Thurston County Economic Development COU
Thurston County Economic Development Council is based in Lacey, Washington, and works to support economic development in Thurston County. The organization says it has worked to support the county’s economy since 1981. Its activities include helping retain and expand local businesses and attracting investment and employment opportunities.
Key facts about Thurston County Economic Development COU
In short: Thurston County Economic Development COU gave $500K across 10 grants in 2024 (avg $50K), mostly in Washington. 50% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 91-1183169
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $500,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 10
- Average grant
- $50,000
- Median grant
- $50,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 50% first-time grantees (5 of 10, 2024; small sample)
- Total assets
- $1,094,093
- Primary geography
- Washington (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$1.1M
+10.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$500K
+572.0% YoY
Grant Count
10
+25.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$50K
+437.6% YoY
Is Thurston County Economic Development COU open to new grantees?
50%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 5 of 10 grantees (50%) were first-time recipients. With only 10 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 10 points. First grants averaged $50K; repeat grants $50K. How we count
Medians: $50K first-time, $50K repeat.
- 0% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−10%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s stated mission is to promote and increase sustainable economic, investment, and employment opportunities throughout Thurston County in support of residents’ livelihoods and values. Its website describes three principles: retaining local businesses through technical assistance and advocacy, supporting employers seeking to expand, and recruiting investment and employment opportunities through outreach, promotion, and trade missions.
The 2024 filing describes the APEX Accelerator as providing businesses with one-on-one assistance with bid reviews, marketing, contract performance, small-business certifications, and government-contract registration, as well as procurement training. The filing also describes Thurston Strong as an economic response and recovery initiative intended to fund businesses affected by COVID-19. It reports that, in 2024, more than $1.8 million went to grant awardees specifically for childcare businesses.
Grantmaking
The 2024 IRS filing lists 10 grants totaling $500,000. Each grant was $50,000, and all listed recipients were in Washington. The stated purpose for each was daycare assistance. Recipients were Kindergarden in the Garden, Loving and Learning Early Education, Capital Kids Childcare, Good Times Childcare, House of Grace Childcare, Ashav LLC dba Lots of Love Daycare, Rochester Roots Daycare II, Sequoia’s Treehouse LLC, Tracy’s Westside Daycare, and Tender Care Moments.
The organization’s website reported that Thurston EDC and Thurston Strong awarded startup grants to 10 new small businesses in 2022. The application period announced for that program ran from March 1 through May 1, 2022; this was a past cycle.
No application process or materials for current grants are stated in the available information.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Thurston County Economic Development COU
Agriculture Sector Recovery Program (ASRP) / Ag Labor Program
Thurston County Economic Development COU
Amount
Up to $20,000 per producer
Deadline
Deadline not published
Thurston County Target Zone Business Startup Grant
Thurston County Economic Development COU
Amount
$1,000,000 total (awarded to 10 businesses in 2022 round)
Deadline
Deadline not published
Ready to take the next step with Thurston County Economic Development COU?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The organization’s stated mission and economic development work concern Thurston County. All 10 grants itemized in the 2024 filing went to recipients in Washington.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $74K (2023) to $6.2M (2020). In 2024 it made 10 grants totaling $500K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Kindergarden in the Garden ($50K). Together the top 10 received $500K.
Grant Size Distribution
833 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 801 grants of 833 (96%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Kindergarden in the Garden Olympia, WA | Daycare Assistance | $50,000 |
| Loving and Learning Early Education Yelm, WA | Daycare Assistance | $50,000 |
| Capital Kids Childcare Lacey, WA | Daycare Assistance | $50,000 |
| Good Times Childcare Lacey, WA | Daycare Assistance | $50,000 |
| House of Grace Childcare Olympia, WA | Daycare Assistance | $50,000 |
| Ashav LLC DBA Lots of Love Daycare Lacey, WA | Daycare Assistance | $50,000 |
| Rochester Roots Daycare II Rochester, WA | Daycare Assistance | $50,000 |
| Sequoia's Treehouse LLC Olympia, WA | Daycare Assistance | $50,000 |
| Tracy's Westside Daycare Olympia, WA | Daycare Assistance | $50,000 |
| Tender Care Moments Lacey, WA | Daycare Assistance | $50,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,094,093 | $5,872,013 | $5,822,485 | $500,000 (10) |
| 2023 | $994,445 | $4,341,072 | $4,295,565 | $74,403 (8) |
| 2022 | $900,230 | $8,399,812 | $8,308,981 | $4,724,332 (361) |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,094,093 | $994,445 | $900,230 |
| Revenue | $5,872,013 | $4,341,072 | $8,399,812 |
| Expenses | $5,822,485 | $4,295,565 | $8,308,981 |
| Net Investment Income | $795 | $233 | $133 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 6, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 5, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Brian Fluetsch, Carrie Whisler, Cecelia Loveless, Chris Woods, Dan Jones, Daryl Fourtner, David Schaffert, Denise Sawatzky, Evan Parker, and Grace Kendall as directors.
