Project Be Free and Sduhubs Cultural and Family Services, two Renton-based nonprofits, are one of the five organizations to receive Verity Credit Union’s Fall 2022 Microgrants.

Sduhubs Cultural and Family Services is dedicated to social welfare, health and education services for the Snohomish Tribe and its members and will receive $2,500 from Verity Credit Union, as will the other recipients.

The Snohomish Tribe is not federally recognized and does not receive federal support on the same level as other tribes. The Sduhubs Cultural and Family Services will use the microgrant for plans to expand cultural exchange and community support.

“The non-profit Sduhubs Cultural and Family Services provides cultural identity and other services for Treaty singers and other non-reservation descendants’ of The Snohomish Tribe of Indians,” said Michael C. Evans of Sduhubs. “We provide basic networking, referral and office-like needs for Tribal members and family. This grant bolsters the infrastructure so we can build family connections, identity and events.”

Project Be Free advocates for survivors in domestic violence calls throughout south King County. Their organization seeks to bridge the gap between marginalized communities and first responders and promote healing, cultural sensitivity, racial sensitivity and respectful services.

“They have a largely diverse group of social workers [and] therapists who are often bi-lingual, if not multi-lingual, and provide an element of trust in the face of uncertainty for many populations who have a historic distrust of law enforcement and the judicial system,” said Renton Chamber of Commerce CEO Diane Dobson.

“Our Microgrant program was designed to bolster organizations in our community whose work mirrors our own in contributing to the growth and success of individuals and groups that don’t have the same access to support and resources,” said Ziquora Banks, Chief Impact Strategy Officer at Verity Credit Union. “This year’s recipients demonstrate the reach of this program, meeting the unique needs of a diverse cross-section of communities.”

The program’s other recipients are Fresh Start Professional Services, South Tacoma Economic Green Zone and Yasuke Pharm.

Verity’s Microgrant program prioritizes organizations with a total asset size of less than $250,000. The program began in 2017 and accepts applicants on a rolling basis. Verity announces new recipients every spring and fall.