Author: Megan Sukys
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Leadership Lessons for Challenging Times
It’s never easy to lead a nonprofit. But right now, nonprofits are facing incredible challenges that threaten to undo all the great work they’ve achieved to build a thriving community. The actions and practices that support success in the nonprofit sector aren’t obvious. In fact, sometimes the best move is the opposite of what > Continue Reading
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Navigating a Generational Transfer of Values
Some parents see family philanthropy as a way to ensure family values are carried forward, but the next generation may feel it’s simply an obligation. Patrick Fletcher is a Senior Planner in the Wealth Planning Group at D.A. Davidson. He has witnessed this kind of disconnect in families. With tools and training from the Chartered > Continue Reading
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Housing Equity Starts With Those Most Lacking Equity
Kiara Daniels remembers what it was like to buy a home in the quickly gentrifying Hilltop neighborhood where she grew up, “There were so many tears. First, I made not-enough money. And then I had to go out, hustle, and try to make more money. Then, I had to worry about making too much > Continue Reading
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Local Journalism and Local Funders Fuel Civic Voice and Power
Local journalism can make the difference between getting involved in community solutions or being caught off guard by events that arise from otherwise unseen issues. That was the case following a recent article from the nonprofit news site, Gig Harbor Now (GHN). Newcomers could see how beautiful the view is, but I wanted them to > Continue Reading
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A Face-to-face, Family-to-family, Friend-to-friend Approach To COVID-19 in Pierce County
The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department held a vaccination clinic on Key Peninsula a couple weeks ago where they vaccinated eighteen people and saw that as a success. She asked many questions and got good information and then made her decision when she felt like it was an informed one for her. “In the beginning > Continue Reading
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Toward Transformation: Equity-Centric Philanthropy in the Pacific Northwest
For the first time in her professional career, Elena Pullen-Venema can say that her personal racial equity values and those of her employer are coming into alignment. Elena, who’s been with the Community Foundation of Snohomish County since 2012 and now serves as Director of Gift Planning there, says the foundation began “deep-dive” equity discussions as a staff a > Continue Reading
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Complex Gifts Can Simply Transform Communities
“Sometimes the most important stuff is not all about the money.” – Marydale Brooks The late Marydale Brooks believed the “important stuff” happened “when everyone starts pitching in with their talents, resources, or pure grunt work to get the job done.” A longtime Buckley resident, she was unassuming in her demeanor, community-minded, and collaborative in > Continue Reading
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Good Information And Trusted People Critical To COVID-19 Vaccine Equity
COVID-19 vaccine supply now exceeds demand. However, vaccine availability does not automatically equal vaccination for all people in all places. In Pierce County, efforts are underway to make it easy and desirable for all communities to get the vaccine. In Yakima, an effort called the Partnership for Food Security offers valuable lessons for improving vaccine equity. Yakima County Commissioner Amanda McKinney shared an important insight from the partnership about encouraging vaccine participation, “You need to > Continue Reading
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Dr. Jerry and Elaine Ramsey: A Historical Legacy To Set The Record Straight
Dr. Jerry Ramsey and his late wife, Elaine, were true lovers of Tacoma long before it became the hottest housing market in the nation. Through their work as educators and authors, they built connections to the region’s history. As engaged community members, they also built lasting supports for generations to come. “Elaine and I have never lived outside of the Tacoma area”, said Dr. Jerry. > Continue Reading
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Government Volume, Philanthropic Flexibility Ensure CARES Act Dollars Reach Pierce County Residents
Even with a massive infusion of federal dollars, getting money to those who need it most isn’t easy. When Pierce County received $158 million in CARES Act funding last summer, the money came with a tight deadline to get it out to the community: December 31, 2020. Heather Moss, the director of Human Services in Pierce County, explains > Continue Reading