Communities in Schools of Washington State
COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS OF is a public charity based in Tacoma, Washington. Its website identifies the organization as Communities In Schools of Washington (CISWA), a statewide network that works with schools and affiliates to connect students with support. CISWA says its network serves more than 109,000 students across 205 K–12 schools in 40 districts; nearly 6,000 receive individualized support.
Communities in Schools of Washington State at a glance
In short: Communities in Schools of Washington State gave $2.5M across 13 grants in 2025 (avg $194K), mostly in Washington. 0% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,525,970
- -31.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 13
- -7.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $194,305
- -26.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $143,570
- Total assets
- $3,761,376
- +11.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 0% first-time grantees (0 of 13, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Washington (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Communities in Schools of Washington State
- Contact
Mailing address: 1001 Pacific Ave 240, Tacoma, WA 98402
Phone: (253) 248-1991
Website: https://ciswa.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Communities in Schools of Washington State funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was CIS of Central WA ($423K). Together the top 10 received $2.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
69 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 35 grants of 69 (51%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The organization is based in Tacoma, Washington. Its website describes statewide work through affiliates across Washington. The 2025 filing reports that all grant dollars went to Washington recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Communities in Schools of Washington State open to new grantees?
0%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 0 of 13 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. With only 13 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. How we count
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2021–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.2M (2021) to $3.7M (2024). In 2025 it made 13 grants totaling $2.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CIS of Central WA Yakima, WA | Program Supports | $423,361 |
| CIS of Peninsula Lakebay, WA | Program Supports | $318,659 |
| CIS of Blue Mountain Walla Walla, WA | Program Supports | $318,659 |
| CIS of Spokane County Spokane, WA | Program Supports | $316,159 |
| CIS of Rural Eastern WA Spokane, WA | Program Supports | $275,375 |
| CIS of Whatcom-Skagit Bellingham, WA | Program Supports | $240,008 |
| CIS of Kent Kent, WA | Program Supports | $143,570 |
| CIS of Greater King County Renton, WA | Program Supports | $122,803 |
| CIS of Benton Franklin Richaland, WA | Program Supports | $111,756 |
| CIS of Puyallup Puyallup, WA | Program Supports | $65,655 |
Ready to take the next step with Communities in Schools of Washington State?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $3,761,376 | $5,055,244 | $4,665,213 | $2,525,970 | 13 | $177,689 |
| 2024 | $3,374,013 | $4,398,176 | $5,436,695 | $3,687,325 | 14 | $98,930 |
| 2023 | $3,954,118 | $4,112,836 | $4,712,395 | $3,228,896 | 15 | $81,105 |
| 2022 | $4,113,810 | $5,321,695 | $3,107,450 | $1,678,888 | 15 | $5,808 |
| 2021 | $1,570,162 | $2,327,710 | $2,117,069 | $1,167,579 | 12 | $872 |
| 2020 | $1,200,041 | $2,411,341 | $2,337,432 | — | — | $6,785 |
| 2019 | $1,248,236 | $2,359,061 | $1,714,105 | — | — | $3,266 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The IRS filing refers readers to Schedule O for the organization’s mission. On its website, CISWA says it works to ensure every student has the support needed to succeed in school and life. Its stated areas of work include mental health support, housing instability, family engagement, basic needs, academic assistance, and college and career preparation.
The 2025 filing shows grants to Washington Communities In Schools affiliates for “program supports.” One recipient, Communities In Schools of Greater King County, describes its own mission as focusing on students furthest from educational justice in elementary and secondary schools in the Renton, Lake Washington, Issaquah, and Seattle school districts.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the organization reported 13 grants totaling $2,525,970. Grant amounts ranged from $61,155 to $423,361, with a median of $143,570. The largest reported grants included $423,361 to CIS of Central WA, $318,659 each to CIS of Peninsula and CIS of Blue Mountain, and $316,159 to CIS of Spokane County. Each was reported for program support. The filing reports that all 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in Washington.
The 2023 filing states that CISWA maintains subrecipient agreements with grantees that set out a scope of work and reporting requirements. Grant reports may be semi-annual or annual, and subsequent installments and eligibility for future funding depend on meeting requirements.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Erica Limon-Trefielo as interim state executive director; Kayla McKinney as finance/operations manager; Hannah Gbenro as chair; Tod Droppelman as vice chair; and Donna Clark as treasurer/finance committee chair. It also lists Heather Andersen, Kristin Barsness, Michael Halliday, Farrah Kalotay, and Julie Kerby as members.
