Greater Gig Harbor Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The Greater Gig Harbor Foundation is a strategic community partner dedicated to strengthening the greater Gig Harbor and Key Peninsula region. GGHF brings people and resources together-leveraging research, expertise, partnerships, volunteers, grantmaking, and direct services to help address opportunity gaps and meet diverse community needs. GGHF works collaboratively across five core areas: arts and culture, education, parks and environment, recreation, and social capital. Since its founding in 2006, GGHF has invested more than $21.5M into the community, benefiting over 50 organizations and public agencies through grants, supporting more than 600 students with education scholarships, directing more than $2.8M toward hunger relief, over $6M for early childhood education, $3.35M for parks and outdoor spaces, and more than $2.5M for conservation initiatives. Through these efforts, the Foundation helps build, bridge, and enrich communities of the greater Gig Harbor and Key Peninsula area.
- Income
- $2.2 million
- Spending
- $2.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 100%
- Reserves
- -8.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 70%
- Employees
- 37
- Volunteers
- 670
- Highest pay
- $68,952, chief operating officer
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 54% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 16% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (9)
- $532,883 spent. The Greater Gig Harbor Foundation serves a regional population of more than 70,000 residents. As a community foundation, GGHF provides services and long-term stewardship of charitable funds to meet diverse community needs, and it acts as fiscal sponsor for numerous donor-directed funds, projects, and scholarship programs aligned with the Foundation's mission. In 2024, Foundation staff contributed more than 55,000 program hours, and more than 650 community volunteers provided an additional 38,000 volunteer hours across all GGHF initiatives. The Foundation raised over $250,000 to support local nonprofit organizations, community projects, public programming, grants, scholarships, and direct assistance. Signature fundraising and community engagement events supporting the Foundation's five core program areas included Cider Swig, Shamrock'n the Harbor, INDULGE, Students of Distinction, Gig Harbor Basket Brigade, The Community Table, #CommunityHarvest, and The Green Gig. GGHF also continued to support Pierce County, Washington State Parks, the City of Gig Harbor, and local park districts through its EnviroCorps program-now in its 20th year-which provides structured opportunities for volunteers to help maintain beaches, parks, trails, roadways, and public lands. In 2024, EnviroCorps volunteers contributed more than 13,000 hours, collected over 2,300 bags of litter and 100 bags of recyclables, conducted 140 hours of Litter Patrol, and provided 150 hours of direct service to community agencies. EnviroCorps maintained 22 road sections throughout Gig Harbor and the greater peninsula region and assisted with multiple remote-area cleanups involving abandoned machinery, appliances, garbage, and tires, improving public safety and environmental health. The Foundation also advanced work on plans for a permanent community center that will house a senior center, an event space, and an environmental learning center designed to meet the region's growing and diverse needs.
- $1.3 million spent. The Foundation's largest program is GGHF Curious by Nature School (CBNS), the community's only nature-based early learning center. CBNS uses a Reggio Emilia-inspired, nature-immersed curriculum that supports the development of critical thinking, problem-solving, and early literacy, math, science, and arts skills. Since 2012, the program has served more than 4,500 children ages 2 to 6 and has provided over $70,000 in tuition assistance to help reduce barriers to high-quality early childhood education. In 2024, CBNS served more than 400 children ages 2 to 10 through school-year programming, nature-based camps, and environmental education activities. The Foundation awarded $7,500 in financial assistance through the Steward Scholarship Fund, expanded its outdoor immersion program to meet growing demand, and offered free hands-on learning activities at multiple community events. CBNS also granted more than $5,000 to support professional development for early learning educators, with a focus on math readiness, literacy, social-emotional learning, and environmental stewardship. During 2024, CBNS continued its work toward becoming one of Washington State's first fully licensed outdoor, nature-based early learning programs through the Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF). More than 300 children and their families participated in community-connected environmental learning through the Jr. Explorers Program. CBNS received grant support and proceeds from its annual fundraiser, The Green Gig, and benefited from more than 7,800 volunteer hours contributed by parents, grandparents, educators, scientists, interns, and community members. Summer school and camp programs engaged approximately 300 children ages 3 to 10 in extended outdoor learning experiences.
