Learn About Our Funding Partners

Whatcom community foundation

As one of more than 900 community foundations nationwide, Whatcom Community Foundation (WCF) is a charitable organization created through gifts from people who care about a particular place. WCF invests community donations in ideas and activities that take a cooperative approach toward making Whatcom County a place where everyone thrives. Anyone can contribute any amount of money to a community foundation, which builds assets to meet local needs and opportunities. WCF has been supporting GSSC since our inception in 2012.

washington state department of ecology

The Washington State Department of Ecology is dedicated to preserving and protecting the environment in Washington. Through their Waste Reduction and Recycling Education grant program, the Department of Ecology will start supporting GSSC in January 2024.

Career connect washington

Career Connect Washington (CCW) is a statewide network of business, labor, education, and community leaders creating work-based and academic programs for young people in Washington to explore, prepare, and launch themselves into college and careers. CCW has been supporting through the Career Builder program GSSC since 2022.

rose foundation for communities and the environment

The Rose Foundation envisions a future where nature is protected, people’s rights are ensured, and environmental justice is advanced, and where these three values are deeply interconnected. The Rose Foundation supports grassroots initiatives that help build a world in which individuals, organizations, and communities are empowered to promote stewardship of nature, inspire people to take action, and hold government and corporations accountable. GSSC was awarded the Rose Foundation’s PNW Grassroots Fund, which will be initiated in January 2024.

Learn About Our Community Partners

 
 

Pacific shellfish institute

Hailing from Olympia, WA, the Pacific Shellfish Institute is a non-profit organization that fosters sustainable shellfish resources and a healthy marine environment through education and research. As our fiscal sponsor, our partnership with PSI is invaluable. We share our mission to educate youth and the public about the crucial role shellfish have in the health of the Salish Sea.

Friends of birch bay state park

The employees and volunteers of FOBBSP are invaluable assets when it comes to education and outreach at Birch Bay State Park. We partner with their beach naturalists on school field trips, summer day camps, and outreach events.

Whatcom County Marine resources committee

The Whatcom County MRC is a voluntary citizens’ advisory group that collaborates with the government of Whatcom County to protect marine resources. Through our partnership with the Harmful Algal Bloom Hunters, we help to advise on shellfish protection.

drayton harbor oyster company

The Drayton Harbor Oyster Company is a community-organized sustainable oyster farm and restaurant in Blaine, WA. We cooperate with DHO through high school internships, school field trips, and oyster materials for education and outreach.

whatcom county shellfish protection districts

The Shellfish Protection Districts of Whatcom County (Drayton Harbor, Portage Bay, and Birch Bay) have advisory committees that provide resources for nonpoint pollution mitigation. The advisory committees also advise on water quality to monitor shellfish health. Director Julie Hirsch is a Drayton Harbor Shellfish Protection District Advisory Committee member.

blaine high school continuing technical education (CTE) advisory council

The CTE program at Blaine High School encourages students to start their education in technical skills. Director Julie Hirsch sits on the advisory council, and we offer internship opportunities for Blaine High School students.

Blaine-birch bay parks and recreation district 2

Many of our school and outreach programs are centered around Birch Bay State Park, which would not be possible without our partnership with BBBPRD2. Our staff work together to educate students and the public about the intertidal zone through school field trips, summer day camps, and beach walks.

Whatcom coalition of environmental education

WCEE is a program of the Whatcom Community Foundation. It is a collective of environmental education organizations in Whatcom County with the purpose of increasing equity and access to environmental education within the county. We collaborate with WCEE and other organizations on Snow to Sea, a field trip program for Nooksack Valley Middle School to learn about the journey of water from the top of Mount Baker, through the Skagit watershed, and into the Salish Sea.

Garden of the Salish Sea Curriculum is funded in part by a Washington Department of Ecology Waste Reduction and Recycling Education grant, with general support provided by the Pacific Northwest Grassroots Fund, and Grow Your Roots Min-grant funds administered by the Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment, Alicia Rule funds through the Washington State Legislature and the Whatcom Coalition for Environmental Education, Whatcom Community Foundation’s Sustainable Whatcom Fund, the Everson Lions Club and donations. In-kind contributions from the Drayton Harbor Oyster Company and volunteers help us deliver programming!

We kindly thank them all!

We acknowledge and respect the treaty rights of the Coast Salish Peoples to the lands and waters of the Salish Sea and we recognize their stewardship since time immemorial.

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