Communities in Schools of Washington State is led by Erica Limon-Trefielo, Interim State Executive Director on the 2025 filing; 2 of 12 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Erica Limon-Trefielo
Interim State Executive Director
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$142K (2025)
Hannah Gbenro
Chair
Member → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kayla McKinney
Finance & Operations Manager
Operations Manager → Finance & Operations Manager, 2023
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$20K (2019) → $106K (2025)
Donna Clark
Treasurer & Finance Committee Cha
Treasure: Finance Committee Chair → Treasurer, 2022
Treasurer → Treasurer & Finance Committee Cha, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Payne
Member
Resource Development Chair → Vice Chair, 2024
Vice Chair → Member, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Julie Kerby
Member
Board Development Chair → Chair, 2023
Chair → Member, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Farrah Kalotay
Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kristin Barsness
Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tod Droppelman
Vice Chair
Member → Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Heather Andersen
Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Halliday
Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rayann Silva
Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (25)
- Former: Doug Cj Martin (2019–2024) — Member
- Former: Steve Bergquist (2022–2024) — Member
- Former: Elizabeth Hodges (2023–2024) — State Director
- Former: Rebecca Lane (2024) — State Director
- Former: Aline R. Carnahan (2019–2023) — Past Chair
- Former: Brenda Croft (2019–2023) — Treasurer & Finance Chair
- Former: Brett Smith (2019–2023) — Member
- Former: Nicholas T. Muy (2019–2023) — Finance Committee
- Former: Tim D. Haser (2019–2023) — Secretary
- Former: Dan Donohue (2021–2023) — Resource Development Committee
- Former: Roshae Lowe (2021–2023) — Member
- Former: Aaron Barsotti (2022–2023) — Member
- Former: Anne Bryant (2022–2023) — Member
- Former: Corby Caslert (2022–2023) — Member
- Former: Cathy Tabor (2019–2022) — Member
- Former: Jason Smith (2019–2022) — Member
- Former: Erin McCallum (2021–2022) — Executive Director Starti
- Former: Josh Richardson (2022) — Member
- Former: Brandon McCraw (2019–2021) — Board Development Committee
- Former: Brian Rayfield (2019–2021) — Resource Development Committee
- Former: Michael Edmonds (2019–2021) — Resource Development Committee
- Former: Susan Richards (2019–2021) — Executive Director
- Former: Agda Burchard (2019–2020) — Board Development Committee
- Former: Blake Harris (2019–2020) — Board Development Committee
- Former: Mary Porter (2019–2020) — Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $142K, to Erica Limon-Trefielo (Interim State Executive Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Communities in Schools of Washington State
How much does Communities in Schools of Washington State give each year?
Communities in Schools of Washington State gave $2.5M across 13 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $3.7M across 14 grants.
What is Communities in Schools of Washington State's typical grant size?
Communities in Schools of Washington State's median grant in 2025 was $143,570, and its average grant was $194,305, across 13 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Communities in Schools of Washington State give grants?
Communities in Schools of Washington State gives mostly in Washington: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Spokane, WA (2 grants).
Does Communities in Schools of Washington State give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 13 grants with a stated purpose on Communities in Schools of Washington State's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Supports" (13 grants).
Who are Communities in Schools of Washington State's largest grantees?
Communities in Schools of Washington State's largest 2025 grantees include CIS of Central WA ($423,361), CIS of Peninsula ($318,659) and CIS of Blue Mountain ($318,659), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 42% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Communities in Schools of Washington State?
Communities in Schools of Washington State reported $3.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $5.1M.
What does Communities in Schools of Washington State fund?
The IRS filing refers readers to Schedule O for the organization’s mission. On its website, CISWA says it works to ensure every student has the support needed to succeed in school and life. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Communities in Schools of Washington State?
Communities in Schools of Washington State has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check ciswa.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Communities in Schools of Washington State's EIN?
Communities in Schools of Washington State's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-1541026. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 25, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 3, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 8, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 7, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 25, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Communities in Schools of Washington State funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 25, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/communities-in-schools-of-washington-state-morg_9b29c1cf910c45a7ad69a5a0383d8634
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_911541026_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Communities in Schools of Washington State funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/communities-in-schools-of-washington-state-morg_9b29c1cf910c45a7ad69a5a0383d8634},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-25. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Communities in Schools of Washington State's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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