Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation
The Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Missoula, Montana. Established in 1988 by Dennis and Phyllis Washington, the foundation serves as the major philanthropic organization for The Washington Companies and the Washington family. The foundation strives to better the human condition by supporting programs and services that give people the tools to enhance the quality of their lives and to benefit society as a whole.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.1B
+1.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$50.0M
+4.4% YoY
Grant Count
547
+0.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$91K
+3.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation reported a distributable amount of $51.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: The foundation supports organizations involved with arts and culture, education, health, human services, and community services. Special emphasis is directed toward programs designed to provide direct service to at-risk youth, economically and socially disadvantaged individuals and families, and those with special needs.
Primary Focus Areas:
- Education — Providing higher education scholarships and funding two-year, four-year, and graduate scholarship programs to build a strong educational foundation for future leaders
- Arts & Culture — Supporting cultural endeavors that bring people together to share creative talents, intellects, passions, customs, and bold initiatives
- Health & Human Services — Targeting programs that ensure access to basic health care services to vulnerable members of communities
- Community Service — Supporting community improvement initiatives where people work, play, and live
Grantmaking
Grant Types
How to Apply
** The foundation accepts general inquiries through its website contact form. Applicants with questions regarding Horatio Alger scholarship programs are directed to contact the Horatio Alger Association. Those with questions regarding grant funding areas are referred to the Grant Guidelines.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Montana, with company operations focused in Montana. Geographic reach extends to Washington and Oregon.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total Assets: $1,065,856,949
- Total Revenue: $23,741,757
- Total Expenses: $50,639,590
- Total Liabilities: $43,000,000
Revenue Sources (2024):
- Contributions Received: $1,343,479
- Interest Revenue: $6,912,194
- Dividends: $1,045,565
Historical Impact:
- $499 million+ in grants awarded over 34+ years of service
- 250,000+ lives touched
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,065,856,949 | $1,052,645,253 | $979,809,616 |
| Revenue | $23,741,757 | $-22,884,591 | $14,908,793 |
| Expenses | $50,639,590 | $53,279,581 | $61,633,129 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $50,860,504 | $48,698,069 | $49,205,950 |
| Net Investment Income | $11,914,433 | $16,249,571 | $21,002,122 |
| Distributable Amount | $51,525,022 | $47,319,038 | $48,804,965 |
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
5 open opportunities from Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation
Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation Grants
DENNIS & PHYLLIS WASHINGTON FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Dennis and Phyllis Washington Native American Graduate Fellowship Grant
DENNIS & PHYLLIS WASHINGTON FOUNDATION
Amount
Up to US $10,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Dennis Washington Leadership Graduate Scholarship Grant
DENNIS & PHYLLIS WASHINGTON FOUNDATION
Amount
Up to US $120,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Montana Tech Foundation - Scholarships ($180,000), Mainstreet Uptown Butte ($100,000), Mct Inc ($75,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CLARK COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT 14 FOUNDATION VANCOUVER, WA | DIESEL PROGRAM | $10,000 |
| CLINTON SCHOOL DISTRICT #32 CLINTON, MT | 2023 PROJECT SWEATSHIRT - MRL | $1,218 |
| ELK RIVER ARTS & LECTURES LIVINGSTON, MT | 2024 LECTURE SERIES (FREE PUBLIC & SCHOOLS LECTURE SERIES) | $5,000 |
| KING COUNTY SEXUAL ASSAULT RESOURCE CENTER RENTON, WA | TRAUMA-SPECIFIC THERAPY REDUCES DISTRESSING MENTAL HEALTH SYMPTOMS AMONG SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT | $5,000 |
| HARLOWTON PUBLIC LIBRARY HARLOWTON, MT | WASHINGTON AFTER HOUR KID POWER | $5,000 |
| MONTANA CONTINUUM OF CARE COALITION MISSOULA, MT | YOUTH ACTION BOARD | $5,000 |
| BUTTE COMMUNITY FITNESS FOUNDATION - SNFLINGA BUTTE, MT | SNFLINGA 2023, MONTANA'S WINTER FESTIVAL | $5,000 |
| DESMET SCHOOL MISSOULA, MT | 2023 PROJECT SWEATSHIRT - MRL | $749 |
| LOADS OF DIGNITY HAMILTON, MT | RESTORING DIGNITY ONE LOAD AT A TIME | $10,000 |
| PARASPORT SPOKANE SPOKANE, WA | BRIDGING THE GAP | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PHYLLIS J WASHINGTON | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
| JERRY K LEMON | CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER | 4 | — |
| MIKE HALLIGAN | OUTGOING EXEC. DIRECTOR | 40 | $214,025 |
| KEVIN WASHINGTON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KYLE WASHINGTON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MATTHEW K ROSE | PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| JOE RACICOT | SECRETARY/TREASURER | 1 | — |
| JON BENNION | INCOMING EXEC. DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**2025 Pay It Forward Campaign** — Donated $100,000 in grants
2025 Pay It Forward campaign donates $100,000 in grants - Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation**Basic Needs Initiative** — Awarded $350,000 to 100 basic needs organizations across Montana
Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation gives $350,000 to 100 basic needs organizations across Montana - Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation**Holiday Giving Program** — Awarded $356,000 to Montana basic needs organizations
Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation gives $350,000 to 100 basic needs organizations across Montana - Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation**Teacher Retention Initiative** — Donated $9.4 million aimed at keeping quality teachers in Montana
$9.4M Washington Foundation gift aims to keep best teachers in Montana - Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation**Montana Special Olympics Partnership** — Since 1990, the foundation has partnered annually with Montana Special Olympics; over 1,200 athletes now participate in the State Summer Games
Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation gives $350,000 to 100 basic needs organizations across Montana - Dennis & Phyllis Washington FoundationContact Information
Address: The Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation P.O. Box 16630 Missoula, MT 59808
Phone: (406) 523-1888
Website: www.dpwfoundation.org
Note: The foundation does not respond to inquiries regarding business ventures, investment opportunities, economic development ideas, or requests to contact members of the Washington family.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation fund?
**Mission:** The foundation supports organizations involved with arts and culture, education, health, human services, and community services. Special emphasis is directed toward programs designed to provide direct service to at-risk youth, economically and socially disadvantaged individuals and families, and those with special needs. **Primary Focus Areas:** • **Education** — Providing higher education scholarships and funding two-year, four-year, and graduate scholarship programs to build a st…
How do I apply for a grant from Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Awards 245+ scholarships annually • Made 502 grants in 2023 • Total giving of approximately $50 million annually **Grant Types & Programs:** • **Horatio Alger Montana Undergraduate Scholarship Program** — Annually awards 50 scholarships of $15,000 each to Montana high school seniors planning to attend The University of Montana, The University of Montana-Western, The University of Montana-Missoula College of Technology, Helena College of Technology of the University of Mont…
Where does Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Montana, with company operations focused in Montana. Geographic reach extends to Washington and Oregon.
What size grants does Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation award?
In 2024, Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation awarded 547 grants totaling $50.0M — an average of about $91K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation reported a distributable amount of $51.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation's EIN?
Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3606913. 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 June 2026.
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