The Lu Winsor Memorial Environmental Grant Program was launched in 2003 as an extension of Peninsula Light Company’s Green by Choice initiative, which allowed PenLight members to incorporate green energy into their power mix. To support this effort, PenLight committed $5,000 annually to help establish the grant program. Recognizing its value, Pierce County Water Programs joined soon after, matching PenLight’s contribution and bringing total annual grant funding to approximately $10,000 for the program’s first decade.

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In 2014, the Lu Winsor Environmental Grant Fund was established as a managed fund under the Greater Gig Harbor Foundation. Since then, the fund has been supported by donor‑directed gifts and proceeds from the Cider Swig Festival, enabling the program to award approximately $25,000 in grants each year to local nonprofits, schools, and agencies advancing environmental stewardship throughout the KGI Watershed.

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​Today, the Greater Gig Harbor Foundation manages the fund alongside the community foundation's other funds, with program co-management in partnership with Pierce County.

 

Annually, the Review Committee is staffed by a dedicated team that includes representatives from the Foundation and Pierce County, with additional review panelists—often from the City of Gig Harbor, Pierce Conservation District, and interested community members—participating each year. Since 2014, the program has awarded over $300,000 in grants, advancing environmental initiatives throughout the KGI Watershed.

 

Learn more about the KGI Watershed Council's goals here