When people think about Vibe Coworks, they most often think of business. And for good reason: we serve as a happy work place close to home for hundreds of Kitsap’s local professionals, remote workers, freelancers, consultants, coaches, and business owners.
Perhaps less immediately obvious, though, we have the honor of serving dozens of our area’s local nonprofits and nonprofit professionals, too.
At Vibe, we believe that successful communities are built on strong connections between businesses and nonprofits. Many of our members are business owners, entrepreneurs, and professionals who actively support nonprofits—whether through donations, volunteering, board leadership, or partnerships. When businesses invest in social impact, they help create a thriving local economy, stronger social support systems, and a better quality of life for everyone.
As the 2025 Kitsap Great Give kicks off this week, the incredible impact of Kitsap’s nonprofit community is at the forefront of our mind. The Kitsap Great Give is an annual, 24-hour online giving event hosted by the Kitsap Community Foundation. It’s designed to bring the community together in support of local nonprofits by amplifying donations through matching funds and special prizes.
Since 2014, the Kitsap Great Give has generated over $17 million dollars for organizations that strengthen our region.
Kitsap’s nonprofit organizations use Vibe Coworks for board meetings, strategic planning sessions, community events, and a place to do their best work. Why is this important?
Because when mission-driven organizations have a place to connect, they can amplify their impact even further.
Today, we’re shining a spotlight on just a handful of the nonprofits that we’re honored to serve here at Vibe, as well as some of the nonprofits that our members are personally most passionate about, with the hope that it may inspire you to give generously in this year’s Kitsap Great Give.
1. Catalyst Public Schools
Why it matters: Catalyst Public Schools is dedicated to providing innovative, high-quality education that prepares students for success in college, career, and life. We love hosting the Catalyst Public Schools leadership team in our meeting rooms for professional development and strategic planning, and get to hear directly about the impact of their work through the stories we hear from Vibe member kids who attend school there.
Donate to their Kitsap Great Give page here.
2. ChangeUp Foundation
Why it matters: Founded by a Vibe member, the ChangeUp Foundation helps crowdfund financial support for BIPOC students in Kitsap from diverse backgrounds who have the passion and determination to continue their education and create opportunities for themselves despite facing challenging obstacles. The foundation also provides direct support to Bremerton High School students seeking higher education, and empowers young people in Kitsap County by providing mentorship, leadership opportunities, and resources to help them build bright futures.
Donate to their Kitsap Great Give page here.
3. Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance
Why It Matters: They’re making West Sound one of the most incredible places to ride your mountain bike in the world! Vibe member Dani Wasia shared:
“I support this nonprofit because of their dedication to inclusive, ethical mountain biking and land stewardship. This crew builds amazing bike trails and takes responsible land use and partnership seriously. Mountain biking can be a tough sport to break into, for myriad reasons. The West Sound chapter consistently makes space for all mountain bikers to have a fun, rowdy, and responsible time on the trails.”
4. Girls on the Run West Sound
Why it matters: Girls on the Run West Sound inspires young girls to be joyful, healthy, and confident through a program that creatively integrates running with life skills development. Several Vibe members generously serve as coaches to the program, and we are proud to serve as the organization’s home base for their annual strategic planning retreat in our large event space.
Donate to their Kitsap Great Give page here.
5. Kitsap Cancer Services
Why it matters: Kitsap Cancer Services provides grants to help cancer patients stay in treatment. The grants may be used to help meet basic needs or access medical services including medications, health insurance, co-pays, or transportation.
Kitsap Cancer Services has been a member of Vibe since 2018, leveraging our meeting space for their monthly board meetings, while multiple Vibe members have served on the Kitsap Cancer Services Board. Notes Vibe Member Leah Persinger:
Kitsap Cancer Services provided a grant to me during my treatment for Acute Myloid Leukemia. Then again during my Stem Cell Transplant. They are the only local nonprofit that helps patients and families of all cancer types. I am proud to serve as the Vice President for the Board of Directors.
Donate to their Kitsap Great Give page here.
6. Kitsap Strong
Why it matters: Kitsap Strong‘s work touches on every corner of our community, with a focus on improving the well-being and educational attainment of Kitsap residents, through empowerment and equity, the prevention of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and the building of resilience. You’ll often find Kitsap Strong leadership team members focused deep in on their work at Vibe, and we’ve been honored to host large Kitsap Strong events in our space, including recent Kitsap Strong resiliency trainings.
Donate to their Kitsap Great Give page here.
7. Leadership Kitsap
Why it matters: Leadership Kitsap fosters and empowers educated, prepared, and engaged community leaders, offering a signature annual leadership development program, 20 Under 40 Award program, a Premier Leadership Institute and helping to drive forward the Kitsap Women’s Summit, now in its second year. Vibe members have taken part in all of these programs, and Vibe has frequently served as a sponsor to support the work that they are doing to foster a culture of servant leadership across the Peninsulas.
Donate to their Kitsap Great Give page here.
8. League of Women Voters of Washington – Kitsap County
Why it matters: The League of Women Voters educates and empowers voters, advocating for democracy and civic engagement through nonpartisan initiatives. Vibe Coworks has been honored to host some of the organization’s gatherings in our large event space over the past several years.