Thurston County Economic Development COU is led by Michael Cade, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 5 of 28 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Michael Cade
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$142K (2020) → $171K (2024)
Mark Steepy
President
Director → President-Elect, 2021
President-Elect → President, 2022
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Thomas R. Meade
Director of Strategic Alliance
Director of Strategic Alliances → Director of Strategic Alliance, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$107K (2023) → $110K (2024)
Brian Fluetsch
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carrie Whisler
Director
Immediate Past President → Vice President, 2023
Vice President → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dan Jones
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Daryl Fourtner
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Evan Parker
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jessica Jensen
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joe Depinto
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Timothy Stokes
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marc Daily
Director
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Wayne Fournier
Director
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cecelia Loveless
Director
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Chris Woods
Director
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jim Cooper
Director
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nancy Lapointe
Director
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Peter Agabi
Director
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tony Taylor
Director
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Schaffert
Director
New on the 2024 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Denise Sawatzky
Director
New on the 2024 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Grace Kendall
Director
New on the 2024 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tiffany Scroggs
Program Manager
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$106K (2022) → $127K (2024)
Heidi McCutcheon
Deputy Director
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$112K (2023) → $127K (2024)
Kathleen Hoy
Program Manager
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$107K (2024)
Heather Burgess
Immediate Past President
President-Elect → President, 2021
President → Immediate Past President, 2022
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael McGauly
Secretary & Treasurer
Treasurer → Secretary & Treasurer, 2021
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Malcolm Miller
President-Elect
Director → President-Elect, 2024
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (21)
- Former: Reid Bates (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Gary Edwards (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Annette Pitts (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Joe Downing (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Shina Wysocki (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Gene Angel (2023) — Director of Research & Evaluation
- Former: Ann Freeman-Manzanares (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Bill McGregor (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Charlie Schneider (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: David Burnett (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Ed Kunkel (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Jace Munson (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Perry Shea (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Roy Heynderickx (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Yen Huynh (2021) — Director
- Former: Jessica Bateman (2020) — Director
- Former: John Hutchings (2020) — Director
- Former: Kelsey Hulse (2020) — Director
- Former: Mark Turner (2020) — Director
- Former: Rozanne Garman (2020) — Secretary
- Former: Wayne Mannie (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $171K, to Michael Cade (Executive Director). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 4220 6Th Ave Se, Lacey, WA 98503
Phone: (360) 754-6320
Website: https://thurstonedc.com
Frequently asked questions about Thurston County Economic Development COU
How much does Thurston County Economic Development COU give each year?
Thurston County Economic Development COU gave $500K across 10 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $74K across 8 grants.
What is Thurston County Economic Development COU's typical grant size?
Thurston County Economic Development COU's median grant in 2024 was $50,000, and its average grant was $50,000, across 10 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Thurston County Economic Development COU that year got $50K on average.
Where does Thurston County Economic Development COU give grants?
Thurston County Economic Development COU gives mostly in Washington: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Olympia, WA (4 grants) and Lacey, WA (4 grants).
Does Thurston County Economic Development COU give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 10 grants with a stated purpose on Thurston County Economic Development COU's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Daycare Assistance" (10 grants).
Who are Thurston County Economic Development COU's largest grantees?
Thurston County Economic Development COU's largest 2024 grantees include Kindergarden in the Garden ($50,000), Loving and Learning Early Education ($50,000) and Capital Kids Childcare ($50,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 30% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Thurston County Economic Development COU?
Thurston County Economic Development COU reported $1.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $5.9M.
What does Thurston County Economic Development COU fund?
The organization’s stated mission is to promote and increase sustainable economic, investment, and employment opportunities throughout Thurston County in support of residents’ livelihoods and values. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Thurston County Economic Development COU?
Thurston County Economic Development COU has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check thurstonedc.com for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Thurston County Economic Development COU's EIN?
Thurston County Economic Development COU's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-1183169. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Here's the math on researching Thurston County Economic Development COU by hand.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Thurston County Economic Development COU's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
The Community Foundation of South Puget Sound
Olympia, WA
The Community Foundation of South Puget Sound funds nonprofits, fiscally sponsored projects, and tribal entities working in areas such as basic needs, arts, education, health, the environment, and civic life in Lewis, Mason, and Thurston counties. Its Community Grants typically range from $1,500 to $7,500; the program is expected to reopen for applications in 2027, and no general policy on unsolicited requests is stated.
