Eight Kirkland neighbors gathered for the first meeting of the Kirkland Charitable Collective, a new way to learn, connect, and give locally through the Kirkland Community Foundation.

The idea is simple: bring together people who care about Kirkland, introduce them to local nonprofits doing meaningful work, and make a collective decision about where to direct funding. No PowerPoint. No video. Just three nonprofits, five-minute presentations, good old-fashioned handouts, thoughtful questions, and a shared commitment to strengthening our community.

The First Gathering

At the first gathering, members heard from Friends of Youth, Essentials First, and New Bethlehem. Each organization shared a local need, the people they serve, and how flexible community support can make a difference.

After hearing from all three organizations, the group selected Friends of Youth to receive the top allocation of more than $4,000. Essentials First and New Bethlehem will each receive $500 participation grants in recognition of their time, work, and the important services they provide in our community.

The Impact

Friends of Youth plans to use the funding to support food services for young people experiencing homelessness or crisis. Their team shared that, because of the way they combine purchased food with donated food, they can provide three meals per young person per dayfor about $8.50.

That means this gift can help provide a full day of meals for hundreds of young people.

Friends of Youth has served young people and families in our region for 75 years.  They operate the only youth and young adult overnight emergency shelters on the Eastside. In Kirkland, their Willows Youth Services Center provides drop-in services, overnight shelter, meals, case management, counseling, crisis support, and other resources that help young people move from crisis toward stability.

As Friends of Youth shared, their vision is that all youth have every opportunity to succeed. For young people experiencing homelessness or crisis, a meal, a safe place to stay, and a caring adult can be the beginning of stability and hope.

While Friends of Youth received the top allocation, the evening was really about the power of the Collective model.

Thank you Nonprofit Presenters

Members had the chance to hear from three impactful local nonprofits.   Each one is working on a different, but connected part of community wellbeing. Essentials First shared its work providing culturally responsive food, hygiene supplies, and low-barrier support for families and individuals. New Bethlehem shared its role in helping families experiencing homelessness find safety, stability, and connection to longer-term resources. Together, the presentations helped members see how local giving can support urgent needs while also building a deeper understanding of the nonprofit landscape in Kirkland.

Why Giving Circles Matter

For the Kirkland Community Foundation, this is exactly why giving circles matter. They create a space where donors can learn directly from nonprofits, ask questions, build relationships, and make giving decisions together. The result is more than a grant. It is connection, shared learning, and a stronger local network of people who care.

The Kirkland Charitable Collective is designed for people who want to give locally but may not yet know where to begin. It is also for people who want to better understand the nonprofits serving our community and make giving feel more personal, informed, and connected.

We are grateful to the eight participants who joined us for this first gathering and to Friends of Youth, Essentials First, and New Bethlehem for sharing their work with such honesty and care.

This is a new way to learn, connect, and give locally. And it is one more way we are building a Kirkland where shared giving strengthens our community.

To learn more about giving circles, or to explore participating in or hosting one, visit : https://kirklandcommunity.org/kirkland-charitable-collective/

It is a great group of people, and we would love to help more neighbors find their charitable connection.

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.