- $108,558 spent. The Greater Gig Harbor Foundation's second-largest program is the Gig Harbor Senior Center (GHSC), the only community-based, self-funded center for active older adults in the greater Gig Harbor area. With more than 32% of the region's population now over age 60, GHSC continued expansion of its programs and services in 2024 to meet the growing needs of older adults seeking connection, wellness resources, educational opportunities, and social engagement. The Center has one 0.75 FTE director and one 0.35 FTE Tai Chi Instructor, and support from the Foundation's management and administrative staff for running day to day operations. Oversight and guidance is provided by a six-member Advisory Board. GHSC offereings include diverse programs that promote health, lifelong learning, community service, and social well-being. In 2024, GHSC built upon its 2023 professional services contract award from Pierce County Human Services by further developing and delivering programs specifically designed for adults age 60+. Membership and participation continued to increase, supported by a complex funding model that includes membership and program fees, private grants, business sponsorships, individual donations, and substantial financial and in-kind support from the Greater Gig Harbor Foundation. Approximately 70% of GHSC's annual operating budget was supported by private donations and two major fundraising events-INDULGE and Shamrock'n the Harbor-with membership fees providing roughly 9% of the budget and GGHF contributing about 17% through general fund support, staff time, and donated services and goods. In 2024, GHSC continued to strengthen its role as a vital resource for the region's expanding senior population, offering accessible programming and community engagement opportunities that enhance independence, wellness, and quality of life for older adults.
- $19,679 spent. Harbor Center - In 2024, major trides were made toward the "Harbor Center" (working title/name) will be located at the intersection of Pt. Fosdick & 36th in Gig Harbor, Washington. The 13.15-acre site will eb transformed into a community hub that integrates a long overdue senior center, event center and the community's first ever environmental learning center. Additionally, the project will ensure the permanent conservation of approximately 9 acres adjacent to the 209 acres of permanently forested land owned and managed by Pierce County Public Works as part of the Tacoma Narrows Airport protected fly zone. Accomplishments of 2024, included finalizing all studies, civil engineering, phase I architectural design work, and inital conservation strategy for permanent protection of about 65% of the site. The Harbor Center will be a place where generations connect, learn, and thrive - a community campus that includes a dedicated senior center, flexible event and learning spaces, and a nine-acre conservation area. By late 2024, the majority of all work was completed to prepare for submitting to Pierce County for permitting.
- $37,008 spent. The Minerva Scholarship Fund continues to grant scholarships to women in the Peninsula area.
- $24,835 spent. Gig Harbor Basket Brigade - established in 1993 the Basket Brigade has provided more than 20,000 Thanksgiving meals (and more) to area families over the years. Each year, the Basket Brigade engages hundreds of volunteers. In 2022, while at the end of the pandemic, we were able to deliver more than 700 Thanksgiving Baskets to local families. More than 450 volunteers came to assist in the two-day operation, assembling baskets and delivering them.
- $21,080 spent. Students of Distinction is a community recognition program that awards post-secondary scholarships. In 2022, the program returned to its pre COVID-19 in-person awards dinner platform to recognize and celebrate the nominated graduating seniors for their remarkable achievements before a crowd of 200+ teachers, sponsors, family, and the community. This year, 36 Peninsula School District high school seniors were honored for superior effort in seven categories: Academics, Athletics, Business & Entrepreneurship, Community Service, Music, Art & Drama, Overcoming Adversity, and Science & Technology. Scholarships awarded were $12,000. Nearly $245,000 in post secondary scholarships have been awarded since 2003 and over 580 students have been recognized.
- $27,901 spent. Heron's Key Scholarship Fund. Started in 2018, the Heron's Key Scholarship Fund (HKSF) works to provide resources to Gig Harbor's youth in support of education programs within the Peninsula School District, including scholarship assistance to individual students and project support for staff enrichment. Since 2018, the fund has provided more than $40,000 in post secondary scholarships.
- $11,375 spent. Lu Winsor Memorial Environmental Grant Fund. Over the past 18 years, the Lu Winsor Environmental Grant program has awarded over $225,000 to 31 entities. Funds have been particularly instrumental in setting the building blocks for local organization to develop environmental education programs such as the YMCA's Camp Seymour and Harbor Wild Watch, which have received nearly half of the 108 Lu Winsor grants to date. Over time, the funds available have grown with increased support from the Foundation and Pierce County. In the 2022 cycle, $22,000 in grants were awarded to nine local organizations, Pierce County Conservation District, Peninsula School District, and two private citizens carrying out stewardship work aligned with the program's mission.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 2006.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.
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