BELLINGHAM, WA (August 17, 2026) – Four organizations working to expand educational opportunities and create stronger communities in Whatcom and Skagit counties will receive a combined $125,000 from WECU through its 2026 Education First Grant Program.
The two-year grants will support Mercy Housing, Lummi Natural Resources Outreach, Foundation for Academic Endeavors, and Center for Inclusive Entrepreneurship as they provide educational programs, resources and opportunities to people of all ages and backgrounds throughout the region.
“Education has been at the heart of WECU since our founding, and these organizations are carrying that legacy forward in ways that make a meaningful difference in our communities,” said Reid Frederick, Director of Community Impact at WECU. “We’re proud to invest in their work and help create more opportunities for people to learn, grow and build a stronger future.”
Through the program, WECU partners with organizations whose work aligns with its commitment to education and community impact. The 2026 recipients represent a range of educational initiatives, from supporting children and families to developing future educators, preserving cultural knowledge and helping aspiring entrepreneurs build successful businesses.
2026 Education First Grant Awardees:
Mercy Housing supports housing-based education and family stability, which helps low-income youth stay connected to school, build trusted adult relationships, and move toward graduation, college, and career pathways.
Lummi Natural Resources Outreach promotes and protects Sche’lang’en (Way of Life) in perpetuity by teaching traditional and scientific ecological knowledge to the next generation of tribal youth.
Foundation for Academic Endeavors serves individuals aged preschool through college with a mentorship model that includes Summer Academy, the Échale Ganas (“Go Get It!”) Internship, and the FAE Fellowship in college, with an emphasis on developing future Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) educators.
Center for Inclusive Entrepreneurship (CIE) its mission is to make business ownership possible for people with limited resources in marginalized rural communities. CIE envisions rural places with resilient, self-reliant, and just local economies benefiting all life.
About WECU
WECU is a member-owned, not-for-profit credit union headquartered in Bellingham, Washington. WECU was founded in 1936 as the Bellingham Teacher’s Credit Union. Today, it serves over 172,000 members with more than $3.0 billion in assets. WECU is committed to enhancing the financial well-being of its members and making a positive impact in the communities it serves.
