Mark Torrance Foundation
The Mark Torrance Foundation is a private foundation based in Seattle, Washington. It invests in people and organizations working to strengthen communities locally and globally, with an emphasis on creative collaboration and shared solutions to social and environmental challenges.
Mark Torrance Foundation at a glance
In short: Mark Torrance Foundation gave $820K across 16 grants in 2024 (avg $51K), mostly in Washington. 69% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $820,000
- +18.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 16
- +23.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $51,250
- -3.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $23,250
- Total assets
- $11,231,667
- +0.9% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 69% first-time grantees (11 of 16, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Washington (74% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Mark Torrance Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 712 North 34Th Street Suite 200, Seattle, WA 98103
Phone: (206) 229-9043
Website: https://marktorrancefoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Mark Torrance Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Uw Foundation ($250K). Together the top 10 received $749K.
Grant Size Distribution
59 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 37 grants of 59 (63%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website describes its investments as reaching organizations in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. In 2024, 74% of grant dollars went to recipients in Washington. Other reported recipient-state shares included 6% in Maryland, 3% in New York, and 2% in Colorado; 12% was listed with an unspecified state.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Mark Torrance Foundation open to new grantees?
69%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 11 of 16 grantees (69%) were first-time recipients. With only 16 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $30K; repeat grants $99K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $100K repeat.
- 25% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 27% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 107% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $640K (2020) to $820K (2024). In 2024 it made 16 grants totaling $820K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Uw Foundation Seattle, WA | Program Support - Social Services | $250,000 |
| Makeway Foundation | Program Support - Social Services | $100,000 |
| Seattle Children's Foundation Seattle, WA | Program Support - Social Services | $100,000 |
| Recovery Cafe Seattle, WA | Program Support - Social Services | $82,500 |
| Islandwood Bainbridge Island, WA | Program Support - Social Services | $50,000 |
| New Venture Fund Baltimore, MD | Program Support - Social Services | $50,000 |
| San Juan Islands Museum of Art Friday Harbor, WA | Program Support - Social Services | $50,000 |
| Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc New York, NY | Program Support - Social Services | $24,000 |
| Healthpoint Renton, WA | Program Support - Social Services | $22,500 |
| Treehouse Fund Inc Seattle, WA | Program Support - Social Services | $20,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $11,231,667 | $1,048,719 | $941,589 | $820,000 | 16 | $825,025 | $945,181 | $774,556 |
| 2023 | $11,130,841 | $517,192 | $856,179 | $689,950 | 13 | $728,323 | $421,835 | $708,472 |
| 2022 | $11,462,893 | $1,669,419 | $946,375 | $798,500 | 5 | $836,793 | $1,577,337 | $734,316 |
| 2021 | $10,741,446 | $1,176,187 | $790,120 | $646,333 | 7 | $682,559 | $1,078,626 | $822,143 |
| 2020 | $10,355,379 | $736,855 | $761,162 | $639,756 | 18 | — | $654,227 | $686,785 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Mark Torrance Foundation reported a distributable amount of $775K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated aim is to partner with people and organizations to create healthy, vibrant communities. Its website highlights projects involving youth healthy eating, suicide prevention, and bicycling, and its listed grants include program support for social services.
Its grantees work in varied fields. Seattle Children’s Foundation says it seeks to improve health care services for infants, children, and adolescents through support for health care, research, and education. IslandWood describes its work as developing lifelong learning and environmental and community stewardship through hands-on experiences. The San Juan Islands Museum of Art says it provides visual art and programming intended to spark reflection, discovery, inspiration, and connection. HealthPoint says it works to strengthen communities and improve health by delivering services and reducing barriers to access. Street Business School describes its mission as addressing global poverty by empowering women entrepreneurs.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 16 grants totaling $820,000. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $250,000, with a median of $23,250. Notable grants included $250,000 to UW Foundation, $100,000 each to Makeway Foundation and Seattle Children’s Foundation, and $82,500 to Recovery Cafe. It also awarded $50,000 each to IslandWood, New Venture Fund, and San Juan Islands Museum of Art.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Mark Torrance as president and director; Dana Bass Solomon, Chris Birkeland, Michael Mathieu, and Paul Okner as directors; Karin Cirillo as secretary and officer; and Richard Burkhardt as treasurer.
Mark Torrance Foundation is led by Mark Torrance, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 7 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Mark Torrance
President & Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Chris Birkeland
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dana Bass Solomon
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Mathieu
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Paul Okner
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Karin Cirillo
Officer & Secretary
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$27K (2020) → $0 (2024)
Richard Burkhardt
Treasurer
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
$8K (2022) → $0 (2024)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Jean Berry (2020) — Director
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 2023 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2023 filing was $29K, to Karin Cirillo (Officer, Secretary). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Mark Torrance Foundation
How much does Mark Torrance Foundation give each year?
Mark Torrance Foundation gave $820K across 16 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $690K across 13 grants.
What is Mark Torrance Foundation's typical grant size?
Mark Torrance Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $23,250, and its average grant was $51,250, across 16 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Mark Torrance Foundation that year got $30K on average.
Where does Mark Torrance Foundation give grants?
Mark Torrance Foundation gives mostly in Washington: 74% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Maryland (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Seattle, WA (6 grants) and Renton, WA (2 grants).
Does Mark Torrance Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 16 grants with a stated purpose on Mark Torrance Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Support - Social Services" (16 grants).
Who are Mark Torrance Foundation's largest grantees?
Mark Torrance Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Uw Foundation ($250,000), Makeway Foundation ($100,000) and Seattle Children's Foundation ($100,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 55% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Mark Torrance Foundation?
Mark Torrance Foundation reported $11.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $825K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $775K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Mark Torrance Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated aim is to partner with people and organizations to create healthy, vibrant communities. Its website highlights projects involving youth healthy eating, suicide prevention, and bicycling, and its listed grants include program support for social services. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Mark Torrance Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Mark Torrance Foundation's EIN?
Mark Torrance Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-1939909. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Mark Torrance Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Mark Torrance Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/mark-torrance-foundation-morg_1d9d2d289ee94c4184d95dcf380d9e41
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_911939909_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Mark Torrance Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/mark-torrance-foundation-morg_1d9d2d289ee94c4184d95dcf380d9e41},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Mark Torrance Foundation'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.
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