see-full-list/ type: exa:news title: "23 islands community projects to get \xA36m funding \u2013 see full list" type: exa:news title: Improving island resilience - gov.scot - The Scottish Government type: exa:news title: Rock Island Communications reaches nearly 7,000 subscribers and secures $16.5M grant for broadband expansion | Islands' Weekly type: exa:news title: 'Islands Programme capital fund 2021/22 to 2024/25: grant awards' type: exa:news title: Island Institute Awards $214,000 to Boost Coastal Resilience and Innovation
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$241.8M
+6.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$16.2M
+11.2% YoY
Grant Count
81
+5.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$200K
+5.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Islands Fund reported a distributable amount of $16.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Islands Fund's grantmaking focuses on the following primary areas:
- Education programs
- Financial aid endowments
- Youth programs and summer camp scholarships
- Pacific Northwest programs
- Donor advised funds and endowments
- Community development
- Environmental conservation and environmental education
- Alternative education
- Women and girls' rights and programs
The foundation prioritizes progressive social change, equity, inclusion, and environmental justice in its grantmaking decisions.
Grantmaking
Review Cycle
of March 1, 2026.
Grant Types
How to Apply
** The foundation operates a rolling application process with a deadline of March 1, 2026.
Ready to take the next step with Islands Fund?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Islands Fund prioritizes grantmaking in:
- Washington
- California
- Colorado
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $227.8 million to $241.8 million (figures vary slightly across reporting sources for different fiscal years)
Annual Giving: $16.2 million in total giving
Revenue (2023): $18.8 million in total revenues
Expenses (2023): $16 million in total expenses
Investment Income (2023): $6.7 million in investment income and dividends
Contributions (2023): $4.3 million in grants and contributions received
The foundation maintains zero liabilities and has demonstrated significant asset growth, with total assets increasing from $118.6 million in 2011 to over $240 million by 2024.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $241,769,850 | $227,823,241 | $228,277,714 |
| Revenue | $32,427,412 | $18,804,847 | $30,420,955 |
| Expenses | $18,480,803 | $15,982,926 | $18,021,356 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $16,463,416 | $14,821,240 | $16,587,732 |
| Net Investment Income | $30,873,107 | $13,456,559 | $25,779,867 |
| Distributable Amount | $16,411,558 | $14,538,157 | $14,550,781 |
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 Aloha Foundation ($1,370,000), Nature Conservancy (co) ($1,000,000), Nature Conservancy (mt) ($850,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALASKA MARINE CONSERVATION COUNCIL ANCHORAGE, AK | SUMMER PROGRAM 2025 | $15,000 |
| ALOHA FOUNDATION FAIRLEE, VT | 5 PERMANENTLY RESTRICTED ENDOWMENTS | $1,370,000 |
| ARBORETUM FOUNDATION SEATTLE, WA | ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR SCHOOLS | $70,000 |
| ASPEN CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES ASPEN, CO | CHILDREN'S EDUCATION FUND AND ROCK BOTTOM RANCH ENDOWMENT | $300,000 |
| AUDUBON SOCIETY SEATTLE, WA | CONSERVATION PROJECTS IN PUGET SOUND AND SAGELANDS AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS | $75,000 |
| BERTSCHI SCHOOL SEATTLE, WA | FINANCIAL AID ENDOWMENT | $20,000 |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF CENTRAL OREGON BEND, OR | COMMUNITY-BASED MENTORING PROGRAMS | $25,000 |
| BIG SUR LAND TRUST MONTEREY, CA | YOUTH OUTDOOR PROGRAMS, FERRINI RANCH PROJECT AND ENDOWMENT | $450,000 |
| BIRD NOTE ASHEVILLE, NC | BIRD NOTE 2025 PRODUCTIONS AND DISTRIBUTION | $135,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF BELLEVUE BELLEVUE, WA | SUMMER CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS | $85,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
John Munn is identified as the principal officer of Islands Fund.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RICK S WERNER | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| GEORGE G GULICK | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| E LEEDS GULICK | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| JAMES FLAGGERT | DIRECTOR | 3 | $60,000 |
| LYDIA GULICK | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| SHELBY LUCE | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| GRAEME GULICK | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Islands Fund fund?
Islands Fund's grantmaking focuses on the following primary areas: • Education programs • Financial aid endowments • Youth programs and summer camp scholarships • Pacific Northwest programs • Donor advised funds and endowments • Community development • Environmental conservation and environmental education • Alternative education • Women and girls' rights and programs The foundation prioritizes progressive social change, equity, inclusion, and environmental justice in its grantmaking decisions.
How do I apply for a grant from Islands Fund?
**Grant Amounts:** Typical grant awards range from $5,000 to $30,000, with awards up to $125,000 available for qualified projects. **Recent Grant Activity:** In 2023, Islands Fund made 82 grants totaling approximately $10.7 million in documented grants. Notable recent grants include: • $2,468,000 to Seattle Foundation (Donor Advised Fund) • $1,200,000 to The Aloha Foundation (5 Permanently Restricted Endowments) • $800,000 to Future Generations University Corporation (General Operations and Per…
Where does Islands Fund make grants?
Islands Fund prioritizes grantmaking in: • Washington • California • Colorado
What size grants does Islands Fund award?
In 2024, Islands Fund awarded 81 grants totaling $16.2M — an average of about $200K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Islands Fund required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Islands Fund reported a distributable amount of $16.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Islands Fund's EIN?
Islands Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-1663838. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Islands Fund'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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