The Yakima Valley Community Foundation is a philanthropic organization with a mission to connect people, resources and ideas so people and communities thrive.

The region served by the community foundation is the Yakima Valley which is rich in natural resources and diverse cultures all with a strong reliance on the land and water for economic prosperity and survival.  The Valley is located in the heart of rural Central Washington with significant agriculture, protected forests and tribal lands- all ancestral land of the people of the Yakama Nation. 

Over time, cultural and economic divisions have developed as a result of disparities in access to opportunities shaped by intentional and unintentional racism, bias, oppression and historical trauma. Inequities are apparent in our institutions, neighborhoods, our schools, our health and our perceptions and interactions with each other.

We believe that people in our Valley should have equitable access to opportunity and when equity is addressed our community will be stronger economically, healthier physically and mentally, and better prepared educationally to meet the challenges we face.

The Foundation has three primary areas of focus: 1) Quality education, 2) health and well-being, and 3) civic vitality. We center our work in these areas on equity and justice by creating access to opportunities for those who have been historically and frequently left out or left behind.

We believe as a philanthropic organization we have a responsibility to understand our impact by raising issues, questioning systems and decisions, and by addressing policies and practices that may be well-intentioned and meant to work for all; but just don't.  

Yakima Valley Community Foundation commits to:  

• Appreciate the dignity and worth of all individuals
• Listen and elevate the voice of the community
• Invite honest discourse about equity, diversity and inclusion
• Develop within its own operations policies that advance diversity and belonging
• Nurture an open and welcoming work environment
• Promote the dismantling of structural and cultural barriers to individual achievement
• Collaborate and direct our support to organizations working with communities to address equity, to change systems and to deliver services
• Advocate for public policies and practices consistent with commitments; and use our resources to make the Yakima Valley a place in which all people can fully realize their aspirations.

This month, Seattle Met is highlighting the ten nonprofits that participated in our virtual Generocity 2020 event, presented by Vulcan. It’s not too late to register! Tickets are free and attendees are automatically entered to win prizes from local restaurants and retailers, signed Seattle Seahawks gear and a weekend getaway provided by Columbia Hospitality valued at $1500! Click here to learn more about these remarkable nonprofits, watch on-demand content and plan your holiday and end-of-year giving!