Community Foundation for Southwest Washington

Community Foundation for Southwest Washington directs scholarship support to students in Washington through programs tied to specific schools, communities, and fields of study. Its scholarship activity reaches graduating seniors and undergraduates pursuing professional certification, associate, and bachelor’s degrees, with eligibility often defined by place, school affiliation, or academic focus. The organization’s scholarship portfolio shows a strong regional orientation within Washington. The Robert and Margaret Pulliam Scholarship serves graduating seniors from Castle Rock, Kalama, Kelso, Mark Morris, R.A. Long, and Wahkiakum High School, with applications scheduled to open on 12/1/2025 and close on 4/15/2026. That program supports students pursuing postsecondary education and gives special consideration to academic achievement and community service, with awards up to $1,600. Other scholarships connected with the foundation extend that regional and targeted approach: the Leslie B. Durst and Shirley S. Durst Scholarship supports seniors at the Vancouver School of Arts and Academics who plan to study fine arts, literary arts, moving image arts, music, dance, or theatre, while the Roy F. Mather Scholarship supports Clark County students studying engineering at the associate or bachelor’s level. Taken together, these programs position Community Foundation for Southwest Washington as a place-based philanthropic institution focused on educational advancement in Washington. It supports students at the transition from high school to college or certification programs, as well as undergraduates in defined disciplines, and it uses named scholarships to connect donor intent with local educational opportunity across communities including Longview, Castle Rock, Kalama, Cathlamet, Vancouver, and Clark County.