Grousemont Foundation
Grousemont Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1984 by Howard S. Wright, whose family company built Seattle's landmark Space Needle. The foundation extends a philanthropic legacy dating back to 1885. Based in Seattle, Washington, it operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and serves as "a family of stewards resourcing communities to build a healthy and equitable Cascadia region."
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$240.5M
+30.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$10.2M
-5.8% YoY
Grant Count
179
+15.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$57K
-18.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Grousemont Foundation reported a distributable amount of $11.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation practices relational philanthropy based in trust and community building. Its outreach is built on study of communities in need, supporting efficient resolution of quickly applicable grants that are nimble, flexible, and immediately relevant.
Primary funding areas include:
- Arts — including arts access and participation, creative writing, and historic preservation
- Education — educational and enrichment opportunities for youth and children
- Environment & Climate — climate action and environmental justice
- Social Impact — BIPOC community-rooted organizations leading transformative change
- Housing — affordable housing development, housing and homelessness, and first-time homeownership
- Civic Impact
- Health
- Human Services
Grantmaking
The foundation no longer accepts unsolicited letters of interest, proposals, or grant applications. It operates through an invitation-only model with approximately 40 nonprofit partners in Washington State, providing them with unrestricted, multi-year funding.
Grant Range
$500 to $2,500,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's geographic focus is primarily Washington State, with emphasis on the greater Puget Sound region and Seattle/King County area. It also funds in California and New York, though Washington State is the primary focus area.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Annual Giving:
- Total assets: $240,495,782 (2024)
- Total assets: $240M (2024)
- Total giving: $10,205,500 (2024)
- Annual giving: $10.8M (2023)
Revenue & Expenses (2024):
- Revenue: $20,516,729
- Expenses: $17,425,497
- Net income: $3,091,232
- Net assets: $234,829,984
Revenue & Expenses (2023):
- Total revenues: $17,219,801
- Total expenses: $11,836,427
- Total assets: $183,807,514
Liabilities:
- Total liabilities: $5.67M (2024)
Staffing:
- 1 employee (2023)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $240,495,782 | $183,807,514 | $178,424,140 |
| Revenue | $20,516,729 | $17,219,801 | $122,040,702 |
| Expenses | $17,425,497 | $11,836,427 | $10,584,913 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $11,121,353 | $11,333,212 | $9,845,266 |
| Net Investment Income | $19,635,864 | $18,117,100 | $28,275,860 |
| Distributable Amount | $11,698,892 | $10,417,854 | $7,509,565 |
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
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition ($300,000), Charles Schwab Daf ($140,000), Ballard High School Foundation ($75,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A CONTEMPORARY THEATRE INC (ACT) SEATTLE, WA | STAFF WELLNESS SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| A CONTEMPORARY THEATRE INC SEATTLE, WA | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED | $25,000 |
| ACLU-WA SEATTLE, WA | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED | $10,000 |
| AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED | $10,000 |
| ARCS FOUNDATION SEATTLE CHAPTER SEATTLE, WA | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED | $500 |
| ARTS CORPS SEATTLE, WA | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED | $50,000 |
| ARTS CORPS SEATTLE, WA | STAFF WELLNESS SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| ATLANTIC STREET CENTER SEATTLE, WA | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED | $50,000 |
| ATLANTIC STREET CENTER SEATTLE, WA | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED | $25,000 |
| BALLARD HIGH SCHOOL FOUNDATION SEATTLE, WA | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED | $75,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board Members:
- Sally Wright, President
- Korynne Wright, Secretary
- Kyle Rolfe, Treasurer
- Claire Wright McShane, Trustee
- Lauren Rolfe, Trustee
- Kate Janeway, Trustee
Staff:
- Sarah Hopper, Chief Executive Officer
- Tony Rosendo, Chief Operating Officer
- Rosa Gimson, Director of Grantmaking
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KYLE ROLFE | PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KATE JANEWAY | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KORYNNE WRIGHT | DIRECTOR/SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| SALLY WRIGHT | DIRECTOR/TREASURER | 1 | $30,000 |
| LAUREN ROLFE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| SARAH HOPPER | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 20 | $51,750 |
Contact Information
Address: Grousemont Foundation 511 Boren Avenue N. Ste 300 Seattle, WA 98109
Phone: 206-323-3686
Email: info@grousemontfoundation.org
Website: www.grousemontfoundation.org
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Grousemont Foundation fund?
The foundation practices relational philanthropy based in trust and community building. Its outreach is built on study of communities in need, supporting efficient resolution of quickly applicable grants that are nimble, flexible, and immediately relevant. Primary funding areas include: • **Arts** — including arts access and participation, creative writing, and historic preservation • **Education** — educational and enrichment opportunities for youth and children • **Environment & Climate** — c…
How do I apply for a grant from Grousemont Foundation?
**Grant Structure & Application Process:** The foundation no longer accepts unsolicited letters of interest, proposals, or grant applications. It operates through an invitation-only model with approximately 40 nonprofit partners in Washington State, providing them with unrestricted, multi-year funding. **Grant Characteristics:** • Typical grant range: $500 to $2,500,000 • Multi-year partnerships (typically 3 years) • Community Partner Grants provide three-year support for organizations demonstr…
Where does Grousemont Foundation make grants?
The foundation's geographic focus is primarily Washington State, with emphasis on the greater Puget Sound region and Seattle/King County area. It also funds in California and New York, though Washington State is the primary focus area.
What size grants does Grousemont Foundation award?
In 2024, Grousemont Foundation awarded 179 grants totaling $10.2M — an average of about $57K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Grousemont Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Grousemont Foundation reported a distributable amount of $11.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Grousemont Foundation's EIN?
Grousemont Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-1276047. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Grousemont Foundation'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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