NEWS

To Our Community of Activists and Contributors
From the CSF Board

The Community Sustaining Fund (CSF) has, for almost 40 years, been responsible
for distributing funds raised by Olympia Food Co-op members participating in the
Co-op’s “Round-up” program and from other donors. In recent years, these small individual contributions have added up to about $8,000-$10,000 annually in funds to support progressive change throughout Thurston County.

Twice each year, CSF evaluates applications and awards grants to local groups and individuals engaged in social justice, environmental protection and community
building projects. The original purpose for the CSF was to award funds to projects
aiming for social change, and to new groups with ideas that challenged the status
quo – project ideas that might otherwise go unfunded.

In recent years we have seen more applications from established groups, and
fewer from groups or individuals who reflect the original (and continuing) mission
and intent of the CSF.

After a period of reflection on these realities, our Board has decided that it’s time
to review our outreach, funding criteria and grant-review practices, and to update
them where needed. We came to this decision using the same cautious
deliberation and consensus-based approach that we employ in making our grant
awards.

Therefore, we will not schedule a Spring 2026 grant cycle, in order to complete
our review and to circulate updated materials to the community. The next
opportunity to apply for a Community Sustaining Fund Grant will be in the Fall of 2026. Check here as we make progress on our review and create opportunities for input from Co-op and community members. We will post an announcement in September of specific dates for the Fall grant cycle.