Giving Tuesday in Kirkland is more than a national movement. It is a local expression of generosity led by the Kirkland Community Foundation. Each year it inspires neighbors to support the nonprofits and causes that strengthen our city. As the holiday season begins, Giving Tuesday invites all of us to give where we live and help build a healthier, more connected Kirkland.

Here in our community, the Kirkland Community Foundation plays a unique role. We connect neighbors with local nonprofits. We help fuel projects that support youth, families, seniors, animals, and the environment.

Because the Foundation is here, individual gifts become collective momentum. We elevate the good work happening across every issue area and use the Catalyst Fund to strengthen the entire network that supports Kirkland’s families, youth, seniors, and shared places.”  – Carmin Dalziel, Executive Director

This blog explores what Giving Tuesday means in Kirkland, why local giving matters, and how you can be part of the movement.

What Is the Kirkland Community Foundation?

The Kirkland Community Foundation is more than a nonprofit hub. It is a catalyst for local generosity.

Our mission is to ignite the power of giving by connecting people, ideas, and resources to build a healthy, vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable Kirkland.

Here is how we serve our community:

• Offering Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs): Simple, tax‑efficient tools that allow donors to support their favorite causes.
• Spotlighting Areas of Impact Funds: Targeted funds addressing local priorities like parks & environment, arts & culture, health & housing and more.
• Community Projects: Partnerships with local organizations to bring initiatives to life — like our Ignite campaign, that help with efforts from revitalizing parks to expanding arts and culture programs across the city.

In short, we bridge generous neighbors with meaningful community needs.

Why Giving Tuesday Matters in Kirkland

Giving Tuesday is often called the start of the giving season. But here in Kirkland, the season started early with Ignite Kirkland 2025.

Giving Tuesday gives us a moment to focus. It reminds us to rally around the organization that helps make giving local easy, transparent, and impactful.

This year’s Ignite campaign revealed something important: people want to help their community. They just didn’t realize how much impact they could have close to home. Through the Catalyst Fund, we lift up that local generosity and direct it to the places in Kirkland where it matters most.” – Carmin Dalziel – Executive Director

Ignite helps donors see exactly where their gifts go. They can watch their generosity come to life. Giving Tuesday simply amplifies this work by adding energy, visibility, and excitement.

It is not just about writing a check. It is about joining a movement that says, “We care about our neighbors, and we are willing to invest in their well-being.”

Local Impact: Stories That Inspire

When you give to the Kirkland Community Foundation, the impact stays close to home. It becomes visible in daily life.

Here are just a few ways your generosity shows up:

• Feeding Families Keeping local food banks stocked and ready.
• Feeding Neighbors Supporting food initiatives that help families find food when they need it.
• Empowering Youth Funding activities for youth to build confidence and be a part of a team.
• Caring for Animals Helping older adults keep their beloved companions at home.
• Protecting the Environment Preserving parks, trails, and green spaces for generations to come.

Every gift sparks a ripple of hope and opportunity.

Kirkland in a Global Movement

Giving Tuesday is global, but its power is local. Kirkland’s participation connects our city to a worldwide network of generosity.

Ignite 2025 showed how deeply our community cares. Local families, iconic institutions, and major employers all stepped up. Together, they proved that Kirkland is a city that gives.

Imagine being known nationally as a model of generosity. We can get there. And we can do it together.

How You Can Get Involved

Giving Tuesday is for everyone. Every gift matters.

Donate

Visit KirklandCommunity.org to explore projects and make a gift.

Volunteer

Give your time to a nonprofit doing work you believe in.

Advocate

Share a story. Forward a link. Inspire someone else to give.

Celebrate

Join community events that highlight generosity and connection.

Whether you give $10, volunteer an hour, or share a post, you are part of the movement.

What Generosity Looks Like Here

Generosity in Kirkland shows up in small moments that make a big difference.

• A family at New Bethlehem settling into stable housing.
• Pantry shelves restocked before a weekend rush.
• A pollinator garden taking root because neighbors wanted a greener community.
• A grandmother able to keep her beloved cat as they age together.
• Students finding their first “team” through a Book Challenge group.

These moments happen because the Foundation is here. We connect people, coordinate support, and respond where care is needed most.

Your support strengthens the entire network behind these outcomes.

Choose Kirkland This Giving Tuesday

If you are choosing where to give on December 2, choose the community you call home.

Choose the Kirkland Community Foundation.
Give local. Build community.
Let’s keep Kirkland thriving, together.

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.