Grant Request Vanessa Behan
Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form
Organization Name: Vanessa Behan
Legal Name (if Different): Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery
Also Known As:
Mailing Address: 2230 E Sprague Ave
City: Spokane
State: Washington
Postal Code: 99202
Main Phone: 509.598.7490
Main Fax:
Organization Website: https://www.vanessabehan.org/
Employer ID Number: 91-1196575
Organization Tax Status: 501(c)(3)
Proposal Information
Today’s Date: Monday, March 31, 2025
Requested Amount: $10,000
Project Title: Emergency Respite Care
Project Description:
Vanessa Behan provides a safe haven for children from birth to 12 years old for up to 72 hours when families are overwhelmed or experiencing crisis. We seek funding to sustain this critical safety net for vulnerable families.
Our organization honors Vanessa Behan, a 2-year-old Spokane girl who died from child abuse injuries. As one of the few licensed crisis nurseries in Washington State, we are focused on preventing what happened to Vanessa from ever happening again.
Over 90% of the families we serve experience poverty, 56% of care requests come from single-parent households, and 21% of families are unhoused or in transitional housing. Research shows when family stress exceeds coping capacity, it can lead to child abuse and neglect. Prolonged stress becomes toxic, interfering with brain development and affecting a child’s long-term wellbeing.
We come alongside caregivers during moments of stress and crisis, providing respite so they never parent in ways they don’t want to. While children are in our care, we provide a supportive environment that promotes healthy child development, social-emotional learning, and school-readiness. Harvard University reports that 90% of brain development occurs before the age of 5, demonstrating the power of early intervention to change trajectories for vulnerable children.
In 2024, we provided 86,100 hours of safe care across 7,241 child visits. We currently turn away 36% of care requests due to staffing limitations, and this funding will help us expand our budget to meet this critical gap.
At Vanessa Behan, we are planting seeds of resilience that grow with children, empowering them to navigate life’s challenges with strength. Though we may not witness every outcome, we trust in the transformative potential of early intervention—each moment of care and connection is an opportunity for a brighter future.
Total Project Budget: $2,388,736
Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): Vanessa Behan is grateful for the generous support of individuals, businesses, foundations, financial institutions, and partners who support our mission of keeping kids safe and strengthening families. The top 5 sources of funding are: $609,823 from a private individual; $150,000 from Greater Spokane Golf; $100,000 from Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation; $100,000 from a private individual; $100,000 from a private individual
Project Duration: January 2026 – December 2026
Geographical Area Served: Inland Northwest
Age Group To Be Served: Children between the ages of birth and 12 years old.
Contact Information
Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Ms.
Contact First Name: Karlee
Contact Last Name: Ludwig
Contact Title: Grants & Stewardship Coordinator
Contact Phone: 509.340.0486
Contact Email: karlee.ludwig@vanessabehan.org