“It isn’t often that Extension faculty get to have their valued community partners present alongside them at national conferences like NACDEP,” Sanders said. Because Partners for Rural Washington is a nonprofit, it can subcontract solar panel installation work. Through The Giving Grid, under-resourced, qualifying Washington school districts can have solar panels installed at no upfront cost. Washington school districts funnel the energy cost savings into low-income student support programs. “The Giving Grid demonstrates the power of Extension to connect innovation with community needs,” said WSU Extension Director Vicki McCracken.