The Aven Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) grantmaking foundation based in Medina, Washington. Established in 1999, the foundation operates as a family foundation focused on philanthropic giving in education, youth development, and human services.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$74.5M
+1.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$9.0M
+113.3% YoY
Grant Count
48
-14.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$188K
+148.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Aven Foundation reported a distributable amount of $5.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary giving focuses on:
- Education — Support across K-12 through higher education levels
- Youth Development — Programs serving children and youth, including mentoring and youth-oriented services
- Human Services — Social services and community support organizations
- Federated Giving Programs
The foundation prioritizes initiatives that serve children and youth as its primary concern, with education representing the most significant funding priority.
Grantmaking
The foundation accepts unsolicited letters of inquiry via mail. The foundation lacks a website and operates with limited public transparency regarding its grantmaking strategies and priority areas.
Grant Range
$5,000 to $1,400,000
Average Grant
amount: $75,562
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Aven Foundation's giving is concentrated in the Pacific Northwest, with the vast majority of grants supporting organizations in Washington State, particularly in the Seattle and Puget Sound region.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $73,264,012 to $74,528,387
- Total Revenue: $2,089,836
- Total Expenses: $4,806,559
- Annual Giving: $4,231,445 to $9,024,361
- Total Liabilities: $0
Tax-Exempt Status: Tax-exempt since January 2001 (EIN: 91-2009458)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $74,528,387 | $73,264,012 | $75,980,735 |
| Revenue | $11,096,372 | $2,089,836 | $1,208,124 |
| Expenses | $9,909,851 | $4,806,559 | $6,512,335 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $9,029,120 | $4,235,505 | $5,805,635 |
| Net Investment Income | $7,037,802 | $1,936,744 | $1,610,199 |
| Distributable Amount | $5,164,129 | $4,636,813 | $4,720,877 |
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
201 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Fred Hutch Cancer Research Ctr ($3,249,282), Whitman College ($3,000,000), Cristo Rey Jesuit ($500,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACRES OF DIAMONDS DUVALL, WA | PROGRAM TO SUPPORT HOMELESS MOMS AND KIDS AS THEY REBUILD THEIR LIVES. | $25,000 |
| AKIN SEATTLE, WA | THEIR MISSION IS TO DEVELOP HEALTHY CHILDREN, CREATE STRONG FAMILIES, BUILD ENGAGED COMMUNITIES, AND SPEAK AND ADVOCATE FOR CHILDREN. | $50,000 |
| BELLEVUE LIFESPRING BELLEVUE, WA | TO FOSTER STABILITY AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY FOR BELLEVUE'S CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH PROGRAMS THAT FEED, CLOTHE, AND EDUCATE. | $25,000 |
| BELLEVUE SCHOOLS FOUNDATION BELLEVUE, WA | PARTNERING TO TRANSFORM EDUCATION AND SUPPORT EVERY BELLEVUE SCHOOL DISTRICT STUDENT. | $245,079 |
| BUILDING CHANGES SEATTLE, WA | WORKING AT THE INTERSECTION OF HOUSING, EDUCATION, AND HEALTH. | $30,000 |
| CENTER FOR CHILDREN & YOUTH JUSTICE SEATTLE, WA | MISSION IS TOIMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR WASHINGTON STATE CHILDREN AND YOUTH AGES 0 TO 25 WHO ARE, OR ARE AT RISK OF BEING, INVOLVED IN EITHER THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEMOR SYSTEMS OF YOUTH JUSTICE. | $10,000 |
| COMMUNITY FOR YOUTH SEATTLE, WA | INSPIRES AND SUPPORTS STUDENTS TO BE THEIR BEST SELVES THROUGH MENTORING, LEARNING EXPERIENCES, AND A POWERFULCOMMUNITY. | $20,000 |
| COMPASS HOUSING ALLIANCE SEATTLE, WA | DEVELOPMENT & OPERATION OF PERMANENT AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITH SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. | $20,000 |
| COLLEGE SUCCESS FND BELLEVUE, WA | COACHES AND SUPPORTS STUDENTS FROM LOW SOCIOECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS TO PREPARE FOR AND GRADUATE FROMCOLLEGE | $20,000 |
| CRISTO REY JESUIT SEATTLE, WA | COLLEGE AND CAREER PREPARATORY SCHOOLS EXCLUSIVELY SERVING THE MOST MARGINALIZED POPULATION OF STUDENTS FROM SECONDARY EDUCATIONAL OPTIONS; THOSE IN THE LOWEST INCOME QUARTILE. | $500,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation was established by wireless technology executives:
John W. Stanton — Co-founder; holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Whitman College and an MBA from Harvard University. During the 1980s, he served as COO and vice chairman of McCaw Cellular, chairman and CEO of Western Wireless Corp and VoiceStream Wireless (acquired by Deutsche Telekom and renamed T-Mobile USA). He is a majority owner of the Seattle Mariners MLB team and co-founded Trilogy Equity Partners.
Theresa E. Gillespie — Co-founder; holds a BBA with a concentration in accounting from the University of Washington. She worked in accounting and wireless executive roles, serving as executive vice president and CFO of Western Wireless Corp.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOHN W STANTON | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
| THERESA E GILLESPIE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Contact Information
- Address: P.O. Box 465, Medina, WA 98039-0465
- Phone: (425) 586-8011
- Website: None maintained
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Aven Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary giving focuses on: • **Education** — Support across K-12 through higher education levels • **Youth Development** — Programs serving children and youth, including mentoring and youth-oriented services • **Human Services** — Social services and community support organizations • **Federated Giving Programs** The foundation prioritizes initiatives that serve children and youth as its primary concern, with education representing the most significant funding priority.
How do I apply for a grant from Aven Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Grant range: $5,000 to $1,400,000 • Average grant amount: $75,562 • Median grant amount: $28,000 • Number of grants: 56 (2023) **Recent Notable Grants (2023):** • Whitman College: $1,400,000 • Overlake Hospital Foundation: $250,000 • Together Center: $200,000 • Year Up Puget Sound: $250,000 **Other Recent Grantees Include:** • First Place School • Summer Search • Rainier Scholars • College Success Foundation • Rainier Prep • Bellevue Schools Foundation • Christo Rey…
Where does Aven Foundation make grants?
The Aven Foundation's giving is concentrated in the Pacific Northwest, with the vast majority of grants supporting organizations in Washington State, particularly in the Seattle and Puget Sound region.
What size grants does Aven Foundation award?
In 2024, Aven Foundation awarded 48 grants totaling $9.0M — an average of about $188K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Aven Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Aven Foundation reported a distributable amount of $5.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Aven Foundation's EIN?
Aven Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-2009458. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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