Dear GlobalWA Community,
As GlobalWA prepares to close this chapter at the end of June, I’ve been reflecting deeply on what this community has meant over the last 16 years, and what continues beyond it. This moment also carries the deep sadness of losing GlobalWA’s founder, Bill Clapp, whose vision and leadership helped build this community from the very beginning.
Over the past several months, I’ve had countless conversations with members, partners, staff, funders, and longtime friends of GlobalWA. Again and again, I’ve heard stories about relationships formed, collaborations sparked through this network, and moments of connection that changed the trajectory of people’s work and leadership. What gives me hope is knowing that the spirit of this community is already continuing in new forms.
Through the Community Stewardship Fund, we’ve had the privilege of supporting community-led efforts that will help sustain connection and cross-sector engagement across Washington State’s global development ecosystem, including new affinity groups, leadership initiatives, and convenings designed to continue bringing people together across sectors and disciplines. These initiatives are not replacements for GlobalWA – nor should they be. They are evidence that the relationships, trust, and shared sense of purpose built through this community are durable and continue to evolve through new leadership, collaborations, and spaces for connection.
What stands out most to me is this: GlobalWA was never simply an organization. It became a community that consistently embodied something larger than any one institution, agenda, or moment.
Over 16 years, this community built something rare:
A trusted cross-sector network where nonprofits, philanthropy, business, academia, and public sector leaders could come together honestly, navigate complexity, and build relationships grounded in shared purpose.
A space where people came not only to share expertise, but to genuinely listen and learn from one another.
A platform where relationships formed that extended far beyond any single event or program and often led to partnerships, ideas, and collaboration that continued long afterward.
That kind of community does not happen randomly. It exists because people choose to invest in it repeatedly, thoughtfully, and often without recognition. It exists because this self-organized Washington development community believed that connection, collaboration, and collective learning mattered.
And because of that commitment, GlobalWA’s impact has always extended far beyond what could be measured in programs, events, or membership numbers alone. Its impact lived in the relationships built here, the ideas carried forward elsewhere, and the countless ways people in this community supported one another over time.
As we shared earlier this year, GlobalWA’s closure comes amid profound changes across the global development sector. Massive funding disruptions, shifts in philanthropic priorities, and broader pressures across the ecosystem created challenges that became increasingly difficult for organizations like ours to sustain.
Throughout this process, our Board and staff made a deliberate decision to approach closure intentionally and transparently - with care for the community, relationships, and resources entrusted to us. While this transition has not been easy, I remain deeply proud of the way this community has navigated it: with honesty, compassion, generosity, and integrity.
There are far too many people to thank fully in one letter, but I want to express my deepest gratitude to everyone who has shaped this community over the years.
To our staff, past and present: thank you for your extraordinary professionalism, care, and commitment - especially during this final chapter.
To our Board: thank you for your brave leadership and stewardship through many difficult decisions.
To our partners and funders: thank you for believing in the value of connection, collaboration, collective action, and the unique “secret sauce” of the Washington State global development community.
And to every member of this community: whether you attended one event, or spent years helping shape this network, thank you.
You built this community together.
On a personal note, it has been an incredible honor to serve as Executive Director of GlobalWA. I have learned so much from this community: from your leadership, your generosity, your curiosity, and your commitment to building a healthier and more equitable world.
While organizations may evolve or conclude, the relationships, values, and shared sense of purpose built over time do not disappear. They continue through the people who carry them forward. And I know this community will.
With deep gratitude,
Elizabeth Stokely
Executive Director, GlobalWA
