Fostering philanthropy to enhance and preserve the quality of life on Orcas Island.
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The Orcas Island Community Foundation (OICF) was founded in 1995 to help build and strengthen our community by encouraging and supporting local philanthropy and by connecting people and organizations who want to make a difference by improving the quality of life on Orcas Island.

 

In early 2022, CF Insights Columbus Survey released their rankings for 2020.

Nationally, OICF is ranked #1 out of 207 community foundations for per capita gifts with a rate of $1,267. That represents an annual distribution rate of 29% of our assets, ranking us 4th in that category. You can view the full list here. 

Older woman with hair pulled back holding a sign in front of a cardboard cut out of a younger woman with short dark hair
A small village nestled in conifers from the water.

Read the report on OICF’s and the community’s response to the Covid pandemic.

Learn more here

Arial view of map of property for sale with bible diagram overlaid

OICF is attemping to purchase the Pea Patch Property to serve as a nonprofit campus.

Learn more here

We are currently accepting applications for our Spring GiveOrcas Grants Campaign.

Learn more here

GiveOrcas graphic with heart on island

You Amaze Us, Orcas!

We ended the 2022 Holiday GiveOrcas Campaign on an extremely high note. You fully funded all 24 proposals with 603 donors contributing $234,040.72. Impressively, 188 of you were first time donors. Orcas, we are always grateful for you. Thank you to our nonprofit partners, our Grants Committee, and our donors.

Annual Report with Village Photo

Working Together. Helping Each Other.

Take a look at our Annual Report. It’s full of pictures, some great stories of how our community jumped into action during the pandemic and lots of great stats. We all had the opportunity to pitch in and most of us also reached out for help. Working together. Helping each other. We are getting through it.

Lance and Janet at OIEF Auction

Donors

Learn how to donate to a fund, how to set one up, the funds that we have and much more.

OISD Art Class

Nonprofits

Learn about capacity building, annual grants awarded, GiveOrcas and other resources we offer.

Seniors in a computer class

Community Resources

Learn about some of the resources that are available to the members of our community.

OICF Welcomes You cover image with Turtleback Mountain, fog and sheep in field

Welcome Home.

We are delighted to have you as a neighbor and look forward to getting to know you. 

Thank you for the opportunity to introduce you to the Orcas Island Community Foundation (OICF). This Packet gives you a brief look into the community, the work of OICF and the local nonprofits. We encourage you to stop by our office to say hi.

Most Recent Blog Posts

In It for the Long Haul

In It for the Long Haul

This week we opened up two new endowment funds — one for the Orcas Community Resource Center and the other for the Orcas Island Food Bank. Both were seeded with contributions from Board Members currently serving or recently retired. What a lovely way to ensure the...

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GiveOrcas Gets Rolling!

GiveOrcas Gets Rolling!

OICF’s grant making has evolved over the years into a true community process. Twice a year, OICF invites the community to submit proposals for funding through the GiveOrcas Campaigns. The application period for the Spring GiveOrcas Campaign closed this week, and we...

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