Seattle, WA (June 13, 2025) |
Verity Credit Union, a $757 million Seattle-based financial institution known for its socially responsible and community-rooted banking, announced today the six recipients of its Spring 2025 Microgrant Program, awarding a total of $32,500 to local nonprofit organizations. The Washington State Coalition of African Community Leaders (WSCACL) received the top award of $7,500, and the $5,000 awardees include Washington United Migrant (WUM), the Not Forgotten Foundation, the Rainier Avenue Business Coalition, the Village Life Project, and Independent Achievements for Minority Youth (I.A.M.U). These six recipients were chosen from 100+ applications, underscoring their vital contributions to the communities they serve.
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 74 organizations, giving more than $230,000 specifically to those with limited access to traditional funding due to organizational size, age, or tax-exemption status.
“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 tiers of unrestricted grant dollars to such deserving organizations, warmly welcoming them into the Verity Credit Union community. We can’t wait to see the impact on the recipient organizations’ growth and success and benefits received by individuals, groups, and businesses they serve.”
This cycle, Verity emphasized organizations whose work aligns with its mission as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). The recipients reflect the financial institutions’ continued commitment to trust-based philanthropy, racial equity, and co-creating financial systems that serve those most excluded.
Recipients of Verity Credit Union microgrants will utilize the funding to support necessary programs, build organizational infrastructure, respond to urgent community needs, and expand service offerings.
Verity Credit Union’s Spring 2025 Microgrant recipients are:
Washington State Coalition of African Community Leaders (WSCACL) is the largest African-led nonprofit in Washington State, bringing together over 170 member organizations and individuals in King, Snohomish, Pierce, and Thurston counties. WSCACL’s work reflects a deep commitment to community-designed pathways to economic mobility through youth-led environmental justice, civic engagement, leadership training, and nonprofit development.
Washington United Migrant (WUM) is a grassroots organization founded by migrants from Chile, Mexico, and Peru. WUM provides economic mobility pathways for migrant and farmworker communities in Yakima, Tri-Cities, and Olympia through culturally relevant financial education, small business coaching, and leadership development, utilizing a ‘migrant-to-migrant’ approach that centers lived experience and trust.
Not Forgotten Foundation is a grassroots, BIPOC-led organization committed to disrupting the cycles of incarceration by building economic and emotional stability for families across King and Pierce counties. The organization provides reentry support and youth leadership programming for impacted communities. Its work centers on housing assistance, job readiness, mental health care, and mentorship.
Rainier Avenue Business Coalition (Rainier ABC) serves as a critical resource for BIPOC and immigrant-owned small businesses in Southeast Seattle, offering hands-on one-on-one support to business owners facing systemic and structural barriers to economic growth. Rainier ABC builds economic mobility and resilience for businesses often excluded from traditional systems of support.
Village Life Project works across King and Pierce counties to disrupt cycles of harm and restore collective wellbeing. Its services range from youth leadership and violence prevention to housing navigation, employment support, and financial health education. Village Life Project creates pathways for healing and long-term economic mobility, with a team led by those directly impacted by the systems it seeks to change.
Independent Achievements for Minority Youth (I.A.M.U) is creating real, generational change in schools, detention centers, and neighborhoods most impacted by incarceration and violence. It expands access to workforce development, mentorship, reentry support, and community-based programs that interrupt cycles of poverty and incarceration. I.A.M.U offers various programs with a common theme of being rooted in trust and a commitment to equity.
For more information on the Verity Credit Union Microgrant Program, visit the link HERE. Microgrant Recipient Images Can Be Found HERE.