Donate to their Kitsap Great Give page here.
9. Love Me for Me
Why it matters: Love Me for Me serves the youth of our community through After School, Spring Break and Summer S.T.E.A.M workshops, youth empowerment and wellness programs, and youth entrepreneurship program called Young Minds Big Business. Their goal? To foster safe spaces, mentorship, and community-building opportunities that encourage self-acceptance and healthier lifestyles for young people. You may remember them from the 2024 White Tie Picnic in the Park, produced by Vibe Coworks, where a dozen of the program’s youth entrepreneurs were in attendance, sharing their small business ventures with picnic attendees.
Donate to their Kitsap Great Give page here.
10. Matchstick Lab
Why it matters: A spin-off of Vibe Coworks now fiscally-sponsored by the Kitsap Community Foundation, Matchstick Lab is making Kitsap the go-to place to launch and grow businesses that benefit the region and bring value to the world by partnering with regional, national and international sponsors to deliver education, investment, and storytelling resources to the community that ignites the full potential of startup and business development in Kitsap, and celebrates our distinct heritage, resources and talents. Ever been to a Lunchtime Lightning Talk or the Firebrand Unconference, or participated in the Micro Business Accelerator? That’s all made possible through Matchstick Lab!
Interested in doing more than making a financial donation? Matchstick Lab is developing a pool of mentors, speakers and volunteers, too. Add your name to the list.
Donate to their Kitsap Great Give page here.
11. NAACP Bremerton Branch
Why it matters: The NAACP Bremerton Branch serves as frontline advocates committed to raising awareness for political, educational, social and economic equality of minority group citizens in the electoral process. When our Bremerton location, The Spot, was still in operation, we loved serving as the NAACP Bremerton’s home base, not only for General Body meetings, but also for the Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO) program, where participants worked with community-based volunteers for a year to develop projects and performances. As a leading advocate for racial and social justice, the NAACP Bremerton Branch works to eliminate disparities and promote inclusivity across Kitsap County through education, policy reform, and community engagement.
Donate to their Kitsap Great Give page here.
12. Up From Slavery Initiative
Why it matters: The Up From Slavery Initiative works to preserve Black history and promote economic empowerment by fighting racial inequality, building wealth through financial literacy, and addressing mental health disparities. Their team leverages meeting space at Vibe, frequently attends community events in the space, and delivers a financial literacy program for elementary and high school age students that is a favorite of many Vibe member kids.
Donate to their Kitsap Great Give page here.
13. Voices of Pacific Island Nations (VOPIN)
Why it matters: Voices of Pacific Island Nations (VOPIN) is committed to inspiring Pasefika (Pacific Islander) students and families by providing high-quality, culturally responsive services and resources to eliminate educational and opportunity inequities. They serve as a bridge to develop stronger relationships between students, families, schools, and the community. You’ll find Vibe members on the VOPIN Board, and have likely seen them around the space in years past as they’ve planned and prepped for the annual Together for Education Luau and Fundraiser.
Donate to their Kitsap Great Give page here.
14. Wayzgoose Kitsap
Why it matters: If you’ve ever crossed paths with Wayzgoose Kitsap Executive Director who works regularly from Vibe, you already know that Wayzgoose Kitsap is on a mission to make art more accessible–through their festival, year-round programming, and by fostering a movement based on the belief that art heals. Since 2018, Vibe has proudly hosted an annual exhibit of Wayzgoose art prints in the Vibe Micro Gallery and, in 2024, we got the opportunity to experience the fun of carving + printing our very own print, too. Look for it (and other Wayzgoose prints we love) on our walls!
Donate to their Kitsap Great Give page here.
15. West Sound Roller Derby
Why it matters: If you’ve gotten a chair massage at Vibe from AmberDawn Massage, you’ve undoubtedly had the chance to hear about her adventures as an athlete with the West Sound Roller Derby club, which promotes empowerment, athleticism, and community through Kitsap’s only inclusive and competitive roller derby league.
Donate to their Kitsap Great Give page here.
How you can help
Vibe Coworks plays an important role as a hub for creating meaningful intersections between these and so many other nonprofits… along with the for-profits we serve.
The Kitsap Great Give is a once-a year opportunity for all of us to come together and support the causes that matter most. This 24-hour online giving event, hosted by the Kitsap Community Foundation, amplifies donations through matching funds and prizes, making it one of the most impactful ways to give locally.
Here’s how you can participate:
- Volunteer your time and skills to help these organizations grow.
- Donate to your favorite local nonprofits on during the Kitsap Great Give
- Spread the word on social media to encourage others to give.
We’re proud to be part of a community that values giving back. Perhaps now more than ever, nonprofits play a critical role in filling gaps that businesses and governments can’t always address on their own. By working together, businesses and nonprofits create a more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient community—one where both economic growth and social good can go hand in hand.
Do you have a favorite local nonprofit you’d like to highlight, drop by the space or tag us on social media—we’d love to celebrate them with you!
Let’s make this Kitsap Great Give the most impactful yet.