Whidbey Island, WA, February 13, 2024--Whidbey Community Foundation is pleased to announce a new partnership with JADE Craftsman Builders in creating a field-of-interest fund for the community—the Whidbey Affordable Housing Fund. To start, this fund will make grants to nonprofit organizations working on affordable housing on Whidbey Island. JADE made the first donation to the new fund.
People who live and work on Whidbey are facing increasing challenges in finding affordable housing. When teachers, restaurant workers, farmers and so many others struggle to afford a place to live on the island, it affects the entire community.
Rural, island communities have housing affordability needs and development challenges that are different than urban and suburban communities, including limited capacity for new development and limited existing inventory, among many more complicating factors.
There are several agencies on the island working together to face these challenges in various ways. Solutions are not simple and will involve multiple approaches.
All funds distributed from the Whidbey Affordable Housing Fund must be approved by WCF’s Board of Directors. JADE and WCF will form an Advisory Committee to develop guidelines for funding, review applications, and make recommendations to WCF’s Board of Directors. If you are interested in learning more, and/or joining the Advisory Committee, please contact WCF at info@whidbeyfoundation.org or 360-660-5041.
Any member of the community who cares about affordable housing can make a contribution to the fund. All donations to the Whidbey Affordable Housing Fund held at WCF are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by the law. Whidbey Community Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit, EIN: 81-3860867. WCF accepts many forms of donations, including cash, check, credit card, IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions, appreciated securities, and real property. Please visit our website to learn more: www.whidbeyfoundation.org.
About JADE Craftsman Builders
JADE Craftsman Builders builds homes on South Whidbey. JADE takes pride in creating well-built, beautifully designed homes. We are also conscious of the need in our community for affordable housing. Reducing the cost of construction is only a small part of the solution—together with tax benefits, reduced fees, ownership strategies, and government and nonprofit grants.
Dan Neumeyer, owner, states: “Everyone in our community is impacted by the fact that so many people, including families with children, simply can’t find housing here—even when they’re offered a decent job. Wanting to make housing affordable for all is what motivated us at JADE to create this fund. We’re grateful to partner with the Whidbey Community Foundation to make this happen.”
About Whidbey Community Foundation
Whidbey Community Foundation (WCF) connects people who care to causes that matter. WCF was founded in 2016 by long-time local community leaders who understand Whidbey’s needs and strengths and who are committed to making the Foundation a gateway to more meaningful relationships between donors and local nonprofit organizations. WCF’s mission is to improve the quality of life on Whidbey Island by providing support for the nonprofit sector, assisting donors to build and preserve enduring assets for charitable purposes, and meeting community needs through financial awards. Since 2016, WCF has opened 35+ funds and made over 440 grants totaling over $2.54 million for various causes.
