East Seattle Foundation
East Seattle Foundation (ESF) is a private independent foundation established by Alan and Mary Frazier and their family. Based in Mercer Island, Washington, the foundation has been tax-exempt since January 2003. ESF actively supports innovative programs and projects that are impactful and measurable, with a focus on creative solutions that challenge conventional thinking.
Key facts about East Seattle Foundation
- EIN
- 91-2171978
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $493,600
- Grants made (2025)
- 39
- Average grant
- $12,656
- Median grant
- $2,000
- Primary geography
- Washington (98% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- ESF actively seeks innovative programs and projects in the community. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who East Seattle Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for East Seattle Foundation's 39 itemized 2025 grants were Washington (98%). The most frequent recipient cities were Seattle, WA (20 grants), Bellevue, WA (6 grants), Issaquah, WA (2 grants) and Everett, WA (2 grants). 38% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Emergency Relief - Budget Cuts" (5 grants).
How East Seattle Foundation gives
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with East Seattle Foundation
- How to evaluate East Seattle Foundation as a funder
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Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$494K
+22.8% YoY
Grant Count
39
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$13K
+22.8% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: Strengthening Local Communities
East Seattle Foundation funds organizations working to change the status quo through innovative and measurable approaches. The foundation is committed to investing in ideas that challenge conventional thinking, intervene upstream, and have the potential to make a real difference in communities.
Core Beliefs: The foundation believes all people deserve:
- Quality education that inspires, prepares and empowers
- Meaningful employment that provides a living wage and leads to choices
- Affordable housing that offers a safe and stable place to live
- A sense of purpose and belonging, nurtured by healthy relationships
- Access to mental and physical health resources to support a vibrant productive lifestyle
Primary Funding Areas:
- Purpose & Belonging: Community-driven projects and programs that create safe spaces and foster strong connections
- Education & Career Development: Initiatives that equip young people with skills and knowledge for successful careers
- Safe, Accessible & Affordable Housing: Investments ensuring safe, accessible, and affordable housing for all
The foundation also supports work addressing homelessness, youth suicide, and isolation and lack of resources.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
& Duration:** Grant size and duration vary depending on scope of the project and organizational capacity. Typical awards range from $1,000 to $250,000. Grants may be one-time or multi-year, up to three years.
How to Apply
** ESF actively seeks innovative programs and projects in the community. The foundation values organizations doing new and established work with potential for lasting, measurable impact.
Ready to take the next step with East Seattle Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
ESF prioritizes grantees that positively impact communities within Washington State. However, the foundation has flexibility to support issues of national importance and in foreign countries where there is a personal connection.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 39 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $7,303,223
- Total Revenue: $1,083,532
- Total Expenses: $846,720
- Total Liabilities: $27,100
- Total Giving: $402,000
Historical Context: The foundation has maintained consistent financial stability, with assets growing over time to support its grantmaking activities.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 15, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS September 13, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 17, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
148 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include University of Washington Foundation ($140,000 across 3 grants), Cristo Rey Seattle High School ($100,000), Garage a Teen Cafe ($42,000 across 2 grants).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CRISTO REY SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL Seattle, WA | STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS | $100,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON FOUNDATION Seattle, WA | UW TACOMA STUDENT AFFAIRS-FLIGHT | $88,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON FOUNDATION Seattle, WA | FRAZIER SCHOLARS FUND | $50,000 |
| GARAGE A TEEN CAFE Issaquah, WA | 2YR RESILIENCE FUND | $40,000 |
| YOUNG WOMEN EMPOWERED Seattle, WA | 2YR RESILIENCE FUND | $40,000 |
| RAINIER ATHLETES Bellevue, WA | BENCHMARK OF QUALITY & IMPACT REPORT | $35,000 |
| KINDERING Bellevue, WA | CHERISH DATABASE | $25,000 |
| NORTHWEST EDUCATION ACCESS Seattle, WA | SOUND REENGAGEMENT COLLABORATIVE | $25,000 |
| COCOON HOUSE Everett, WA | EMERGENCY RELIEF - BUDGET CUTS | $10,000 |
| EILEEN & CALLIE'S PLACE Kent, WA | EMERGENCY RELIEF - BUDGET CUTS | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Natalie Frazier is listed as Director of East Seattle Foundation.
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2025 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mary D Frazier | President | 0.25 | — |
| Alan D Frazier | VP / Secreta | 0.25 | — |
| Alicia Bradbury | Treasurer | 0.25 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Western Success Scholars Program, supported by ESF, won the 2024 Beacon Award for Excellence in Student Achievement and has been recognized as a significant initiative in the region. The program represents the foundation's commitment to education and career development for young people.
V7I3: Western Success Scholars Program: A Safety Net ... - NWCCUSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does East Seattle Foundation fund?
**Mission:** Strengthening Local Communities East Seattle Foundation funds organizations working to change the status quo through innovative and measurable approaches. The foundation is committed to investing in ideas that challenge conventional thinking, intervene upstream, and have the potential to make a real difference in communities. **Core Beliefs:** The foundation believes all people deserve: • Quality education that inspires, prepares and empowers • Meaningful employment that provides a…
How do I apply for a grant from East Seattle Foundation?
ESF actively seeks innovative programs and projects in the community. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does East Seattle Foundation make grants?
ESF prioritizes grantees that positively impact communities within Washington State. However, the foundation has flexibility to support issues of national importance and in foreign countries where there is a personal connection.
What size grants does East Seattle Foundation award?
In 2025, East Seattle Foundation awarded 39 grants totaling $494K — an average of about $13K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is East Seattle Foundation's EIN?
East Seattle Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-2171978. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.