Ignite Kirkland is the Kirkland Community Foundation’s signature local giving campaign. It makes it easy for residents to discover and support the nonprofits and projects serving Kirkland.
Through Ignite Kirkland, donors can give directly to causes they care about while learning about organizations they may not have known were working in their own community. The projects represent many parts of community life, including youth programs, arts and culture, mental health, education, food access, housing, parks, and belonging.
Over the past two years, Ignite Kirkland has grown into much more than a fundraising campaign. It has become a way for donors, businesses, nonprofit leaders, board members, students, and community partners to come together around a shared commitment to Kirkland.
In 2025, Ignite Kirkland supported 36 local nonprofit projects and provided more than $84,000 in funding.
That success created momentum for 2026.
More community members participated, donor contributions increased significantly, and new partners joined the effort. A total of 118 donors gave during the 2026 campaign, helping the Foundation provide nearly $103,000 to 28 participating projects.
Together, the two campaigns have provided more than $187,000 to local nonprofits and community projects.
But the growth of Ignite Kirkland is about more than dollars.
It is reflected in the number of people discovering a new nonprofit, sharing a project with a friend, attending an event, participating in the Youth Task Force, sponsoring a Boost Day, or making their first local charitable gift.
“The growth of Ignite Kirkland shows what can happen when we make it easy for people to participate in local philanthropy. More donors are getting involved, more partnerships are forming, and more resources are reaching the organizations strengthening our community every day.”
– Carmin Dalziel, Executive Director
The 2026 campaign included several new opportunities to deepen community involvement.
Amazon’s continued partnership as Ignite Kirkland’s lead sponsor was essential to the campaign’s growth and success. Its generous investment helped individual donations go further through Boost Days and provided meaningful support to participating nonprofit projects.
We are deeply grateful to Amazon for believing in Ignite Kirkland and helping more residents discover and invest in the organizations serving their community.
The Youth Task Force also returned, giving 13 local students an opportunity to learn about community needs and direct funding to projects serving their neighbors. You can read more about their experience in our Youth Task Force feature.
The Foundation also hosted its first Ignite Kirkland nonprofit mixer at Moss Bay Hall. Nonprofit leaders, donors, board members, and community champions gathered to connect, learn about one another’s work, and celebrate their shared commitment to Kirkland.
Together, these additions helped Ignite Kirkland become a more connected and collaborative community experience, not only a week of online giving.
For participating nonprofits, Ignite Kirkland provides more than a grant.
Organizations gain visibility, build relationships with new donors, meet other nonprofit leaders, and become part of a broader network of people working to strengthen Kirkland.
In 2026, every participating project received at least $1,000, and 15 projects reached their full campaign goals. Those funds are now helping organizations expand programs, reach more residents, strengthen community spaces, and bring new ideas to life.
The Foundation looks forward to sharing stories from these projects as their work continues.
The idea behind Ignite Kirkland is simple: make local giving easy, visible, and meaningful.
Donors choose the projects that matter most to them. Businesses and community partners help extend the reach of those gifts. The Foundation brings everyone together and ensures that local generosity becomes local impact.
The growth of Ignite Kirkland shows that people want to support their community. Sometimes they simply need an invitation, an easy way to participate, and a trusted place to begin.
When Kirkland gives together, more people become involved, more organizations receive support, and the impact reaches across the entire community.
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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