Tacoma, Washington

Established in 1981, the Greater Tacoma Community Foundation (GTCF) aims to affect positive social and economic change in Pierce County.  In 2016, the foundation awarded over $7.3 million in grants to nonprofits in the region.  To increase businesses’ access to flexible, affordable funding, GTCF launched an impact investment program in 2014.  The $1.5 million fund strives to generate positive social and financial returns while spurring economic development and job creation.

Established in 1993, the Homeownership Center of Tacoma helps low and moderate-income people achieve homeownership within Tacoma.  To do so, the nonprofit constructs and rehabilitates single-family homes, and offers homeownership counseling and financing assistance to qualified homebuyers.  In 2016, the nonprofit had eight houses under construction and held four lots for future housing projects.

Recognizing the need for an affordable urban grocery that could provide local, organic, and natural food, a group of Tacoma residents came together in 2006, laying the roots of what would open in 2011 as the Tacoma Food Co-op.  In 2015, the Tacoma Food Co-op merged with Seattle’s Central Co-op, creating a stronger, regional entity with over 15,000 members.  Structured as a solidarity cooperative, Central Co-op’s ownership—including equity investment, dividend distributions, and Board representation—is shared 50/50 between Central Co-op’s workers and consumers.  Demonstrating its commitment to the local economy, a 2017 analysis found that Central Co-op returns more than 52 percent of its revenue back to the local economy, a proportion well above the average U.S. cooperative grocery (36 percent) and conventional grocery chains (23 percent).  In early 2018, Central Co-op will open a new Tacoma store in the West End neighborhood.

Originally part of Delta Engineering, Parametrix was created in 1974 when two Delta divisions merged and spun off as a separate company. Recognizing that worker ownership would provide a secure future for its employees and their families, the company transitioned to an ESOP structure in 1992 and became 100 percent employee-owned in 1999. Now working across 12 locations (the majority of which are in Washington State), Parametrix’s 740 worker-owners focus on providing solutions for complex infrastructure and environmental projects.

Aiming to nurture a future in which both communities and nature will thrive, Earth Economics is a nonprofit that helps organizations identify and quantify the impact of their investments and policies on nature.  Through its Finance and Investment Strategies program, the nonprofit also develops innovative approaches and financing strategies to preserve, enhance, or restore natural assets such as conservation lands, green infrastructure, working forests and farms, and green buildings.

Sound Outreach is a human services nonprofit focused on ensuring all residents of Pierce County can achieve sustainable, independent living.  The nonprofit’s Hilltop Center for Strong Families aims to provide a “cross-sector” approach to meet area residents’ needs by bundling employment coaching, access to public benefits, financial education, and counseling services, and by providing space within the Center to Tacoma Housing Authority staff and loan officers from Harborstone Credit Union.  Recognizing that many area residents lack adequate transportation, Sound Outreach employees also provide services at more than 40 other locations across the county, including senior centers, food banks, and community centers.

Founded in 2010, Hilltop Urban Gardens (HUG) partners with the community to grow healthy food and people.  With a mission to foster food sovereignty and racial and economic justice, HUG is led by and centers its work on economically disadvantaged people and people of color.  Food is distributed at its seasonal Saturday produce stand, and those taking food are asked to give back to the community in some way—which could encompass volunteering in their gardens, making quilts for children, or contributing in some other way to the neighborhood.  The nonprofit also offers a range of social and educational programs including numerous workshops and youth internships.

ForeverGreen Trails aims to develop a safe, convenient, non-motorized trail system that connects all of the communities within Pierce County.  To do so, the group promotes coordinated policy, direction, and priorities for trail plan implementation and advocates for financial and technical resources to design and construct trails.  To nurture and celebrate residents’ use and support of area trails, ForeverGreen coordinates an annual Trails Day and has an awards program to recognize both people and organizations that have made significant, tangible contributions to trail development.

Launched in 1994 with 20 participants, Hilltop Artists is a nonprofit that uses glass arts to connect over 650 students a year to promising futures.  The nonprofit offers its programs at studios in area public schools, where students can participate free-of-charge in glass arts such as fusion, mosaics, flameworking, and glassblowing.  To help generate revenues for its programs, the nonprofit sells some of its participants’ work at local events and through its on-line store.  In 2014, such sales generated over $133,500.

Harvest Pierce County aims to engage Pierce County residents in a just and healthy food system.  Through its Community Garden program, Harvest Pierce County helps develop new gardens, orchards, and food projects; boosts the capacity of garden volunteers and community gardens through training, networking opportunities, one-on-one support, and other resources; and plans events to engage the broader community in its work.  About half of Pierce County’s 70+ community gardens are located in Tacoma, 11 of which are on city-owned lots.  To help the gardens thrive, the City donates TAGRO, its organic gardening product made from recycled wastewater byproducts.