Apex Foundation logo

Apex Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Bellevue, WA EIN: 91-1950397 Website

Apex Foundation is a private foundation based in Bellevue, Washington. In 2024, it reported 202 grants totaling $5,707,914 to charitable organizations, including organizations working in health and medical research, mental health, arts and culture, education and youth support, and community support.

Apex Foundation at a glance

In short: Apex Foundation gave $5.7M across 202 grants in 2024 (avg $28K), top state Washington. 31% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$5,707,914
-6.7% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
202
+2.0% vs 2023
Average grant
$28,257
-8.5% vs 2023
Median grant
$5,000
Total assets
$147,826,665
+16.4% vs 2023
New grantees (estimate)
31% first-time grantees (47 of 152, 2024)
Primary geography
Washington (40% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

How to apply to Apex Foundation

Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to Apply

The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Contact

Mailing address: PO Box 245, Bellevue, WA 98009
Phone: (425) 460-2500
Website: https://theapexfoundation.org

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Apex Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Jed Foundation: $1.1M across 4 grantsJed Foundation$1.1M · 4 grantsBenaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason: $750KBenaroya Research Institute atVirginia Mason$750KPima Air & Space Museum: $325K across 2 grantsPima Air & Space Museum$325K · 2 grantsSeattle Aquarium: $300KSeattle Aquarium$300KNational Medal of Honor Museum Foundation: $250KNational Medal of Honor MuseumFoundation$250KNational Aviation Hall of Fame: $200KNational Aviation Hall of Fame$200KKering Foundation: $150K across 2 grantsKering Foundation$150K · 2 grantsNorthwest Maritime Center: $125KNorthwest Maritime Center$125KGenethon: $115K across 3 grantsGenethon$115K · 3 grantsMuseum of Flight: $111K across 14 grantsMuseum of Flight$111K · 14 grants

The largest 2024 recipient was Jed Foundation ($1.1M across 4 grants). Together the top 10 received $3.4M.

Grant Size Distribution

1,062 grants across all recorded years

892<$50K84$50–100K58$100–250K20$250–500K8$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 892 grants of 1,062 (84%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2024, Washington organizations received 40% of grant dollars, New York organizations 23%, Arizona organizations 6%, and Ohio organizations 5%. The filing also reports 4% for an unspecified recipient state. Examples of 2024 grantees include organizations in Washington, New York, Arizona, Ohio, Texas, Maryland, South Carolina, and California.

Grant Distribution by State

37states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 202 itemized grants.

Cities

SeattleBellevueWashingtonNew YorkRedmondMercer IslandKentColorado SpringsLos AngelesPort TownsendLongviewRentonWoodinvilleArlingtonIndianapolisIssaquahTucsonBooneBurlingtonChicago

Is Apex Foundation open to new grantees?

31%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 47 of 152 grantees (31%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $50K. How we count

Medians: $5K first-time, $10K repeat.

  • 57% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+6%). Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 86% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$2M$4M$6M$8M236 grants2020 206 grants2021 220 grants2022 198 grants2023 202 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $5.4M (2021) to $6.6M (2022). In 2024 it made 202 grants totaling $5.7M.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason Seattle, WAHealth Promotion and Medical Research$750,000
Jed Foundation New York, NYMental Health$750,000
Pima Air & Space Museum Tucson, AZArts, Culture, and History$300,000
Seattle Aquarium Seattle, WAArts, Culture, and History$300,000
Jed Foundation New York, NYMental Health$250,000
National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation Arlington, TXArts, Culture, and History$250,000
National Aviation Hall of Fame Dayton, OHArts, Culture, and History$200,000
Northwest Maritime Center Port Townsend, WAEducation and Youth Support$125,000
Aopa Foundation Frederick, MDEducation and Youth Support$100,000
Congressional Medal of Honor Society Mt Pleasant, SCArts, Culture, and History$100,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$147,826,665$29,489,742$8,634,963$5,707,914202$6,816,697$13,125,206$7,961,797
2023$126,969,748$13,856,269$9,604,073$6,116,422198$7,134,180$5,396,393$6,852,840
2022$122,720,517$6,595,370$10,242,811$6,604,049220$7,530,768$5,296,081$7,086,531
2021$126,540,006$596,052$7,424,354$5,401,251206$6,264,412$1,594,084$7,546,984
2020$133,370,002$8,081,307$7,603,817$5,483,267236—$7,489,738$6,272,836

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Apex Foundation reported a distributable amount of $8.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants include support for health promotion and medical research, mental health, arts, culture and history, education and youth support, and community support.

The grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the range of organizations supported. Northwest Maritime Center says it engages and educates people of all generations in maritime life. Whim W’Him says it nurtures community through contemporary dance. Swedish Medical Center Foundation says it supports regional health care, while Caterina’s Club says it provides meals, housing assistance, basic needs, and youth job training to low-income families and children in Southern California.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation made 202 grants totaling $5,707,914. Grant amounts ranged from $40 to $750,000, with a median of $5,000.

Among its largest 2024 grants were $750,000 to Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason for health promotion and medical research and $750,000 to the Jed Foundation for mental health. It gave $300,000 each to Pima Air & Space Museum and Seattle Aquarium for arts, culture, and history. Other notable grants included $250,000 to National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation, $200,000 to National Aviation Hall of Fame, and $125,000 to Northwest Maritime Center.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Craig W. Stewart as president; Jolene M. McCaw and Bruce R. McCaw as co-vice presidents; Ryan Porter as treasurer; and Aurelie McKinstry as executive director/secretary.

Apex Foundation is led by Aurelie McKinstry, Executive Director & Secretary on every filing since 2020; 3 of 5 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Aurelie McKinstry

    Executive Director & Secretary

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $176K (2020) → $208K (2024)

  • Craig W. Stewart

    President

    On filings since 2020

    30 hrs/week

    $224K (2020) → $262K (2024)

  • Ryan Porter

    Treasurer

    On filings since 2020

    20 hrs/week

    $163K (2020) → $203K (2024)

  • Bruce R. McCaw

    Co-Vice President

    Vice President → Co-Vice President, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jolene M. McCaw

    Co-Vice President

    Vice President → Co-Vice President, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

Craig W Stewart — President: $262KCraig W StewartPresident$262KAurelie McKinstry — Executive Director/Secretary: $208KAurelie McKinstryExecutive Director/Secretary$208KRyan Porter — Treasurer: $203KRyan PorterTreasurer$203K

The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $262K, to Craig W Stewart (President). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Frequently asked questions about Apex Foundation

How much does Apex Foundation give each year?

Apex Foundation gave $5.7M across 202 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $6.1M across 198 grants.

What is Apex Foundation's typical grant size?

Apex Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $28,257, across 202 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Apex Foundation that year got $10K on average.

Where does Apex Foundation give grants?

Apex Foundation's top state is Washington, with 40% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New York (23%) and Arizona (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Seattle, WA (56 grants), Bellevue, WA (11 grants), Washington, DC (10 grants) and New York, NY (9 grants).

Does Apex Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 202 grants with a stated purpose on Apex Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Arts, Culture, and History" (47 grants), "Health Promotion and Medical Research" (27 grants) and "Education and Youth Support" (26 grants).

Who are Apex Foundation's largest grantees?

Apex Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Jed Foundation ($1,100,000 across 4 grants), Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason ($750,000) and Pima Air & Space Museum ($325,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 38% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Apex Foundation?

Apex Foundation reported $147.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $6.8M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $8.0M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.

What does Apex Foundation fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants include support for health promotion and medical research, mental health, arts, culture and history, education and youth support, and community support. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Apex Foundation?

The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Apex Foundation's EIN?

Apex Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-1950397. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Does Apex Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?

No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑

Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

Data update history

(1)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Apex Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/apex-foundation-morg_4a7a3842656e422fba513e3ddb9afe35

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_911950397_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Apex Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/apex-foundation-morg_4a7a3842656e422fba513e3ddb9afe35},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-11. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}

The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.

Figures come from Apex Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.

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