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10 Local nonprofit organizations each receive a $5,000 grant to support efforts impacting historically underserved communities

SEATTLE, Dec. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- , a Seattle-based financial institution with assets totaling $750 million, known for its socially responsible, community-rooted banking, announced today the 10 recipients of its Fall 2024 Microgrant Program. The credit union awarded a total of $50,000 to recipients including , the , , , , , , , and , who all received $5,000 to support their communities.

Launched in 2017, Verity's Microgrant Program provides unrestricted monetary support for organizations whose work benefits historically underserved communities within Washington State. To date, the program has supported 68 organizations with more than $202,000, focusing on those with limited access to traditional funding due to organizational size, age, or tax-exemption status. This year, Verity received over 100 applications.

"Our Microgrant Program is a critical part of our commitment to support and address systemic barriers that historically excluded communities face," said Ziquora Banks, Chief Impact Strategy Officer. "We're thrilled to receive so many applications and pleased to offer twice as many recipient organizations, increasing from 5 to 10, $5,000 in unrestricted grant dollars. We can't wait to see the impact on the recipient organization's growth and success and benefits received by individuals, groups, and businesses they serve."

In recent years, Verity collaborated with nonprofit partners to better understand the needs of their communities, implementing feedback directly into the program. The Microgrant Program funding is now allocated to organizations instead of specific projects, allowing them flexibility in utilizing the funds where they are most needed. Verity also emphasized funding organizations whose work explicitly supports BIPOC communities and are founded/led by members of historically marginalized communities and those with marginalized lived experiences, that are less likely to receive corporate funding. This year's recipients will use the funds to provide nutritious and culturally reflective food to participants, improve professional development services, increase staff pay, provide financial literacy and homeownership classes to communities, and relieve some day-to-day costs of operating a successful nonprofit.

Verity Credit Union's Fall 2024 Microgrant recipients are:

is a youth empowerment organization supporting BIPOC youth and young adults in King County. Its mission is to empower, engage, and equip youth with the skills to pursue their dreams while fostering racial equity and celebrating cultural identities. Its work encompasses education and enrichment, entrepreneurship, mental health, and family engagement.

(BEC) is a nonprofit organization focused on advancing equality, justice, and inclusion for African Americans and other marginalized communities. Based in King County, BEC offers resources, educational outreach, and community programs to empower underserved Black and BIPOC youth and families. Its work spans initiatives such as career exploration fairs, mentorship programs, and community cleanups, emphasizing direct support and social advocacy.

is a volunteer, grassroots community organization focused on racial justice in Tacoma and the South Sound region. It supports Tribal treaty rights, individuals' immigrant rights, the rights of those in the legal justice system, educational equity, and housing justice. Its programming includes educational forums on local issues, producing cultural events, and supplying food and clothing to houseless residents of Tacoma.

is a nonprofit organization that provides outreach programs and services to youths and young adults. Its work includes mentoring programs, college and career readiness, life skills, sports camps and clinics, academic intervention, behavioral support, back-to-school events, and more. Heart and Hustle Academy focuses its programs on BIPOC, underserved, and underrepresented communities.

(HUG) is a community-based urban agriculture and social justice organization in Tacoma. HUG is a culturally relevant hands-on community effort to liberate BIPOC communities from harmful institutionalization and to revitalize African and Indigenous culture in practice. HUG is building a neighborhood-based food system aligned with international, national, regional, and local movements for food sovereignty and land justice.

fosters a supportive, nurturing, and collaborative environment where participants (Mentees) can receive guidance and encouragement from peer navigators. Leveled Up Reentry addresses and dismantles the challenges faced by individuals presently and formerly incarcerated transitioning back into their communities through comprehensive assistance, guidance, and peer mentorship. Leveled Up Reentry's support programs are a "net" that "works".

educates and empowers Native communities in the Pacific Northwest. Teaching traditional crafts, foods, and cultural practices, it improves Indigenous health and fosters a connection to cultural heritage and land. Its programs include the Traditional Medicine Internship, partnering with the UW School of Medicine to provide non-clinical instruction for the next generation of healthcare associates, transforming the way Indigenous people access healthcare.

(formerly LGBTQ Allyship) was founded in 2005 in solidarity with other social justice movements that focused on affordable housing and economic opportunity. It focuses on ensuring stabilized housing, livable wages, healthcare access, political representation, and safety. Queer Power Alliance works with organizations representing LGBTQIA+ communities and intersectional identities like BIPOC, elders, youth, immigrants, transgender people, people with disabilities, and others.

(REA) is a nonprofit organization that addresses financial inequities and empowers historically marginalized communities, particularly Seattle's Black community. By equipping Black homeowners with tools to manage their assets through home equity growth, estate planning, or financial literacy, REA empowers families to control their financial futures and reverse historical cycles of wealth loss and inequity that have disproportionately affected BIPOC communities.

(YMMM) provides financial education and mentoring support for economically vulnerable youth. YMMM fills the gap between financial education programs and the beginnings of financial independence, pairing individuals with trained mentors to shepherd them through the maze of personal finance. It also offers a financial education course called "Money Mindsets," where students address their attitudes, values, and emotions around money.

Microgrant Recipient Images Can Found .

ABOUT VERITY CREDIT UNION

Verity Credit Union is one of Washington State's longest-standing credit unions, putting people, the planet, and prosperity for all above the bottom line. Our mission is to make meaningful, positive, and lasting change by partnering with our members and communities to co-create solutions. As a socially responsible financial institution, about 87% of our deposits support the local economy and members with loans, big and small, to improve the well-being of businesses and individuals, especially those who have been historically left out of the financial system. We are one of a few financial institutions with a Black woman CEO and a leadership team and board that identifies predominantly as female, allowing us to embody the change we're working towards. Together, we can create stronger, healthier, more sustainable communities by making people-centric decisions.

Media Contact

Jennifer Karkar Ritchie, Verity Credit Union, 1 206-354-8044, [email protected],

SOURCE Verity Credit Union