From classrooms to shelters, new grants help 25 nonprofits make a bigger difference in people’s lives

The grants are aimed at helping nonprofits reach more people with essential services and opportunities - and complete projects that make that work possible - across education, basic needs, civic life and sustainability. Jane Broom, senior director of Community Affairs at Microsoft, says these organizations "are the glue that make communities work" at a time when many people are struggling.

"Nonprofits, just like families, are experiencing higher costs. Maybe they haven't been able to find the one-time funding to get a project done or to address a clearly defined need," Broom says. "We wanted to have a flexible, responsive grant program to give the community what it needs right now."

Building confidence and independence

"Everything is 10 times as competitive as it's ever been in past years because funding is difficult," says Jilyne Jarvis, founder and executive director of the Bellevue-based ZGIRLS, a nonprofit that helps girls build confidence through mentoring by women athletes. "It puts a lot of pressure on foundations and corporations to show up and provide that funding deficit and the funding that's needed to serve our communities. These kinds of grants make the world of difference because it does feed back into the community."

ZGIRLS launched a pilot program in October of "Confidence Kits" that provide confidence-building activities for leaders, volunteers and coaches to teach to middle school girls, giving the $500 kits to 22 of their King County partners including sports teams, groups and schools. The grant will pay for 40 more kits for others who requested them.