Harnessing the Power of Community

Kirkland has an inspired history of pioneers who settled on the shores of Lake Washington to take advantage of nature’s bounty. Today, a thriving network of urban hubs in Kirkland can be found juxtaposed alongside established family neighborhoods, new construction, major company sites and a constellation of parks and greenspace. In the interest of progress, how does a city like Kirkland maintain the delicate balance of a great place to live, work and play?

Community foundations are a great solution to this challenge. US cities with community foundations have a proven track record of building strong philanthropic capacity for their communities. Bainbridge Island and Jackson Hole are two that model the impactful partnership that marries donors with community needs and priorities,  resulting in high-impact outcomes.

With a set of Founders drawn from passionate community members, local businesses, and the City of Kirkland, KCF is positioned to have that sort of impact right here at home. Since our founding in 2014, our goal was to be the voice for the community, enabling its people to raise funds for projects that have clear community support and contribute to their overall well-being. 

KCF offers the community many ways to engage in our philanthropic culture. Indeed, our mission is powered by community giving. This includes direct donations to our general fund (which can be matched by many corporations), supporting the annual Ignite Kirkland community grants, establishing a donor-advised fund, giving to a specific project, donating to an Area of Impact fund, or establishing a legacy through planned giving.

Beginning With Parks

Residents and visitors alike are drawn to Kirkland's beautiful park system, which line Lake Washington and dot the city with green spaces. City leaders have done an extraordinary job creating parks to enhance life for all. This all being said, the people in Kirkland are creative and passionate, and they have ideas for things that could be done in our parks to make them even better. To harness and direct this energy, the Kirkland Parks Foundation was started in 2014.  

In its first five years, the Foundation raised over $443,000 for park projects. During this time, it became clear that Kirklanders’ interests extended beyond park enhancements to broader community initiatives. In 2020, recognizing the community’s expanding needs, KCF rebranded and broadened its mission to become the Kirkland Parks & Community Foundation.

A New Chapter

With an expanded mission, KCF can now support a variety of causes important to Kirkland’s residents. While park projects remain a focus, KCF has taken on other issues, like homelessness and education. Its first major project was raising funds for a counseling center at The Sophia Way, a shelter for women and children. When the COVID-19 pandemic began, KCF acted quickly to provide support for homeless families and hungry schoolkids.

This expanded role also enables KCF to partner with the City of Kirkland in securing local, state, and federal grants, which often require a 501(c)(3) organization. This partnership increases Kirkland’s access to funding for critical projects as the city continues to grow.

KCF’s new scope also appeals to corporations with local offices but headquarters elsewhere. These companies can more effectively invest in the community through KCF, which can consolidate donations and distribute them according to corporate directives. This approach increases local philanthropic funding while simplifying corporate giving efforts.

Lastly, KCF provides Kirkland residents with a local option for their charitable contributions. Previously, many Eastside residents donated to Seattle-based organizations due to the lack of a local foundation. Now, KCF allows them to contribute directly to their own community. Through donor-advised funds, residents can support any qualified charity while simultaneously investing in Kirkland’s well-being.

All donations to KCF are tax-deductible, and the organization operates independently, collaborating with the Kirkland Parks and Human Services Department and the City of Kirkland while maintaining its autonomy. Through KCF, Kirkland has a powerful platform to continue its legacy as a community that values and invests in its people, parks, and future.