Life Science Washington Institute
Life Science Washington Institute is a Seattle, Washington–based public charity formed in 2017. It supports life science researchers, entrepreneurs, and startup companies with resources intended to help bridge the gap between discovery and commercialization.
Life Science Washington Institute at a glance
In short: Life Science Washington Institute gave $500K across 20 grants in 2024 (avg $25K), mostly in Washington. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $500,000
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 20
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $25,000
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $140,594
- -24.0% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Washington (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Life Science Washington Institute
- How to Apply
-
The website provides an application process for the WA SBIR/STTR Matching Fund Grant. Applicants must meet the mandatory criteria; completed applications are reviewed for accuracy and completeness before eligible applications enter the pool of potential awardees.
- Contact
Mailing address: 188 E Blaine St 150, Seattle, WA 98102
Phone: (206) 456-9567
Website: https://lswinstitute.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Life Science Washington Institute funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Ai Analysis Inc ($25K). Together the top 10 received $250K.
Grant Size Distribution
40 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 40 grants of 40 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The institute is based in Seattle, Washington. Its website describes the matching fund as supporting Washington-based life science companies and gives preference to applicants headquartered outside King County. All grant dollars listed for filing year 2024 went to recipients in Washington.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Life Science Washington Institute gives
- 15% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2023 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $500K (2023) to $500K (2024). In 2024 it made 20 grants totaling $500K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ai Analysis Inc Bellevue, WA | See Part IV | $25,000 |
| Equiccare Solutions LLC Seattle, WA | See Part IV | $25,000 |
| Fenologica Biosciences Inc Seattle, WA | See Part IV | $25,000 |
| GMJ Technologies Inc Everett, WA | See Part IV | $25,000 |
| Lifelensar Seattle, WA | See Part IV | $25,000 |
| Managed Health Connections Spokane, WA | See Part IV | $25,000 |
| Nimble Surgical Seattle, WA | See Part IV | $25,000 |
| Opticyte Inc Seattle, WA | See Part IV | $25,000 |
| Piccolo Biosystems Inc Seattle, WA | See Part IV | $25,000 |
| Polybiomics Inc Kirkland, WA | See Part IV | $25,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $140,594 | $1,065,026 | $1,062,716 | $500,000 | 20 |
| 2023 | $185,020 | $1,008,599 | $979,547 | $500,000 | 20 |
| 2022 | $119,195 | $299,904 | $306,748 | — | — |
| 2021 | $152,500 | $254,460 | $242,754 | — | — |
| 2020 | $91,852 | $262,745 | $220,467 | — | — |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The institute’s stated mission is to support life science entrepreneurs and startup companies through educational, economic, and other resources that help them start and grow their companies.
Its website describes a WA SBIR/STTR Matching Fund Grant for eligible Washington-based life science companies developing technology to improve the health and well-being of Washington residents. A 2023 announcement also described SBIR/STTR Matching Fund and Washington Competes grants supporting early-stage companies developing healthcare solutions.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the institute reported 20 grants totaling $500,000. Each grant was $25,000. The listed recipients were in Washington. Examples include AI Analysis Inc. of Bellevue, Equiccare Solutions LLC and LifelensAR of Seattle, and Hart3s of Cheney; each received $25,000. The filing lists the grant purposes as “SEE PART IV.”
The institute’s grants page describes mandatory criteria for the WA SBIR/STTR Matching Fund: applicants must have received no more than two grants from the program, be a Phase I SBIR/STTR awardee that has started but not completed its funded work, be a Washington-based life science company, and be developing technology to improve Washington residents’ health and well-being. The page also lists a guidebook. Applications are reviewed for accuracy and completeness, and valid, verified applications become part of the pool of potential awardees.
The page says preference is given to companies headquartered outside King County, companies that are more than 50% women-owned, and companies more than 50% owned by a socially or economically disadvantaged person, as defined by the SBA.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Marc Cummings as board chair; Erin Williams Hueter, Scott Maloney, Loretta Little, Sean McClain, Kayla Young, and Soraya Bailey as board members; Richard Giersch as executive director; Jennifer Mahlum as treasurer; and Kathleen Goodfellow as secretary.
Life Science Washington Institute is led by Richard Giersch, Executive Director on every filing since 2023; 2 of 11 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Richard Giersch
Executive Director
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$131K (2023) → $109K (2024)
Marc Cummings
Board Chair
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Aylin Kim
Director of Entrepreneurship
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$104K (2023) → $103K (2024)
Kayla Young
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Loretta Little
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Scott Maloney
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sean McClain
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Mahlum
Treasurer
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kathleen Goodfellow
Secretary
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Erin Williams Hueter
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Soraya Bailey
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (10)
- Former: Katrina Rogers (2022–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Magali Eaton Part Year (2023) — Board Member
- Former: Magali Eaton (2022) — Board Member
- Former: Rich Giersch (2022) — Executive Director
- Former: Chris Coppin (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Dave Urdal (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Francisco Velazquez (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Leslie Alexandre (2020–2021) — Executive Director & Board Chair
- Former: Steve Graham (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Tom Clement (2020) — Board Chair
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $109K, to Richard Giersch (Executive Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Life Science Washington Institute
How much does Life Science Washington Institute give each year?
Life Science Washington Institute gave $500K across 20 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $500K across 20 grants.
What is Life Science Washington Institute's typical grant size?
Life Science Washington Institute's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $25,000, across 20 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does Life Science Washington Institute give grants?
Life Science Washington Institute gives mostly in Washington: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Seattle, WA (8 grants), Edmonds, WA (3 grants), Bellevue, WA (2 grants) and Spokane Valley, WA (2 grants).
Does Life Science Washington Institute give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 20 grants with a stated purpose on Life Science Washington Institute's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "See Part IV" (20 grants).
Who are Life Science Washington Institute's largest grantees?
Life Science Washington Institute's largest 2024 grantees include Ai Analysis Inc ($25,000), Equiccare Solutions LLC ($25,000) and Fenologica Biosciences Inc ($25,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 15% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Life Science Washington Institute?
Life Science Washington Institute reported $141K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.1M.
What does Life Science Washington Institute fund?
The institute’s stated mission is to support life science entrepreneurs and startup companies through educational, economic, and other resources that help them start and grow their companies. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Life Science Washington Institute?
The website provides an application process for the WA SBIR/STTR Matching Fund Grant. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Life Science Washington Institute's EIN?
Life Science Washington Institute's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-2829364. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 12, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 16, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Browse active grant opportunities in Life Science Washington Institute's focus areas in our free grants database
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Figures come from Life Science Washington Institute's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Life Science Washington Institute down — hundreds of funders to go?