Na'ah Illahee Fund
Na'ah Illahee Fund is a Seattle-based public charity and Indigenous-led intermediary that supports Indigenous communities through regranting, advocacy, and capacity-building. Its work centers on climate justice, food sovereignty, self-determination, cultural revitalization, and protecting land and water.
Na'ah Illahee Fund at a glance
In short: Na'ah Illahee Fund gave $940K across 32 grants in 2024 (avg $29K), mostly in Washington. 81% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $939,625
- +13.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 32
- -11.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $29,363
- +28.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $4,380,872
- +79.9% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 81% first-time grantees (26 of 32, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Washington (83% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Na'ah Illahee Fund
- Contact
Mailing address: 423 2Nd Ave Ext S, Seattle, WA 98104
Phone: (206) 659-5860
Website: https://naahillahee.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
5 open opportunities from Na'ah Illahee Fund
Food Sovereignty Fund
Na'ah Illahee Fund
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Green Infrastructure Capacity Building Grant
Na'ah Illahee Fund
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Indigenous Lifeways Fund
Na'ah Illahee Fund
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Na'ah Illahee Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Native Family Learning Lodge ($359K). Together the top 10 received $639K.
Grant Size Distribution
167 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 155 grants of 167 (93%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The funder describes its scope as urban, rural, and reservation-based Indigenous communities across Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and British Columbia. In 2024, 83% of grant dollars went to recipients in Washington, 8% to Alaska, 5% to Wyoming, 2% to Oregon, and 2% to Idaho.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 32 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Na'ah Illahee Fund open to new grantees?
81%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 26 of 32 grantees (81%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $19K; repeat grants $75K. How we count
Medians: $18K first-time, $21K repeat.
- 3% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+18%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 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 $591K (2022) to $940K (2024). In 2024 it made 32 grants totaling $940K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Native Family Learning Lodge Seattle, WA | Model C Regranting | $359,257 |
| Indigenous Just Transition Seattle, WA | HEAL | $50,000 |
| Indigenous Creatives Collective Seattle, WA | HEAL | $42,500 |
| Indigenous Roots & Reparation Foundation Wenatchee, WA | HEAL | $40,000 |
| Duwamish Tribal Services Seattle, WA | HEAL | $25,000 |
| Naa Kaani Native Program Seattle, WA | HEAL | $25,000 |
| Piikani Lodge Health Institute Auburn, WA | HEAL | $25,000 |
| SaltFire Suquamish, WA | HEAL | $25,000 |
| Center for Populat Research Education and Policy Fort Washakie, WY | Indigenous lifeways | $24,400 |
| SE Alaska Indigenous Transboundary Commission Juneau, AK | Indigenous lifeways | $23,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Na'ah Illahee Fund?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The 2024 grant total covered 32 grants; the 2023 total covered 36, and the 2022 total covered 29.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $4,380,872 | $4,634,266 | $3,041,788 | $939,625 | 32 | $3,261 |
| 2023 | $2,435,450 | $3,070,954 | $3,763,605 | $825,686 | 36 | $4,073 |
| 2022 | $2,675,848 | $3,007,205 | $3,632,703 | $591,298 | 29 | $2,520 |
| 2021 | $3,416,463 | $4,496,691 | $3,149,328 | $798,498 | 36 | $2,073 |
| 2020 | $1,554,470 | $3,555,746 | $2,270,334 | $671,800 | 34 | $972 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization states that its mission is to catalyze the ongoing regeneration of Indigenous communities through participatory grantmaking, capacity-building, and cultural revitalization, nurturing reciprocal relationships with one another and Mother Earth.
Its grantmaking has supported ceremonial practices, Indigenous lifeways, environmental justice, community health, food sovereignty, and cultural resilience. The funder describes its approach as community-led: a committee of former grantees, cultural practitioners, youth leaders, and local knowledge keepers makes funding recommendations, which are affirmed by the board.
