The League of Women Voters of Seattle Education Fund (“Ed Fund”) is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization established in 1983 by the League of Women Voters of Seattle. Supported entirely through tax-deductible donations, the Education Fund provides the financing for the League’s strictly non-partisan voter service and educational activities, as well as associated overhead costs. Contributions to the Ed Fund come from members, friends, business, political and professional organizations, bequests, and grants.
All members of the League of Women Voters of Seattle are automatically members of the Ed Fund, with voting rights in both organizations. The two organizations hold their annual meetings on the same day in May. At the Ed Fund’s meeting, the members of the Board of Directors are elected and the yearly budget is voted on. At that time, the membership also sets the fund’s agenda for the coming year. Additional programs may be scheduled with the approval of the Ed Fund’s Board of Directors.
In keeping with its tax-exempt status, the Ed Fund does not pay for any of the League’s lobbying activities. The League maintains a careful separation between these activities and the voter service and educational activities which the Ed Fund does support. In cases in which the League has taken a position on a particular issue, voter guides and other voter service materials will discuss the pros and cons of the issue without referring to the League’s position.
The voter services and educational work supported by the Ed Fund include the following:
Ballot Issue Analysis
League volunteers research the pros and cons of ballot issues for each general election and publish their analyses.
A Citizen's Guide to Elected Officials
Each year, League members compile, edit, and publish They Represent You: A Citizen's Guide to Elected Officials . More than 100,000 copies of this comprehensive directory of elected officials in Washington State are distributed free to libraries, schools, community groups, organizations, businesses, and individuals.
Free Public Forums
The Ed Fund sponsors non-partisan public forums on topics of local, state, and national interest, with panels of experts representing various points of view. These forums, which are held on the first Thursday of each month from September through May, are open to the public, and admission is free.
Studies of Issues
Each year, at the annual meeting, local issues of interest to League members and the community are selected for new or updated study. Committees of League members compile facts and opinions from experts on all sides of an issue and publish studies in the Seattle Voter, sent to all members. The Ed Fund also distributes material on state and national issues prepared by the Washington State and National League of Women Voters.
Speakers Bureau
League members on the Speakers Bureau volunteer their time to visit schools, retirement homes, and community groups to discuss the pros and cons of ballot measures, urge the importance of voting, and speak on other topics as requested. If you would like a Speakers Bureau member to come to an upcoming community meeting, you can submit an online request or call League staffer Monya Noelke at (206) 329-4848.
Candidate Forums
The League moderates and co-sponsors candidate forums throughout Seattle and north and east King County.
Encouraging Voting
The League’s voter registration and get-out-the-vote activities, supported by the Ed Fund, are key functions of the organization.
You can make an online donation to the Education Fundhere.