BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Habitat for Humanity in Whatcom County received an early Christmas present in the form of a surprise grant.

The organization was originally supposed to receive a $2,500 donation but instead received a $10,000 grant from the Washington Federal Foundation (WaFd) and Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) of Des Moines.

The donation was quadrupled due to the FHLB of Des Moines’ member impact fund. The fund offered to match three times the amount of grants issued to nonprofits fighting housing insecurity in Washington.

“As the need for affordable housing in Whatcom County grows, funding like this becomes increasingly important,” said Elle England, Habitat for Humanity communications coordinator in Whatcom County.

England says the grant will directly contribute a to energy-efficient, ADA-friendly single-family home in Custer. The home will be purchased by a homebuyer who has been a part of their Habitat homeowner program since 2022.

The member impact fund turned grants from WaFd Bank into $202,000 which was distributed to organizations in Everett, Lake Stevens, Lynwood, Pierce, Thurston, Skagit and Whatcom counties.