Examples of grantees’ stated missions illustrate the range of organizations supported. Indigenous Creatives Collective says it works to improve Indigenous well-being through art-making, community building, and equitable creative opportunities. Duwamish Tribal Services says it works to support the Duwamish Tribe’s social, cultural, political, and economic survival and revitalize Duwamish culture and history. The Center for Popular Research, Education and Policy says its mission is to increase the supply of local, healthy, affordable food on the Wind River Reservation.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the funder made 32 grants totaling $939,625. Grant amounts ranged from $6,000 to $359,257, with a median award of $20,000. Its largest listed grant was $359,257 to Native Family Learning Lodge in Seattle for Model C Regranting. Other notable awards included $50,000 to Indigenous Just Transition, $42,500 to Indigenous Creatives Collective, and $40,000 to Indigenous Roots & Reparation Foundation. Several grants were identified as HEAL, including awards to Indigenous Just Transition, Indigenous Creatives Collective, and Duwamish Tribal Services.
The funder’s website describes a community-led grantmaking process, with committee recommendations affirmed by the board. Program pages list eligibility and examples of qualifying projects, but do not establish a current application cycle. The listed Indigenous Lifeways Fund and HEAL application deadlines—March 5, 2025, and April 1, 2025, respectively—are past. The website also lists the Food Sovereignty Fund as closed.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Bridget Ray as president; Tim Lehman as treasurer; Susan Balbas as executive director; and Shannon Caleffe as finance director. It lists Brooke Pinkham, Bernadette Zambrano, Charlotte Cote, Kimberly Deriana, and Laura John as directors.
Na'ah Illahee Fund is led by Susan Balbas, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 4 of 9 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Susan Balbas
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$121K (2020) → $224K (2024)
Bridget Ray
President
Director → President, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kimberly Deriana
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
$600 (2024)
Shannon Caleffe
Finance Director
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$133K (2024)
Bernadette Zambrano
Director
Vice Chair → Vice President, 2021
Vice President → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brooke Pinkham
Director
Chair → President, 2021
President → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Charlotte Cote
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Laura John
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tim Lehman
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$8K (2020) → $600 (2024)
Former officers (6)
- Former: Jeanne Jackson McMinds (2020–2023) — Secretary
- Former: Asia Tail (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Charolette Cote (2020) — Director
- Former: Emma Elliot Groves (2020) — Director
- Former: Susan Welsh (2020) — Secretary
- Former: Tawna Sanchez (2020) — Chairman
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 $224K, to Susan Balbas (Executive Director). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Na'ah Illahee Fund
How much does Na'ah Illahee Fund give each year?
Na'ah Illahee Fund gave $940K across 32 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $826K across 36 grants.
What is Na'ah Illahee Fund's typical grant size?
Na'ah Illahee Fund's median grant in 2024 was $20,000, and its average grant was $29,363, across 32 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Na'ah Illahee Fund that year got $19K on average.
Where does Na'ah Illahee Fund give grants?
Na'ah Illahee Fund gives mostly in Washington: 83% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was Alaska (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Seattle, WA (5 grants), Suquamish, WA (2 grants), Fort Washakie, WY (2 grants) and Juneau, AK (2 grants).
Does Na'ah Illahee Fund give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 32 grants with a stated purpose on Na'ah Illahee Fund's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Heal" (17 grants) and "Indigenous lifeways" (12 grants).
Who are Na'ah Illahee Fund's largest grantees?
Na'ah Illahee Fund's largest 2024 grantees include Native Family Learning Lodge ($359,257), Indigenous Just Transition ($50,000) and Indigenous Creatives Collective ($42,500), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 48% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Na'ah Illahee Fund?
Na'ah Illahee Fund reported $4.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $4.6M.
What does Na'ah Illahee Fund fund?
The organization states that its mission is to catalyze the ongoing regeneration of Indigenous communities through participatory grantmaking, capacity-building, and cultural revitalization, nurturing reciprocal relationships with one another and Mother Earth. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Na'ah Illahee Fund?
Na'ah Illahee Fund has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check naahillahee.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Na'ah Illahee Fund's EIN?
Na'ah Illahee Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 05-0630992. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 21, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Na'ah Illahee Fund's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Na'ah Illahee Fund funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/na-ah-illahee-fund-morg_46779d6f911842db9a7b548f8f0a3447
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_050630992_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Na'ah Illahee Fund funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/na-ah-illahee-fund-morg_46779d6f911842db9a7b548f8f0a3447},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Na'ah Illahee Fund'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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