What if one of the most meaningful investments we could make in Kirkland this summer was simply stepping outside and getting to know our neighbors?
On the first Tuesday in August, neighborhoods across Kirkland will join communities nationwide in celebrating National Night Out, an annual event that promotes neighborhood connection, community safety, and positive relationships between residents and first responders.
In Kirkland, the event is coordinated by the Kirkland Police Department, and neighbors are encouraged to gather for block parties, barbecues, potlucks, ice cream socials, sidewalk socials, and other simple community gatherings.
At the Kirkland Community Foundation, we believe National Night Out is about more than one evening. It is about belonging.
Belonging doesn’t happen by accident. It grows through small moments of connection that help transform neighbors into community.
Strong communities are built through relationships. They are built when neighbors know each other’s names, when children have safe places to play, when newcomers feel welcome, and when people feel connected to the place they call home.
Research consistently shows that communities with strong social connections are more resilient during emergencies, more supportive during times of need, and better equipped to address challenges together. When people feel they belong, communities thrive.
Sometimes the most powerful community investment is not complicated. It is a folding chair on the sidewalk. A shared meal. A tray of popsicles. A conversation across a driveway.
National Night Out began as a way to strengthen police-community partnerships and encourage neighborhood engagement. Today, it remains a powerful reminder that safer, healthier communities start with relationships.
Throughout Kirkland, neighbors gather to meet one another, spend time together, and connect with local first responders.
Police officers, firefighters, corrections officers, and City leaders often visit neighborhood events throughout the evening, helping strengthen the relationships that make communities safer and more connected.
You do not need to host a large event to make a difference.
A few lawn chairs. A shared snack. An invitation to neighbors you have been meaning to meet.
These simple moments create opportunities for conversation, trust, and connection. They help neighbors look out for one another, share information, support local families, and build a greater sense of belonging.
Community is not built all at once. It is built one relationship at a time.
Host A National Night Out Event in your Neighborhood: Sign up here!
To encourage neighborhood connection, the Kirkland Community Foundation is offering a limited number of $50 Sidewalk Connections Grants to support National Night Out gatherings across Kirkland.
These small grants are designed to remove barriers and make it easier for neighbors to come together.
Funds may be used for:
Grants are available as either:
The goal is simple: help more neighbors connect.
Apply for a Sidewalk Grant here!
At the Kirkland Community Foundation, we believe philanthropy is about more than charitable giving. It is about investing in the people, places, and relationships that make Kirkland a vibrant community.
This August, we invite you to make a small investment in belonging.
Step outside. Invite a neighbor. Share something simple. Meet local first responders. Build community one conversation at a time.
Because a connected neighborhood is more than a collection of houses.
It is a community.
Interested in a Sidewalk Connections Grant? Contact the Kirkland Community Foundation to learn more about available funding and how to participate in National Night Out.
Together, we can build a Kirkland where everyone feels welcome, valued, and connected.
Host A National Night Out Event in your Neighborhood: Sign up here!
The Foundation is also proud to support other initiatives that help strengthen connections throughout our community. This year, we are partnering with the Kirkland Police Department on efforts that support officer wellness, recognizing that a healthy and resilient department benefits the entire community. Find out more here.
We are also supporting the KPD Cadet Car Show in September, a family-friendly event that brings residents together while helping develop future community leaders through the Cadet Program. While these projects may look different, they share a common purpose: creating opportunities for connection, trust, and belonging in Kirkland.
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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