The initiative was funded by the Department of Commerce. It was a community-designed initiative aimed at uplifting communities disproportionately harmed by the war on drugs. The goal was to create lasting economic benefits, build wealth, and ensure that everyone has a fair chance of success.
*One Time Community Investment in 2025
Shift from benchmarks to deeper measures of success.
What does meaningful change look like for our community?
How do we measure impact when outcomes are trust, resilience, empowerment?
How do we ensure decisions are both inclusive and equitable?
Through this project, the Community Foundation expanded direct investments in ways that reflect trust-based philanthropy. Instead of requiring extensive reporting or restrictive benchmarks, we focused on what communities told us mattered most: trust, empowerment, and resilience.
Through the Community Reinvestment Project, the Community Foundation:
Ensuring that funding reaches the people and neighborhoods who need it most.
Bringing together residents with lived experience to help guide priorities and review applications.
Offering workshops and coaching for guided pathways to support smaller and emerging groups.
Ranging from youth mentoring and after-school programs, to culturally rooted mental health supports, to initiatives that build financial stability and generational wealth.
$312,854.39 | Completed January 13, 2025
Funding supported 3 businesses and 8 nonprofits working with youth and families to foster safe, connected communities. Projects included:
These activities created positive engagement opportunities, rebuilt trust, and reinforced a shared commitment to safety and healing in communities disproportionately impacted by systemic harm.
Featured in local media:
Lynnwood Times: Violence and Drugs Cant Live Here!
Lynnwood Times: Project Girl Mentoring – Unlocking your Power
Latino Herald: The Access Project – COPs vs. Youth Basketball
$145,753.34 | Completed March 1, 2025
26 participants representing 12 nonprofits attended a five-hour technical assistance training facilitated by Scholar Fund. The session covered digital tools, social media strategies, and the use of AI for research, with interactive demos and real-time Q&A. Participants also received:
Importantly, all vendors for this project were Black, Latine, or Indigenous-owned businesses.
$388,675.57 | Completed March 20, 2025
This initiative united 9 businesses, 23 nonprofits, and 25 frontline nonprofit workers for a full day of healing, mental wellness, and community care.
Highlights included:
The Community Healers initiative underscored that wellness and healing are not secondary—they are essential parts of reinvestment and resilience.
$145,753.34 | Completed March 22, 2025
The Asset Building Subcommittee hosted a financial literacy workshop attended by 200 community members. The event covered practical strategies for budgeting, saving, credit building, and financial planning. Participants received:
By giving both immediate resources and long-term tools, this workshop helped families strengthen household stability while laying groundwork for generational wealth.
Behind each investment is a story of resilience and innovation.
“Because of Community Reinvestment Project funding, we were able to hire staff who share lived experience with the youth we serve. This has transformed how young people engage with our program.” – the Access Project
“The grant allowed us to launch a culturally rooted healing circle for people of color. For many, it was the first time they felt truly seen and supported.” – Community Healer
“With technical assistance, we gained the tools to apply for grants and stay “With technical assistance, we acquired the tools to apply for grants and remain relevant. Now our grassroots group has the stability to expand.
The Community Reinvestment Project Leadership Team comprises community members who have worked closely with the Community Foundation of Snohomish County or have been past grantees. Each leader brings firsthand experience and a shared commitment to equity, collaboration, and community-driven change. The team met bi-weekly during the first three months to set priorities and establish a strong foundation and now meets monthly to review progress and make funding decisions. Together, they ensure that every investment reflects the real needs and voices of Snohomish County communities.
Washington West African Center
Snohomish County Black Heritage Committee
Oceania Northwest
Millennia Ministries
Modest Family Solutions
Project Girl Mentoring Program
Black Healing Fund
The Access Project
Camp Read A Rama
Seven Sacred Roots
NAACP Snohomish County Branch
Tulalip Foundation
One of the most powerful outcomes of Community Reinvestment Project has been the infrastructure built along the way: Local Advisory Teams to guide decisions, technical assistance networks to strengthen grassroots groups, and piloting new ways of sharing decision-making.
These shifts represent more than program changes. They demonstrate how trust-based philanthropy can be practiced locally: moving resources quickly, reducing barriers for grassroots leaders, and prioritizing relationships over paperwork. This ensures the impact of Community Reinvestment Project will extend far beyond any single funding cycle.
The Community Reinvestment Project has already created a measurable impact, but this is only the beginning. We remain committed to:
This was a one-time funding opportunity made possible through the Community Reinvestment Project. While we do not anticipate ongoing funding, the insights and impact from this process will help shape and inform future opportunities.