The Olympia Food Co-op Connection

The Community Sustaining Fund of Thurston County (CSF) THANKS the Olympia Food-Co-op and its Cashiers as they are the first line for helping provide revenue to the CSF.

Rounding-up? Ask Me How And I'll Tell You Why!!

Rounding-Up at the Co-Op is currently the primary source of funding for CSF grants. 100% of donations to CSF are distributed as local grant funding! Co-Op members who Round-Up for CSF have helped us provide over $125,000 to more than 200 organizations and individuals.

For 36 years the Community Sustaining Fund has funded individuals and organizations efforts to strengthen the fabric of people, communities, environments & habitats in Thurston County. We sincerely applaud & thank Co-Op Members, Board, & Staff for supporting the start up funding and continuation of many projects that move the needle for positive change in our communities. From the beginnings of the Olympia Food Co-Op itself, to Oly Artspace Alliance, TCAT, Oly Ecosytems, SSCFLT, JOLT, Stonewall Youth (to randomly name just a few) - it is our great honor and privilege to support the people and ideas that make our communities thrive!

That's Right... Over One-Hundred & Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars!

These awards have ranged from $100 to over $1000 to various worthy, deserving, and even sometimes 'out-of-the-box' ideas. They are too numerous to mention singularly, but applicants are selected by their need and by their meeting the criteria of the CSF in aspects of grassroots development, social justice, community empowerment, and right livelihood. The major source of the CSF revenue is through Olympia Food Co-op purchases being "rounded up" to the next even dollar. For example, if a purchase is $6.37, a co-op member may say "please round-up for the Community Sustaining Fund." This requires a little simple math (hopefully on the part of the co-op member...NOT on the cashier) to figure the difference. But a little simple math is good for our brain cells. In this case 63 cents would "round-up" for the CSF.

This Is Small Change That Can Lead To Bigger Changes.

There are two grant CSF cycles in the spring and fall and coincide close to both ArtWalks. The CSF has a grant application available on-line and solicits applicants from the greater Thurston County surroundings. Upon review of applications by Board members, the applicants are ranked and selected for interviews. These interviews take place in Olympia usually on a Saturday morning and spread out in 15-minute increments. We use a streamlined process that works well and by noon of that same Saturday the Board reaches consensus through a very interactive process deciding upon awards and amounts and any particular conditions. You cannot apply and receive awards two cycles in a row unless directed to do so by the Board.

Who Is The Board Of The Community Sustaining Fund?

They are your friends, neighbors, co-workers, co-op members and others who have provided a strong foundation of reaching out to the community and giving back in this volunteer fashion. The Board meets monthly on the second Saturday morning of the month for about 90 minutes. Minimalist Board biographies can be accessed here.

Thank You - Cashiers Of The Olympia Food Co-op

We plan to have co-op kiosks providing CSF information including benefits and fund-raising events. CSF will be "tabling" sporadically at the co-ops and elsewhere in Olympia. Thank you for your attention and support. You as cashiers are playing a critical role in supporting the Community Sustaining Fund through "rounding-up". Please also consider applying for Board membership. There is no dress code. We have fun talking through opportunities and visioning, respectfully. We do NOT at this time have 501(c)(3) no-profit status as determined by the IRS.