Lakeside School

Folks working in the nonprofit sector are about as dedicated as they come to the mission of their work, and the staff at Lakeside is no exception. The North Seattle school for grades 5-12, one staff member says, “really does focus on diversity and excellence in education and global perspective. That’s what drives this place, and it’s the commitment to that mission that makes it special.” Teachers say they have a fantastic support system, with mentoring from their peers, continued professional training and a community-oriented management style where decisions are made by consensus. And the staff is proud that over the last decade the school has reached out more to the community, with ethnic minorities now making up 47 percent of the student body and generous financial aid packages to give students of all backgrounds a chance to benefit from the hard work they do.

Other top finalists*

• Children’s Institute for Learning Differences
• ElderHealth Northwest
• FirstSwing Foundation
• Ginger’s Pet Rescue
• Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center
• Northwest Burn Foundation
• NPower
• One Eighty Foundation
• People For Puget Sound
• Rwanda Partners
• Seattle Theatre Group
• Solid Ground
• Summit Assistance Dogs
• Woodland Park Zoo

*Listed in alphabetical order