Ignite Kirkland is a community-powered, place-based giving campaign hosted by the Kirkland Community Foundation. Each year, KCF curates a digital catalog of local nonprofit projects — from youth programs and arts initiatives to park improvements and mental-health services — and invites residents to explore, learn, and give.
Every gift stays in Kirkland. Every project is vetted. Every dollar strengthens the people and places that make this community home.
The 2026 edition of Ignite Kirkland has wrapped up. Subscribe to our newsletter to be the first to know about everything Ignite-related.
Ignite Kirkland is how neighbors invest in the place we all call home. Every gift stays in Kirkland and powers visible results you can experience — from youth programs and mental-health supports to parks, arts, and community connection.
This year, 37 local nonprofits are counting on our community to help fund projects that make Kirkland stronger. Browse the catalog, find the causes that move you, and give before the campaign closes on June 8.
The generous corporate sponsors in our community multiple the impact we can have in making Kirkland a better place for all. Learn more, and join them!
A program of the Kirkland Community Foundation
We’re excited to invite you to apply for the third year of Ignite Kirkland, a trust-based, community-powered grant program from the Kirkland Community Foundation (KCF).
Ignite Kirkland is designed to raise awareness of the needs in our community and to introduce generous, civic-minded people to local causes they care about—so they can make an impact. It’s more than a grant; it’s a platform for connection, storytelling, and shared investment in a stronger, more resilient Kirkland. APPLY HERE.
This opportunity is open to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that serve people who live, work, or play in Kirkland.
Approved projects will be featured in the Ignite Kirkland online public grant catalog, promoted widely during a two-week giving campaign. Community members will be invited to learn about your work and contribute directly to the projects that move them.
As part of this initiative:
Matching funds—made possible in part by generous support from Amazon and other local businesses, and caring individuals—will be available during portions of the public campaign, encouraging donors to amplify their impact.
Ignite Kirkland is a partnership—between the Foundation, local nonprofits, and the community we all serve. If you have questions, please reach out to our Grants Team.
Let’s ignite something meaningful—together.
Our 2025 Ignite Kirkland community grant program is now closed. Numerous local and regional nonprofit organizations sought funding for 37 projects to benefit Kirkland. We'll be announcing the results of the campaign soon and telling the stories of the organizations right here. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay in-the-know.
When you give through Ignite Kirkland, you’re joining a movement that believes generosity is most powerful when it’s close to home.
“Our focus is on place-based giving — philanthropy that starts and stays in Kirkland,” said Carmin Dalziel, Executive Director of the Kirkland Community Foundation. “When you give through the Foundation, you’re part of Kirkland’s story — investing in the people and places that make this community home. Every gift strengthens the Kirkland we love today and builds the one we’ll share tomorrow.”
From housing and mental health to arts, youth, and the environment, your gift supports programs that reflect Kirkland’s shared values of belonging, access, connection, and care.
🔥 Give Local. Do Good. Right Now.
Last year, our community raised $43,000 to support 25 local projects.
This year, 37 nonprofits are counting on us to reach $164,000 by November 24 — and we can only do it together.
The Ignite Kirkland 2025 Catalog brings together dozens of inspiring Kirkland-based projects — all in one place. Explore programs that uplift youth, care for parks, build community through art, and bring hope to those who need it most.
“When you give locally, you see the results with your own eyes,” said Jonathan Heuer, Board Chair of the Kirkland Community Foundation. “You meet the people whose lives are touched. You walk past the park that got restored. You see the mural, the class, the celebration that your gift helped make possible. That’s the power of place-based giving — it’s personal, visible, and lasting.”
Explore the project catalog or support all projects with a single gift.
When you donate through the Foundation, you’re joining a movement to keep Kirkland connected, creative, and caring. Whether you’re an individual donor, business sponsor, or donor-advised fund (DAF) holder, your generosity stays rooted here — growing local capacity and community pride.
We’ll help you direct your DAF gift to the projects you care about most — quickly and easily. Here's a form to get started on supporting Ignite Kirkland using your DAF.
Boost Days are one of the most exciting parts of Ignite Kirkland 2025 — a way to celebrate generosity and multiply community impact.
