Allen Family Philanthropies
Allen Family Philanthropies is a private grantmaking foundation based in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 1988 by philanthropists Jody Allen and the late Paul G. Allen (co-founder of Microsoft), the organization invests in communities across the Pacific Northwest and beyond to strengthen arts and culture, empower young people as changemakers, and support environmental conservation efforts. The foundation was formerly known as the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation and adopted its current name in July 2025.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.4B
+7.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$58.0M
+21.7% YoY
Grant Count
112
-18.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$517K
+50.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Allen Family Philanthropies reported a distributable amount of $69.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Allen Family Philanthropies is committed to building thriving and resilient communities where creativity, future generations, and nature can flourish. The foundation's grantmaking focuses on three core program areas:
Arts & Culture — Supporting organizations that champion and uplift diverse ideas, cultures, and traditions. The foundation believes art ignites curiosity and drives innovation and connection by fostering a rich tapestry of perspectives.
Youth — Investing in organizations that help young people discover their passions and take action on issues they care about. The foundation emphasizes intergenerational mentoring and positioning youth in leadership roles to build a better future for all.
Environment — Supporting community-driven solutions that leverage science and technology to protect wildlife and habitats, combat biodiversity loss, and advance environmental sustainability.
Grantmaking
Allen Family Philanthropies has distributed over $1 billion in contributions globally since its founding in 1988.
Grant Range
$300,000
Average Grant
amount: $451,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Allen Family Philanthropies funds organizations across the Pacific Northwest, nationally, and globally. Primary funding regions include Washington, California, and New York, which account for 53% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 27 states.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue:
- Total assets (2024): $1.38 billion
- Total assets (2023): $1.29 billion
- Total revenue (2024): $181 million
- Total revenue (2023): $115.5 million
- Total expenses (2024): $72.2 million
- Total expenses (2023): $64 million
- Total liabilities (2024): $8.74 million
Asset Growth: Total assets have grown from $282.3 million in 2011 to $1.38 billion in 2024.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,380,464,618 | $1,286,324,323 | $1,081,476,929 |
| Revenue | $180,688,400 | $115,479,539 | $18,339,364 |
| Expenses | $72,202,296 | $63,956,084 | $55,372,911 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $62,560,157 | $51,856,973 | $50,191,155 |
| Net Investment Income | $171,735,268 | $106,059,889 | $13,919,971 |
| Distributable Amount | $69,198,979 | $59,429,561 | $58,069,343 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Allen Family Philanthropies
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Artsfund ($10,422,623), Childrens Hospital Corporation ($2,500,000), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai ($2,500,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AFRICAN PARKS FOUNDATION OF AMERICA NEW YORK, NY | TO SUPPORT AFRICAN PARKS EDNA ECOLOGICAL NETWORK ASSESSMENTS AND ANALYSES | $300,000 |
| AFRICAN PARKS FOUNDATION OF AMERICA NEW YORK, NY | TO SUPPORT AFRICAN PARKS EDNA ECOLOGICAL NETWORK ASSESSMENTS AND ANALYSES | $316,810 |
| AMERICAN BIRD CONSERVANCY MARSHALL, VA | TO SUPPORT USING BIG DATA AND A TRANSLATIONAL ECOLOGY APPROACH TO INFORM FULL ANNUAL CYCLE CONSERVATION OF MIGRATORY BIRDS IN THE APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS | $67,596 |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY INC KENNESAW, GA | TO SUPPORT THE SPIRIT OF 12 PROGRAM (2023 SEASON) | $35,062 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE ROYAL FOUNDATION OF THE DUKE AND DUCHESS CAMBRIDGE, MA | TO SUPPORT UNITED FOR WILDLIFE IN COMBATING ILLEGAL WILDLIFE TRADE | $750,000 |
| AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION INC SEATTLE, WA | TO SUPPORT BIOSCIENCE RESEARCH IN RELATION TO ADVANCING OUR UNDERSTANDING OF BRAIN HEALTH AND COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT | $1,250,000 |
| ARTSFUND SEATTLE, WA | TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY ACCELERATOR GRANT RENEWAL FOR THE SECOND YEAR OF PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION. | $10,422,623 |
| ASIA PACIFIC CULTURAL CENTER TACOMA, WA | TO SUPPORT ONE HEART, ONE HOME CAMPAIGN: NEW BUILDING PROJECT | $500,000 |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF PUGET SOUND SEATTLE, WA | TO SUPPORT THE SPIRIT OF 12 PROGRAM (2023 SEASON) | $35,062 |
| BONNEVILLE ENVIRONMENTAL FOUNDATION PORTLAND, OR | TO SUPPORT MAINSTREAMING BEAVER BASED RESTORATION AS A NATURAL CLIMATE SOLUTION ACROSS THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST | $276,538 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation was founded by Jody Allen and the late Paul G. Allen, co-founder of Microsoft. Paul G. Allen passed away in 2018. The foundation is governed by 6 officers and trustees.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JO LYNN ALLEN | CHAIR/DIRECTOR & PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| DANIELLE HARPER | VICE PRESIDENT | 2 | — |
| ALISON IVEY | VP & SECRETARY | 2 | — |
| MARILYN VALENTINE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| THOMAS DANIEL | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JOYCE LEE | VP & TREASURER | 2 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Allen Family Philanthropies has announced several major funding initiatives:
Allen Family Philanthropies awards $8 million for science-driven ...The foundation awarded $8 million for science-driven environmental solutions
Allen Family Philanthropies awards $8 million for science-driven ...Nearly $7 million was announced for arts and culture organizations at Seattle Center
Allen Family Philanthropies Announces Nearly $7 Million in Funding for ArtsThe foundation funded a pilot of a national program addressing connection crisis
Allen Family Philanthropies Funds Pilot of National Program ...A funding opportunity was announced to accelerate natural climate solutions
Funding opportunity to accelerate natural climate solutionsThe foundation provided a $2.37 million grant to support a major traumatic brain injury study
The organization maintains an active grantmaking program with ongoing funding opportunities, including support for creative youth development initiatives.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Allen Family Philanthropies fund?
Allen Family Philanthropies is committed to building thriving and resilient communities where creativity, future generations, and nature can flourish. The foundation's grantmaking focuses on three core program areas: **Arts & Culture** — Supporting organizations that champion and uplift diverse ideas, cultures, and traditions. The foundation believes art ignites curiosity and drives innovation and connection by fostering a rich tapestry of perspectives. **Youth** — Investing in organizations th…
How do I apply for a grant from Allen Family Philanthropies?
Allen Family Philanthropies has distributed over $1 billion in contributions globally since its founding in 1988. **Grant Activity:** • Total giving in 2023: $47.6 million • Total giving in 2024: $57.9 million • Median grant size: $300,000 • Average grant amount: $451,000 • Individual grants have ranged up to $10.4 million • The foundation has made approximately 450 grants supporting 156 unique organizations **Recent Grants:** • $8 million for science-driven environmental initiatives • Nearly $…
Where does Allen Family Philanthropies make grants?
Allen Family Philanthropies funds organizations across the Pacific Northwest, nationally, and globally. Primary funding regions include Washington, California, and New York, which account for 53% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 27 states.
What size grants does Allen Family Philanthropies award?
In 2024, Allen Family Philanthropies awarded 112 grants totaling $58.0M — an average of about $517K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Allen Family Philanthropies required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Allen Family Philanthropies reported a distributable amount of $69.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Allen Family Philanthropies's EIN?
Allen Family Philanthropies's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-3082532. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Allen Family Philanthropies's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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