Assets
$44.1M
Grants
121
Total Given
$4.1M
The Norcliffe Foundation
Seattle, WA
The Norcliffe Foundation funds Puget Sound nonprofits in areas including human services, education, healthcare, arts and culture, environment, and community projects; it supports programs, operations, capacity building, and capital projects. Grants vary widely, but the median is $20,000 and nearly 60% are $15,000 or less. It serves 11 counties in Washington’s Puget Sound region and accepts applications year-round through its online system.
Assets
$1.0B
Grants
454
Total Given
$56.5M
Dawkins Charitable Trust
Olympia, WA
The Olympia-based Dawkins Charitable Trust’s 2024 final return reported one $3,950,209 grant for community support to a Washington community foundation; it appears to have wound down after transferring its assets to the Community Foundation of South Puget Sound. It gave only to preselected organizations and did not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
—
Grants
1
Total Given
$4.0M
Artsfund
Seattle, WA
ArtsFund supports Washington arts and cultural organizations, primarily through unrestricted operating grants, with some project and capital support. Its 2025 itemized grants ranged from $5,934 to $860,000, with a median of $17,500; the Annual Allocations program is invitation-only, and the profile does not state whether other programs accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$9.6M
Grants
434
Total Given
$10.8M
Pacific Mountain Workforce Development Council
Olympia, WA
Pacific Mountain Workforce Development Council funds employment and training, youth workforce services, small-business support, and workforce partnerships in Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, and Thurston counties in Washington. Its 2025 grants ranged from $7,000 to $2,189,755, with a median of $19,392. It solicits proposals as needed from qualified service and training providers; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited grant requests.
Assets
$2.3M
Grants
27
Total Given
$4.7M
Puget Sound Energy Foundation
Wilmington, DE
The Puget Sound Energy Foundation funds nonprofits serving communities where PSE has a service or generation presence, primarily in Washington, across household needs, education and workforce pathways, climate resilience, and community safety. Grants vary widely; in 2024 they ranged from $13 to $100,000, with a $500 median, while its 2026 disaster-focused competitive program offers up to $15,000. It generally does not accept unsolicited requests, but eligible local nonprofits can apply through that competitive program.
Assets
$19.6M
Grants
451
Total Given
$1.2M
United Way of Thurston County
Olympia, WA
United Way of Thurston County mobilizes the caring power of our community to fight for the health, education and financial stability of every person in Thurston county.
Assets
—
Grants
0
Total Given
$72K
Credit Unions in the State of Washington Peak Credit Union
Olympia, WA
Peak Credit Union supports education and scholarships, community events, and sponsorships related to education, economic development, youth, and community well-being. Its 2024 grants ranged from $5,902 to $341,075, with a median award of $10,000; giving primarily benefited Washington, with some support in Oregon. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$4.3B
Grants
21
Total Given
$622K
Grays Harbor Community Foundation
Hoquiam, WA
Grays Harbor Community Foundation funds nonprofits and schools serving Grays Harbor County, Washington, in areas including education, basic needs, health, arts and culture, and community development. Community Building Grants typically range from $5,000 to $30,000, with Quarterly Impact Grants of up to $5,000; it accepts unsolicited requests from eligible nonprofits.
Assets
$119.8M
Grants
82
Total Given
$3.3M
Gates Foundation
Seattle, WA
The Gates Foundation funds work to reduce disease and poverty, improve health and gender equality in lower-income countries, and support education and economic mobility in the United States, especially Washington State; it works in more than 140 countries. Its 2024 grants had a median of $500,000, with awards ranging from $1 to $350.5 million. It generally does not accept unsolicited proposals, but periodically offers opportunities through published requests for proposals.
Assets
$78.7B
Grants
4,974
Total Given
$6.3B
M J Murdock Charitable Trust
Vancouver, WA
The M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust funds nonprofit capacity-building and projects in arts and culture, civic and community services, education, health and environmental stewardship, and scientific research across Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. Its 2024 median grant was $87,000, with awards ranging from $4,000 to about $1.55 million. Eligible organizations can submit a Letter of Inquiry; full applications are by invitation.
Assets
$2.0B
Grants
797
Total Given
$116.6M
Seattle Foundation
Seattle, WA
Seattle Foundation supports community-led solutions, racial and economic equity, policy and systems change, and a broad range of community needs through donor-recommended and foundation-directed grants. Its 2024 median grant was $6,000, and its giving primarily serves Greater Seattle and Washington, with some grants made nationally and internationally.
Assets
$1.4B
Grants
5,379
Total Given
$177.9M
More Funders in Washington
Thurston County Economic Development COU down — hundreds of funders to go?