The SRWC Grant Program supports nonprofit organizations providing essential services to women, children, families and seniors with the goal of developing a strong network of services in south Deschutes County that will improve the lives of our neighbors and have lasting impact in the community.

The grant process is overseen by a nine-member committee responsible for soliciting grant applications from local nonprofits, conducting a thorough evaluation process and making a funding recommendation to the board of directors. Committee members have diverse professional backgrounds combined with a history of philanthropic participation in their community.

The 2021 SRWC Grant Program

The pandemic continues to affect all of us, but especially those most vulnerable in our community. The goal of the SRWC philanthropy program for 2021 is to ensure that our nonprofit partners continue to have the resources necessary to meet the increased need in the areas of:

• Child Abuse. We will fund programs targeted at preventing child abuse and increasing efforts to identify and treat victims.

• Education. We will fund programs that support students at risk of falling behind academically.

• Food. We will fund programs that are addressing the increased need for nutritious meals and food boxes.

• Mental Health. We will fund programs that focus on prevention and outreach services addressing isolation, depression, stress and anxiety.

• Shelter. We will fund programs and services that support housing stability, keeping people in their homes and preventing homelessness.

Knowing that our world remains uncertain, our 2021 grant program is being designed to be responsive to the realities of our community. We have set three grant deadlines over the course of the upcoming year (January/May/September) giving agencies the flexibility to apply for grants that reflect current needs of the agency and the community.

The 2020 SRWC Grant Program

In May of 2020, the SRWC awarded $50,000 to 15 non-profit organizations with grants ranging from $1,000 to $5,500. Grants fell into two broad categories.

Food & Shelter

The SRWC grant program funded essential services that support our most vulnerable citizens designed to protect and improve the lives of women, children, families and seniors in our community. 47% of the grants awarded in 2020 supported programs providing food & shelter.

Agency	Award	Program
Council on Aging	$5,000	Meals on Wheels
Care & Share	$3,500	Protein for monthly food boxes
LaPine Community Kitchen	$5,500	Hot meals program
Neighbor Impact	$5,000	Energy assistance program
St. Vincent De Paul	$1,000	Emergency shelter vouchers
The 1017 Project	$2,500	Beef for South County food banks
Wonderland Express	$1,000	Food gift cards for South County  families
Food & Shelter	$23,500

Education & Child/Youth Development

SRWC grants funded programs that focused on improving access to quality programs for at-risk children and youth that prepare them for kindergarten, help them succeed in school and support them out of school. 53% of grants awarded in 2020 supported programs for children and youth.

Agency	Award	Program
AAUW	$3,500	Tech Trek STEM Camp *
Family Access Network	$4,500	Summer camp scholarship program *
In Our Backyard	$1,100	Human trafficking program *
LaPine Parks & Rec	$5,000	Summer camp field trip transportation *
Rising Stars	$2,500	Pre-school scholarships *
Sunriver Music Festival	$2,000	Three Rivers after school orchestra *
Sunriver Nature Center	$4,000	South County K-12 education outreach *
Three Rivers School PTA	$3,900	Three new computers
Education & Child/Youth Development	$26,500

* Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, these programs have either been cancelled or are on hold until restrictions lift. Grant funds that are not able to be used for the intended project will be reallocated.