South Sound Scholarship Fund
Sixteen $5,000 scholarships per year to graduating high school seniors who are members or whose parents are members. Awarded by an independent panel.
$80,000 awarded annually
Community
The cooperative dividend goes back to the South Sound.
We commit 4% of net income each year to community reinvestment. The board approves every grant in open session at the monthly board meeting, and the annual report lists every dollar by recipient.
4%
Of net income reinvested in community each year
$1.8M
Total community giving in 2025
9,200
Volunteer hours from employees in 2025
240+
Partner employers and community groups
Where the dividend goes
Six programs the membership voted to fund this year.
Financial Reality Fairs
We co-host financial reality fairs at 22 South Sound high schools each spring, reaching roughly 6,400 students with hands-on budget simulations.
6,400 students reached in 2025
Small Business Grant Program
Twenty $5,000 grants each year to South Sound small businesses owned by women, veterans, or members of historically underrepresented communities.
$100,000 in grants annually
Habitat for Humanity partnership
We staff a build day every quarter and originate the mortgage on every South Sound Habitat home at our cost of funds.
12 Habitat mortgages in 2025
United Way of Pierce County
Five-year, $1.25M commitment to United Way of Pierce County for early childhood literacy programming, matched by member donations.
$250,000 contributed in 2025
Tacoma Tree Foundation
Quarterly volunteer days with the Tacoma Tree Foundation. Members in matching shirts plant native trees in underserved neighborhoods.
1,200 trees planted since 2019
Volunteer time off
Every employee gets 40 hours of paid volunteer time each year.
Our 152 employees logged 9,200 volunteer hours in 2025 with partners like the Tacoma Tree Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, the Emergency Food Network, and dozens of small organizations members nominate through our quarterly community ballot.
Members can nominate a 501(c)(3) for a community grant any time through the member app. The board reviews nominations at the next regular meeting and publishes the decision in the monthly minutes.
Member-elected board of directors
Seven unpaid directors, elected by the membership, accountable to it.
Board Chair
Mariela Ochoa
Tacoma Public Schools, 18 years on the board
Vice Chair
Daniel Whitcomb
Retired naval architect, member since 1991
Treasurer
Reginald Park
CPA, Pierce County Auditor's Office (ret.)
Secretary
Priya Nayak
Director, Tacoma Community House
Director
Hollis Greer
Owner, Greer Boatworks, member since 1978
Director
Theo Kalama
Tribal council liaison, Puyallup Tribe
Director
Sarah Bergstrom
Co-founder, South Sound Outdoors Cooperative
The annual meeting is held the third Thursday of March at the Pacific Avenue branch and is open to every member. Nominations for the board open each November and are decided by mail and online ballot.