By QUINN PROPST
Ward Media Staff Reporter
As Executive Director of the Kitsap Community Foundation, Tina O’Brien is working to transform how philanthropy shapes the future of Kitsap County. With three decades of nonprofit leadership experience and deep roots in the local community, O’Brien is passionate about helping individuals, families, and organizations turn their generosity into lasting impact.
Under her guidance, the Foundation is expanding access to legacy giving, supporting nonprofits through strategic tools and training, and championing a vision of abundance across the region.
In this Q&A, O’Brien shares her personal journey, insights into local challenges and opportunities, and why she believes the power to create lasting change already lives within the Kitsap community.
Please Tell Our Readers A Little About Yourself.
I’m a native Washingtonian who spent every Labor Day camping with my cousins at Point No Point. We built sand forts on the beach and waited all day for the waves from the passing Princess Marguerite to sweep them away. My dad and grandfather took us fishing and if we caught a salmon, our grandmother rewarded us with a full-size candy bar. On really good days—if we were lucky—we got to ride down the boat ramp in the boat.
So many of my favorite memories were made in Kitsap. My husband and I bought our first home in Eglon and we started our family here. I trained as a Kitsap County Master Gardener and loved volunteering at the Kingston Farmers Market. These days, we live in Seabeck and can often be found with our children out on the waters of Hood Canal.
Professionally, I’ve worked in the nonprofit sector for 30 years. I hold a master’s degree in not-for-profit leadership, Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy certification, and am trained in the 21/64 method for multigenerational philanthropy and family enterprise advising. I joined Kitsap Community Foundation in Fall of 2022 and am grateful every day to use my skills and serve this community that I love.
Please Tell Our Readers About the Kitsap Community Foundation.
For over 30 years, Kitsap Community Foundation (KCF) has helped individuals, families, nonprofits, churches, businesses, and community groups steward charitable wealth and strengthen the greater good across the Kitsap Peninsula.
A catalyst for the greater good, we increase nonprofit capacity through initiatives like the Kitsap Great Give and the Kitsap Center for Nonprofit Excellence, provide fiscal sponsorships for emerging nonprofits, and manage charitable funds for various organizations and projects.
We also partner with donors who want to keep their giving local—now and forever.
As a permanent philanthropic institution, KCF manages funds through a professional investment firm specializing in charitable assets. Our Investment Committee—made up of local financial experts—oversees performance, along with our Finance Committee and Board of Directors. Funds are independently audited each year. Our accreditation from the Council on Foundations affirms our commitment to financial transparency and fiduciary excellence.
What are some current initiatives or programs you’re especially excited about?
One exciting effort is addressing the fact that 7 in 10 Kitsap residents don’t have a will. To help, KCF now offers a free, easy way for anyone to create a legally valid will in under 20 minutes at www.freewill.com/kitsapfoundation.
This free service is part of our Your Cause Is Our Cause initiative, which encourages legacy gifts—planned gifts made through wills and estates—to support the causes people care about most. These future gifts can be transformational for local nonprofits and strengthen our community for generations.
What are some of the biggest challenges facing Kitsap’s nonprofit sector right now—and how is KCF helping to address them?
Many local nonprofits are undercapitalized: 47% rely entirely on volunteers, and 63% operate with budgets under $250,000. Nonprofits play a vital role in our quality of life but often lack the reserves needed for long-term sustainability—especially in the face of potential government funding cuts.
Our experienced team regularly meets with local nonprofit leaders to support their efforts—whether by providing board training, offering fundraising tips, or sharing ideas to make events more memorable. We process complex gifts, such as donated real estate, so nonprofits don’t have to. We also guide nonprofits through the community grant application process and help develop effective strategies for the Kitsap Great Give.
When a nonprofit has a donor who could benefit from philanthropic counsel, we’re ready to help.
At Kitsap Community Foundation, we offer something powerful to both nonprofits and donors: permanence. Donors trust that their gifts will be managed wisely and used as intended. And even if a nonprofit closes, the Foundation ensures that endowed funds continue to support similar local needs. That kind of permanence gives donors the confidence to give generously.
What do you see as the greatest opportunities for building community resilience and equity in Kitsap?
Kitsap has long been constrained by a scarcity mindset—the idea that we don’t have the philanthropic wealth to make real change. But we’re in the midst of the largest intergenerational transfer of wealth in U.S. history. Here in Kitsap, an estimated $12 billion will change hands by 2027—and $102 billion by 2067.
