TACOMA, Wash. (Nov. 4, 2026) – Thirty-five years ago today, a coalition of Washington’s business and education leaders helped bring Communities In Schools to the state. As Communities In Schools of Washington (CISWA) celebrates its 35th anniversary, it thanks the companies, foundations, and individual donors who have supported its work over the decades and invites others to help shape its future.
Boeing and Costco helped launch the support, joining Washington education leaders to bring Communities In Schools to the state in 1991. Major philanthropic partners, including Ballmer Group and MacKenzie Scott, have helped the network grow through generous gifts that have enabled it to reach more schools and communities across Washington.
What began as an effort to connect students with the support they need beyond the classroom has grown into a statewide network reaching more than 144,000 students across 212 schools in 49 school districts. Through the Communities In Schools model of integrated student supports, caring adults work directly inside schools to connect students and families with resources, relationships, and opportunities that remove barriers to learning and help young people thrive.
“Thirty-five years ago, a group of Washington leaders bet on the belief that every student deserves someone in their corner,” said Dr. Gwynth R. Nelson, CEO and State Executive Director of CISWA. “This is a program that speaks for itself. It’s tried and true.”
Then and Now
| Then |
| 1991: Boeing, Costco and Washington education leaders invest in students on Day One |
| 1993-2007: Affiliates launch in Lakewood (1993), Seattle (1998), Peninsula (2000), Puyallup (2002) and Spokane County (2007) |
| Business leaders champion students |
| A founding promise to bring community resources into schools |
| Now |
| 2026: Companies, foundations and individual donors sustain a statewide network |
| Growth reaches Northwest Washington, Eastern Washington and the Kitsap Peninsula |
| Students will champion themselves at CISWA’s first Youth Advocacy Day, planned for February 12, 2027 |
| A vision of 50 more schools in six years and over 520 Title I schools in 100 districts within 10 years |
Gratitude for 35 Years of Support
Philanthropic investments have continued to strengthen and expand the network. In 2022, philanthropist MacKenzie Scott made a collective $5.85 million gift to CISWA and three Washington affiliates, providing unrestricted funding to strengthen support for students and families. A year later, Ballmer Group, co-founded by Connie and Steve Ballmer, made the largest targeted philanthropic investment in CISWA’s history with a $9 million commitment in 2023, supporting students in Title I schools and expanding CIS services into new regions of the state.
“CISWA empowers thousands of students with the necessary assistance to unlock their full potential,” said Kacey Guin, Portfolio Manager at Ballmer Group, at the time of the gift. “These essential programs create a significant impact on students and families.”
Heather Andersen, Chair of CISWA’s Board of Directors, first connected with the organization as a donor during the COVID-19 pandemic, after recognizing that many students lacked the resources and support available to her own children. Her commitment eventually grew into volunteer board service and leadership.
“One of the biggest reasons we’ve been so sustainable is because our impact is truly tangible,” Andersen said.
Andersen also credits the Site Coordinators who carry out the work in schools every day. “Without site coordinators, we wouldn’t have CIS,” she said.
Championing Students
Through trusted relationships, Site Coordinators help students address barriers to learning, build confidence, and pursue goals that matter to them.
“The end product is that those are our students, that our students are going out into the world, because we had the fortune to walk beside them, and the privilege to be able to walk beside them,” said Erica Limón-Trefielo, Deputy Director of CISWA.
CISWA continues to expand opportunities for students and site staff to share their experiences and help inform decisions affecting their schools and communities. The organization plans to hold its first Youth Advocacy Day on February 12, 2027, creating an opportunity to elevate student voices in conversations with policymakers. CISWA also plans to begin developing a statewide alumni network in 2027, giving former students opportunities to stay connected and share their experiences.
“There is no more powerful voice and no better messenger than students who are going through our programs themselves,” Limón-Trefielo said.
Nelson echoed the sentiment, adding, “It is more important than ever to advocate for our students and their families.”
The Vision Ahead
CISWA’s next chapter focuses on expanding into communities where integrated student supports are not yet available while strengthening the long-term sustainability of services across its existing network. Specifically, CISWA aims to add 50 schools over the next six years, with a 10-year vision of reaching 523 Title I schools in 100 school districts.
“There’s so much untapped potential here in Washington State,” Limón-Trefielo said. She emphasized the CISWA State Office’s role in helping realize that potential by bringing affiliates together and providing the training, professional development, and resources they need to strengthen their work and reach more students.
Continued investment from businesses, foundations, and individual supporters will be essential to reaching more students and ensuring they have access to caring adults and the resources they need to succeed. CISWA also recognizes the volunteer board members and community partners whose leadership and commitment have helped sustain the organization throughout its history.
“The best thing we can do is continue to tell our story,” Andersen said.
Join CISWA at 35
As CISWA celebrates 35 years, it invites Washington businesses, foundations and individuals to help shape the next chapter of showing up for students. Companies interested in corporate partnerships or workplace giving can learn more at ciswa.org and contact Tremayne Edwards, Director of Development for CISWA, at tremayne@ciswa.org.
Individuals can join the 35.35 Giving Circle with a monthly gift of $35.35 in honor of the anniversary.
Andersen encourages prospective supporters to remember someone who made a difference in their own lives. “Think about who that person is and then be that person for somebody else,” she said.
CISWA’s 35th Birthday Celebration will take place Thursday, January 7, 2027, from 4:30-7:30 p.m., at U.S. Bank Center, The Arbor – Juniper Room (1420 5th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101). For more details and to RSVP, please visit https://ciswa.org/event/ciswas-35th-birthday-celebration/.
Save the date for CISWA’s 35th Anniversary Gala scheduled for Saturday, May 8, 2027.
Subscribe to the CISWA newsletter to receive updates on both these events and other upcoming news from the organization.
About Communities In Schools of Washington
Communities In Schools® (CIS®) is a national organization that ensures every student, regardless of race, zip code, or socioeconomic background, has what they need to realize their potential in school and beyond. CIS began operating in Washington in 1991 to help provide resources to meet basic needs of students so they could fully benefit from their education. The Washington CIS network now includes the CIS of Washington state office and 12 affiliates. Working directly inside over 200 schools in Washington state, this network connects students to caring adults and community resources that help them see, confront, and overcome the barriers that stand between them and a brighter future. Together, we build a powerful change movement made up of peers, students, and alumni committed to building an equitable path to education for future generations.