Each day during the campaign, the Kirkland Community Foundation and our local business partners provide special “boost” funds to help featured nonprofits reach their goals faster.
When a featured organization raises $500 in donations on its Boost Day, the Foundation awards an additional $500 boost — instantly doubling the impact of community giving.
When Kirkland gives together, amazing things happen. Share Ignite Kirkland with friends, neighbors, and colleagues who love this city, too — together, we can fund every project. Find your next favorite cause right now, and spread the word!
These Ignite Kirkland projects cover a wide range of vital community services, from enhancing public spaces and supporting youth programs to ensuring our seniors stay engaged and connected. Some examples of recent grants include:
We need your help! With so much need, your support is crucial in making these projects a reality. Each grant, ranging from $1,000 to $5,000, can transform lives and strengthen our community.
Through December 3 (Giving Tuesday), requests will be showcased for a with the hopes of gaining public support. This is a unique opportunity for you to explore and support a variety of organizations and the impactful work they do right here in Kirkland. 100% of your donation will go directly to support the projects you choose. Together, we can harness the power of community to drive meaningful change.
Thanks to the generous support of Amazon and other generous donors, KCF will contribute funds at the end of the campaign to fill the gaps and top off requests as funds are available.
Join us in this exciting journey to uplift nonprofits that serve the Kirkland community and make a lasting difference. Together, we can ignite a brighter future for Kirkland!
Thank you for your support!
Join our mailing list to stay informed about this campaign.
Ignite Kirkland is a community-powered giving campaign hosted by the Kirkland Community Foundation. Each year, local nonprofit projects are featured so residents can explore, give, and see their impact right here in Kirkland.
Ignite Kirkland is managed by the Kirkland Community Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity that connects people, ideas, and resources to strengthen the community.
Projects that the Foundation supports, typically fall into the five Impact Fund focus areas: Arts & Culture, Parks & Environment, Health & Housing, Learning & Innovation, and Community Connection.
Give directly through the 2026 Ignite online catalog. Browse projects, select the ones that inspire you, and donate securely. You can support one or multiple projects in a single checkout.
Yes. The Kirkland Community Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. You’ll automatically receive a tax receipt.
Credit or debit cards are accepted online. Gifts from Donor Advised Funds (DAFs), employer matches, or mailed checks are also welcome—see details below. Our mailing address is: 603 4th Ave, Suite 500, Kirkland WA 98033.
We’ll help you direct your gift. Contact us by phone or email, and we’ll apply your pledge to your chosen projects and provide simple instructions for completing your grant.
Yes. Simply choose the “anonymous” option at checkout, and your name will not appear publicly.
Employer matches amplify your impact. If your company’s match arrives before Ignite funds are distributed, it will be added to your chosen project. Matches received later will support a related Foundation community Impact Fund.
All gifts must be received by 9 PM on June 8, 2026 to count toward this year's Ignite Kirkland campaign.
Boost Days make community giving go further. When nonprofits rally their supporters, extra funds from the Foundation and partners are added to increase impact. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for real-time Boost Day info during Ignite 2026.
Amazon, Columbia Bank, and Puget Sound Energy generously sponsor Boost Days to celebrate teamwork and the nonprofits that keep Kirkland thriving.
Boosts are applied by noon the next business day. You’ll see updates in the campaign catalog shortly after.
Projects are reviewed and approved by the Foundation. Each participating organization submits a proposal outlining community benefit, feasibility, and alignment with the Foundation’s Impact Funds.
Funding comes from multiple sources:
Distributions occur as quickly as possible after the campaign concludes.
Every participating organization reports back. Nonprofits confirm that funds are used as intended and share outcomes by the end of the following calendar year.
Results are shared publicly. Campaign totals, stories, and outcomes appear on our website, through social media, via our newsletters, and through local media. You can subscribe to our newsletter via the form at the bottom of this page, and connect with us via Facebook and Instagram for real-time Ignite updates.
100 percent of your gift goes directly to fund our Ignite projects. Your donation stays local and benefits Kirkland. Once the campaign closes, funds are sent directly to the nonprofit organizations managing the projects you supported through Ignite.
Please reach out to us with your question!
KCF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit.
EIN 46-4931717
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