Capturing even a small portion of that through planned gifts could direct millions into housing, education, healthcare, the arts, and more. Your Cause Is Our Cause helps nonprofits tap into this potential by making legacy giving more accessible for all—not just the wealthy. KCF provides tools and expertise so nonprofits can focus on what they do best—fulfilling their mission.
Why is planned giving such an important but often overlooked opportunity for nonprofits and donors alike?
Americans are generous—81% donate to charity, and 56% volunteer—but only 2–5% include charities in their wills. Why? Three out of four people don’t have a will, often because they feel estate planning is only for the wealthy, or it seems too complex and expensive. Without a will, people’s accumulated assets are directed by the state’s probate system — missing the chance to support the causes they loved.
FreeWill and similar tools are changing that. When the process is simplified, people are excited to leave a legacy. By offering FreeWill at no cost for all to use, KCF is removing barriers and helping donors and nonprofits unlock transformational gifts that might otherwise be lost.
What motivates you personally in this work?
I believe legacy isn’t just what we leave behind—it’s what we set in motion. Every donor, volunteer, and advocate already has the heart of a philanthropist. Helping them realize that their final gift—no matter the size—can shape the future of the causes they love is profoundly meaningful to me.
The Kitsap Community Foundation has a strong vision of fostering an abundant future. What does that look like to you?
An abundant Kitsap is one where nonprofits thrive, people feel connected, and giving and volunteering is part of everyday life. It’s a place where every cause—whether it’s housing or the arts—has the financial security to innovate, grow, and serve for generations. When nonprofits flourish, so do our communities.
How do you balance long-term strategic goals with the immediate needs of the community?
It’s not either/or—it’s both. Meeting urgent needs is essential, and we do that through programs like the Kitsap Great Give, our community grantmaking, and helping local philanthropists support the causes they love now.
But if we focus only on today, we leave tomorrow vulnerable. That’s why we lead the Kitsap Center for Nonprofit Excellence—offering skills and professional development for nonprofit leaders, staff, and volunteers. It’s also why we help nonprofits develop planned giving programs, grow endowments, and build sustainable revenue streams—so they can thrive not just this year, but for decades to come.
How have partnerships shaped the Foundation’s impact, and what new opportunities are you building toward?
Over a decade ago, through strong partnerships, we launched the Kitsap Great Give—a bold idea that collective giving could fuel real change. It worked: the Kitsap Great Give has raised more than $18.5 million for local nonprofits at no cost to them. That kind of success shows what’s possible when we build shared infrastructure.
Now, we’re using the same model to make legacy giving accessible for all. By working alongside nonprofits, donors, and professional advisors, we’re empowering organizations of all sizes with tools and support that were previously out of reach. At the same time, we’re empowering individuals to protect the people, pets, and causes they love.
It’s the next evolution of how collective action of ordinary people–like you and me–can create lasting change.
How does KCF help ensure that philanthropy in Kitsap is both equitable and sustainable?
Sustainability means investing in shared tools and services that benefit the entire nonprofit ecosystem—not just the few organizations that can afford them. Through our Your Cause Is Our Cause initiative, we’re providing shared access to emerging technology, expert support, and endowment-building resources. Our goal is simple: to ensure that every nonprofit—large or small—and every donor, regardless of wealth, can make a lasting impact on the causes they love and the community they care about.
How can individuals and businesses in Kitsap best support KCF’s mission moving forward?
Lean into this community you love. Think about the causes that have touched your life and consider extending that impact with a legacy gift. Whether it’s your church, a food bank, an arts group, or a scholarship fund—every gift matters and helps shape the Kitsap we leave to future generations. Connect with your favorite nonprofit—or reach out to us—to learn how easy it can be to make a lasting difference.
If you regularly support local nonprofits and don’t yet have a Donor Advised Fund (DAF), it’s worth considering. DAFs are especially valuable in high-tax years, allowing you to redirect funds that might have gone to taxes to instead support the causes you care about. You get an immediate tax deduction and the flexibility to be able to give when and how you choose. Donor Advised Funds are one of philanthropy’s best-kept secrets. Reach out to us to learn more.
If you own a business or run an organization, consider sponsoring the annual Kitsap Great Give, promoting the annual event on your readerboard, and encouraging your constituencies to support the local nonprofits that help make Kitsap such a special place to live.
Who or what inspires you?
I once met Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who radiated light and joy. He often said, “Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.”
That’s what I strive to do every day.
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