A foundation of neighbors
Founded in 1978, Common Ground has been the county's shared checkbook for good ideas ever since.
Our story
In 1978, a group of local bankers, teachers and farmers pooled $12,000 to keep the county's last public library branch open. They called it Common Ground because everyone had a stake in the outcome.
Over four decades the fund grew into an endowment that supports schools, clinics, food programs and the arts. Our model has not changed: local donors, local decisions and local results.
Today we steward more than 300 named funds, from a single scholarship to a major civic endowment, and we help donors give in ways that match their values.
How we work
Local first
Gifts stay in Washington County, always.
Listen before funding
We ask residents what they need before we open a grant round.
Trust the experts nearby
Grant panels include volunteers who know the issues firsthand.
Open books
Our grants, assets and costs are published every year.
How we got here
A few moments that shaped who we are today.
$12,000 and an idea
Founders pool their gifts to save a library branch.
First named funds
Families begin creating funds in their own names.
Youth Grants launch
Students gain a voice and a budget.
$4.2M granted
Our largest year of giving supports 160 programs.
Staff and board
PresidentEleanor Whitcomb
A former county commissioner who has led Common Ground since 2014.
Director of GrantsMarcus Delgado
Walks every applicant through the process, from idea to report.
Donor ServicesHannah Kessler
Helps families design funds that fit their values.
Volunteer Network LeadJerome Pruitt
Matches 2,300 volunteers with projects that need them.
What we stand for
- Every neighborhood has strengths worth investing in.
- Good ideas can come from anyone.
- Giving works best when it is local and lasting.
- Trust and transparency are earned every year.
- Together we do more than any of us can do alone.
Invest in the place you call home
Stop by for coffee, a grant consultation or a tour of the community room.