With support from Amazon, students from across Kirkland came together to review nonprofit proposals, wrestle with hard funding decisions, and ultimately direct $4,000 in grant funding to local nonprofit projects serving our community. The experience was part civic engagement, part leadership development, and entirely inspiring.
These young people did not take the responsibility lightly.
They asked thoughtful questions. They challenged assumptions. They debated what creates meaningful impact. And perhaps most importantly, they cared deeply about making sure resources reached people who truly need them.
As one student shared during the process:
“It’s not really often where youth can give money to other organizations, so maybe causes that may not have gotten a lot of funding elsewhere.”
Another reflected on what mattered most:
“It’s less about the amount of money given and more about the significance.”
And when discussing what should guide giving decisions, one student said simply:
“How necessary the cause is.”
Honestly, I left the evening hopeful.
The Youth Task Force reviewed proposals ranging from housing stability and food access to mental health, inclusion, youth enrichment, and transportation barriers. They discussed questions many funders wrestle with every day:
At one point in the evening, students discussed what they hoped would happen after dollars were awarded.
One student said they wanted to see grants create a ripple effect across the community. Another said success meant:
“Something that impacts our lives.”
- 2026 Kirkland Youth Task Force grants $4000
These choices reflect what students said mattered most: urgent needs, meaningful impact, and support that reaches people in practical, visible ways.
The group thoughtfully weighed competing needs, advocated passionately for causes they cared about, and eventually made difficult choices together.
What struck me most was not just the outcome.
It was the leadership.
These students showed empathy. Curiosity. Critical thinking. Compassion. They listened to one another. They changed their minds when someone offered a stronger perspective. They worked toward consensus.
In a world that can sometimes underestimate young people, this room told a different story.
Many of these students joined because they wanted to make a difference in the place they call home. One applicant wrote:
“I want to be more involved in the community and make a difference in the place I have grown up in and live.”
Another shared:
“I think even small amounts of money can make a big difference in supporting programs and reaching more people.”
And perhaps my favorite reminder of all came from a student who simply said they wanted to help create:
“A kinder and even better place for everyone.”
That feels like a pretty good definition of philanthropy.
We are deeply grateful to Amazon for sponsoring this year’s Youth Task Force and making it possible for young people to direct $4,000 in real community funding. Their investment did more than support nonprofits — it helped cultivate the next generation of civic leaders and philanthropists right here in Kirkland.
At the Kirkland Community Foundation, we believe philanthropy is stronger when everyone has a seat at the table, including young people.
And after spending an evening with this group? I am more hopeful than ever about what comes next.
To our 2026 Youth Task Force: Thank you. Kirkland is better because you care.
Founded in 2014, the Kirkland Community Foundation is a local community foundation supporting nonprofits across Kirkland and the Eastside. We connect donors, nonprofits, and community priorities through grants, partnerships, and local giving that strengthen our parks, people, and shared future. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 46‑4931717), we invest in thriving nonprofits, visible community impact, and trusted local leadership.
KCF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit.
EIN 46-4931717
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