Ten Whidbey Island nonprofit organizations are the beneficiaries of Goosefoot Community Fund’s first official grant cycle.

Goosefoot awarded close to $88,000 in grants.

The Goosefoot Grants Program represents how the nonprofit organization will award money to other nonprofits in the future. It’s a step away from the case-by-case grant process previously adopted by the organization, and a move toward an organized cycle.

“This was a decision the new board made together,” Sandra Whiting, Goosefoot executive director, said. “We’ve given out a lot more than just those grants this year, but these grants are part of our first cycle.”

The grant cycle has been a goal for years, organization representatives say. Goosefoot intended to use profits from The Goose Grocer, which the organization operates, to funnel back into Whidbey’s nonprofit sector.

After years of operating the grocery store, profits are now large enough to give back.

“With profits continuing to grow, our board enthusiastically took up the work of establishing funding priorities and grant guidelines to give more structure to our charitable giving process,” Nadine Zackrisson, Goosefoot’s board president, said.

Whiting says the cycle will likely benefit smaller nonprofits in the end, as Goosefoot “will learn about organizations we didn’t know about.” Through the case-by-case process, organizations with larger reputations, such as Good Cheer, naturally had a leg up on the competition from name recognition.

Whiting added the cycle will most likely occur once a year, where nonprofits can apply through the grant process.

The recipients are Bayview Community Hall, Clinton Community Hall, Coupeville Farm to School, Friends of Friends Medical Support Fund, Good Cheer, Helping Hand, Mobile Turkey Unit, Sound Water Stewards, Whidbey Community Foundation and Whidbey Homeless Coalition.