Welcome to the 2025 Ignite Kirkland Grant Application

A program of the Kirkland Community Foundation

We’re excited to invite you to apply for the second year of Ignite Kirkland, a trust-based, community-powered grant program from the Kirkland Community Foundation (KCF).

Ignite Kirkland is designed to raise awareness of the needs in our community and to introduce generous, civic-minded people to local causes they care about—so they can make an impact. It’s more than a grant; it’s a platform for connection, storytelling, and shared investment in a stronger, more resilient Kirkland. APPLY HERE.

Who Can Apply

This opportunity is open to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that serve people who live, work, or play in Kirkland.

How It Works

Approved projects will be featured in the Ignite Kirkland online public grant catalog, promoted widely during a two-week giving campaign. Community members will be invited to learn about your work and contribute directly to the projects that move them.

As part of this initiative:

  • Each selected project will participate in a crowdsourced fundraising campaign, hosted in a shared online catalog giving donors a comprehensive view to the issues that our Kirkland Community is facing.
  • Participating organizations are expected to promote their project and the overall Ignite Kirkland campaign to their networks and audiences
  • Grant funds from KCF will be allocated to incentivize public giving and to fill the needs gaps following the campaign.  

Matching funds—made possible in part by generous support from Amazon and other local businesses, and caring individuals—will be available during portions of the public campaign, encouraging donors to amplify their impact.

Key Dates & Details

  • One application per organization
  • Grant requests: $1,000 – $5,000
  • Applications due: 7pm PST, September 15, 2025
  • Public Campaign: November 10 - 21, 2025
  • Grant Announcements: Week of December 8, 2025

Why Apply?

  • A simple, trust-based application and light-touch reporting process that respects your time
  • Increased visibility for your organization through a widely promoted, community-wide campaign
  • A chance to highlight the issues your organization is addressing and connect with new supporters who care about your cause
  • An opportunity to raise additional funds through public donations and matching incentives, including contributions from KCF and generous support from Amazon

Ignite Kirkland is a partnership—between the Foundation, local nonprofits, and the community we all serve. If you have questions, please reach out to our Grants Team.

Let’s ignite something meaningful—together.

Apply here

Neighbors helping Neighbors

Our 2024 Ignite Kirkland community grant program is now closed. Numerous local and regional nonprofit organizations sought funding for 29 projects to benefit Kirkland. We'll be announcing the results of the campaign soon and telling the stories of the organizations right here. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay in-the-know.

The 2025 Ignite Kirkland community grant catalog is live. See all the nonprofit projects, and support your favorites!

BROWSE COMMUNITY PROJECTS
2024 Funding
1%

These Ignite Kirkland projects cover a wide range of vital community services, from enhancing public spaces and supporting youth programs to ensuring our seniors stay engaged and connected. Some examples of recent grants include:

  • Youth Sports Equipment – helping young athletes get the gear they need to participate in team sports.
    Community Garden Expansion – providing resources to expand urban gardening spaces that bring our neighbors together.
  • Arts and Culture Programs for Everyone – enriching the lives of our residents with creative outlets and social engagement through a variety of different performing art opportunities
  • Safety & Wellness Initiatives - creating opportunities for skills for women, youth, social service providers and public safety officers.
  • And more…

We need your help! With so much need, your support is crucial in making these projects a reality. Each grant, ranging from $1,000 to $5,000, can transform lives and strengthen our community.

Through December 3 (Giving Tuesday), requests will be showcased for a with the hopes of gaining public support. This is a unique opportunity for you to explore and support a variety of organizations and the impactful work they do right here in Kirkland. 100% of your donation will go directly to support the projects you choose. Together, we can harness the power of community to drive meaningful change.

Thanks to the generous support of Amazon and other generous donors, KCF will contribute funds at the end of the campaign to fill the gaps and top off requests as funds are available.

Join us in this exciting journey to uplift nonprofits that serve the Kirkland community and make a lasting difference. Together, we can ignite a brighter future for Kirkland!

Thank you for your support!

Join our mailing list to stay informed about this campaign.

Amazon

Community Grant Sponsor

Amazon is generously continuing as a sponsor of Ignite Kirkland this year. We're grateful for the company's support of this initiative and all the participating nonprofit organizations.

Frequently asked questions

Applications were accepted from organizations who met the following requirements:

  • Current 501(c) (3) nonprofit status from the Internal Revenue Service, or fiscal sponsorship from a qualified nonprofit
  • Serve Kirkland residents and be located in Washington State
  • Agree to spend granted funds by December 31, 2026
  • Agree to participate in KPCF’s public grant catalog and publicity of the program via email, social media, and other marketing channels

All approved grant request can be funded in a couple of ways:

  1. Each request will be featured on KCF’s public grant catalog. This is a web page devoted to Ignite Kirkland which will be extensively publicized in order to attract donations from the community. Community members will have the opportunity to explore and donate to multiple organizations. This is a fantastic opportunity for the nonprofit organizations serving Kirkland to boost awareness of their work, and for supporters to discover and contribute to worthy projects.
  2. KCF will also contribute to grant requests from its Ignite Kirkland fund, which has been generously supported by Amazon.

Note that all grant requests may not be fully funded; this will depend on public support and other factors.

  • Aug 19 - Sep 15 Grant proposals accepted
  • Nov 10 - 21 Grant catalog is public

  • Project mission: is the request clear, targeted and concise, as well as impactful?
  • Ability to succeed: do you have the staff and resources adequate to bring this project to completion successfully
  • Benefit to Kirkland: how will this project, if funded, enhance life in Kirkland?

Please reach out to us with your question!

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Kirkland WA 98033

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Spark Something Good - with the Kirkland Community Foundation

At the Kirkland Community Foundation, we serve as conveners, catalysts, and collaborators - and we know that new ideas need fuel to catch spark. That’s why we’ve created this space to hear from you.

Whether you’re ready to move forward with a community idea that shows the love in Kirkland, are seeking a small Spark Grant to bring something to life, or feel inspired to support a future project - you’re in the right place.

Let us know how you'd like to get involved, and someone from our team will follow up soon. Together, we can spark something good.
Why are you filling out this form? Check as many as apply.*

Community Project Letter of Interest

Kirkland Community Foundation has long served as the hub for successful projects inititated by members of our community, including the Save Our Salmon mural and the Waverly Beach Picnic Shelter. Have an idea for a project? Please complete this form as an initial step in the process, and we'll be in touch!

The story behind your idea —

Share what inspired you and what you hope to accomplish. Please include:

  • A description of your project and why it’s important
  • Who will benefit and how it will make a difference
  • Any partners, volunteers, or organizations involved
  • How this project aligns with KCF’s mission and areas of impact
  • Whether there are any time-sensitive elements
  • Let us know what type of support you’re seeking: visibility, fundraising assistance, strategic guidance, or fiscal sponsorship. If requesting fundraising or fiscal sponsorship, please include an estimated budget or cost of the project.

    Workshop Registration

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    Thank you for your interest in serving on our board of directors.

    We are seeking passionate and dedicated individuals who share a strong commitment to the Kirkland community to join our board of directors. Board members play a vital role in shaping the organization's direction and ensuring its long-term success. Please complete the following form to express your interest in serving on our board. We are dedicated to the commitment that our board should reflect the diversity of our community.

    Have you served on the board of a nonprofit organization before?*

    Please reach out to us with any inquiries or comments. We'd love to hear from you.