You do not need a background in environmental issues to participate as a peer reviewer. Participants of the Peer Review Group will receive an honorarium.

Please note if you are a staff member, board member, volunteer, or a consultant with an organization or group applying for a grant, you are not eligible to serve on the Peer Review Group due to a conflict of interest.

Advisory Group Members

  • Steven Cole-Schwartz, Inatai Foundation
  • Anna Dalton, Alaska Conservation Foundation
  • Rose David, Native Americans in Philanthropy
  • Jocelyn Fenton, Denali Commission
  • Fabiola Greenawalt, The Russell Family Foundation
  • Jessa Rae Growing Thunder, Native Americans in Philanthropy
  • Becky Jones, Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians
  • Jen Matheson, Northwest Health Foundation
  • Tasha Pineda, Rasmuson Foundation
  • Amber Schultz, Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians
  • Kathleen Simpson, The Russell Family Foundation
  • Robert Thompson, Inatai Foundation
  • Martha Scott Tomlinson, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  • Kendra Witt-Doyle, Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health
  • Jeanette Ziegler, Native Americans in Philanthropy

Task Force Members

  • Susan Balbas, Na'ah Illahee Fund
  • Steven Coles, Oregon Rural Action
  • Rose David, Native Americans in Philanthropy
  • Se-ah-dom Edmo, Seeding Justice
  • Jessa Rae Growing Thunder, Native Americans in Philanthropy
  • Becky Jones, Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians
  • Beatrice Kiyaguri, ADEYEP
  • Jackie Leung, Micronesian Islander Community
  • Kristin Ostrom, Oregon Rural Action
  • Deleana Other Bull, Oregon Just Transition Alliance
  • Irene Ruiz, Idaho Organization of Resource Councils
  • Anahma Shannon, Kawerak

< Back to Thriving Communities Grants Homepage