Coffeehouse tips turn into philanthropy grants

Published 6:00 am Wednesday, December 14, 2005

All the tip jars at the Island Coffee House will soon be empty.

And as the baristas collect those quarters, nickels, dimes and dollars into one big kitty, the really hard work begins: Deciding how to spread the money across the island to people and groups who need a bit of a boost to help youth.

This year, the baristas at Island Coffee House are not only pouring double shots, they’re calling the shots on how money from the Youth in Philanthropy project should be spent.

It makes sense, because some of the grant money the philanthropy project will disburse this year comes from tips collected at Langley’s youth-run espresso hotspot, said Susie Richards, the director of the South Whidbey Community Engagement Center.

The philanthropy program began four or so years ago when Richards was teaching English at Langley Middle School.

Richards recalled how her class was approached by Bill Carlstrom, a Freeland resident and a trustee of the Glaser Foundation.

The foundation gave the class a $10,000 grant, and the students started learning about philanthropy as they raised a smaller amount of matching money and began deciding how the funds could be funneled to nonprofit organizations that help South Whidbey’s children and families.

The students not only had to set up a system for getting grant applications, but also had to evaluate what groups should receive the money and why.

“It was a really amazing experience for them,” Richards recalled.

“It was just a real shift in the community; that these young people were able to make these kind of connections and, suddenly, they had the community coming to them and asking for funds. That was really wonderful,” she said.

The Glaser Foundation funding stretched for two years.

But the young philanthropists — with the support of the South End — decided to keep a good thing going.

“Since then we’ve been able to continue the program just through local funding, from individuals and the community, and it’s been a different focus each year,” Richards said.

Last year, the middle school’s adventure education program ran the philanthropy program. The students gave out grants to groups that were doing positive things for the environment.

This year, the Island Coffee House baristas will dole out the community-improvement funds.

“Every year, the group — the kids who are involved — choose what their focus is going to be,” Richards said.

This year, the group wants to get grant applications for projects that benefit Island youth. If that sounds like a broad category, it’s meant to be that way.

“They want to leave it that wide open — that an individual, or group or class who is doing something creative to support the youth of South Whidbey can apply,” Richards explained.

A core group of roughly six baristas have been involved in the philanthropy project.

Stephanie Sanford, a senior at Bayview School, was originally involved in the philanthropy project as an eighth-grader and is back as a student veteran of the program.

Sanford remembered what tough stuff it was to pick groups to get grant money a few years ago.

“It’s hard,” Sanford said. “A part of you is going, I don’t want to be mean. So I don’t want to judge someone and say, you’re not good enough.”

“But it’s exciting when we can give money to people that really are going to help,” she added.

So far, it’s hard to tell how many groups might apply for funding. As many as 45 or so applications have come in during earlier rounds, and this year’s deadline is fast approaching.

Grant applications are due Dec. 16.

Youth in Philanthropy students, though, say they’ll keep taking donations to the grant fund through Dec. 15.

Grants have been spread widely throughout the Whidbey community in previous years. The senior center got a PA system so seniors could play bingo, for example, and the Whidbey Land Trust was able to buy a computer with philanthropy grant funds. Money has also gone to Hearts and Hammers, and to buying a bike rack for the Clinton Library.

Baristas and other volunteers with the philanthropy program have been meeting at the Island Coffee House to talk about the upcoming grants.

A recent gathering found Sanford, 18, talking strategy with Hope Richards, 16, and Lucas Martin, 14 and AmeriCorps member Eve Preus, coordinator for the volunteers at Island Coffee House.

The teens and the rest of the group will decide later this week what groups will get grants.

There’s talk of giving $500 to Holiday House so gifts for teens in need can be purchased, which would leave roughly $1,500 for other grants.

Of course, if more donations come in, that will mean more money to funnel to youth projects.

Giving out the grants is pretty rewarding work, the baristas said.

“It’s the most amazing feeling in the world, honestly. It’s the coolest thing, it makes you feel really good,” Sanford said.