Community Environment

Local organizations among those receiving Russell Family Foundation grants

Harbor WildWatch, the Great Peninsula Conservancy and the YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties are among 32 organizations to receive recently announced grants from The Russell Family Foundation. 

The Gig Harbor-based foundation announced more than $2.3 million in grants and investments supporting its Environmental Education and Food for Climate Solutions programs on April 6. 

Harbor WildWatch, the conservancy and the YMCA — all Gig Harbor organizations or with Gig Harbor ties — received grants through the Environmental Education program. 

“We believe in supporting both the steady, long-term work and the emerging opportunities communities are facing today,” Russel Family Foundation CEO Kathleen Simpson said in a news release. “These one-time grants are meant to help with immediate needs our partners are facing, like transportation challenges, gaps in equipment or facilities, and disruptions that affect youth participation, in addition to our multi-year core grants.” 

George and Jane Russell founded The Russell Family Foundation in 1999. The philanthropic foundation focuses on environmental sustainability and the climate crisis. 

George Russell, the founder and longtime chairman of Russell Investments, died late last year at age 93.  

Organizations that received the grants announced April 6 include: 

Environmental Education

• Arboretum Foundation (University of Washington Botanic Gardens) 
• Aspen Institute, Open Pathways Project 
• Braided Seeds 
• Collaborative Field-Building (Community Marine Centers of the Salish Sea) 
• Community Boat Project  
• E3 Washington  
• Environmental Science Center 
• Foss Waterway Seaport 
• Friends of Lakewold 
• Garden Raised Bounty (GRuB) 
• Great Peninsula Conservancy 
• Harbor WildWatch 
• Mason Conservation District 
• Nisqually Reach Nature Center 
• Northwest Natural Resource  
• Northwest Youth Corps 
• Pacific Education Institute 
• Port Townsend Marine Science Center 
• Puget Sound Estuarium 
• Puget Soundkeeper Alliance 
• SEA Discovery Center 
• Sea Potential  
• Summer Search 
• Vashon Nature Center 
• Washington Outdoor School Consortium  
• WaYa Outdoor Institute  
• Wild Society  
• World Relief Seattle 
• YMCA of Pierce & Kitsap Counties

Food for Climate Solutions

• Institute for Washington’s Future, Fiscal Sponsor for Community-to-Community Development 
• Northwest Native Development Fund Impact Investment 
• Pacific Northwest BIPOC Farmland Trust