Jacob Dimond / jake@yelmonline.com
In an effort to provide assistance to local nonprofit organizations that already serve the local community in a big capacity, the City of Yelm is accepting applications to provide funding for outside agencies through Aug. 31.
Mayor Joe DePinto said $40,000 has been allocated for the 2026 funding cycle. Applications submitted by local nonprofit organizations will be reviewed in September, and presentations will be hosted in front of Yelm City Council in the meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 7. Approved funding will be included as part of the biennial budget and will be funded for 2026.
The deadline for applying is 5 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 31.
DePinto told the Nisqually Valley News that outside agency funding is a big opportunity for local nonprofit organizations to receive some extra funds to continue serving the local community.
“This is a way that the city standardized funding requests from nonprofits in the City of Yelm prior to my administration. It was more of a who-you-know type of thing,” DePinto said. “Now, it’s standardized so everyone is on a level playing field.”
This year, five local nonprofits received funding from the City of Yelm, including Yelm Senior Center, Total Sports Development, Bounty for Families, South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity and Rebuilding Together Thurston County.
Yelm Senior Center received $24,000 — the most of the five nonprofits. The senior center’s volunteer Executive Director Jeanie James has previously shared testimony on the organization’s behalf on how much that funding means to the local senior community center.
DePinto believes more organizations like Yelm Senior Center could benefit from applying for city funding.
“This year, we have up to $40,000 for outside agencies, nonprofits to apply for. One of the big recipients of this funding has been the Yelm Senior Center recently. We do give a decent amount to them each year, and this is the format they use to apply for funding,” DePinto said. “If you’re helping a large portion of residents in Yelm, come apply for this. We want to help you and support local programs and organizations that support our residents here. We’re very pro-Yelm, and we want to make sure everyone has the ability to help others and serve others as much as they can.”
