Philanthropy Northwest
Philanthropy Northwest is a public charity based in Seattle, Washington, formed in 1976. It describes itself as a philanthropic network working to build philanthropy’s capacity to redistribute resources and power to underinvested communities in the Northwest and beyond. Its work includes supporting funders and philanthropic partnerships, advocating for equitable policy, and administering grant programs for community-led initiatives.
Philanthropy Northwest at a glance
In short: Philanthropy Northwest gave $360K across 21 grants in 2024 (avg $17K), mostly in Washington. 10% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $360,000
- -2.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 21
- -4.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $17,143
- +2.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $3,965,221
- -22.2% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 10% first-time grantees (2 of 21, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Washington (88% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Philanthropy Northwest
- How to Apply
-
The Thriving Communities program is closed to applications, with no future rounds planned.
- Review Cycle
- The listed September 2 deadline for the non-compete grant option has passed.
- Deadline
- The listed September 2 deadline for the non-compete grant option has passed.
- Contact
Mailing address: 600 University St 1725, Seattle, WA 98101
Phone: (206) 443-8434
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Philanthropy Northwest
Who Philanthropy Northwest funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Latino Community Foundation ($30K). Together the top 10 received $195K.
Grant Size Distribution
522 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 415 grants of 522 (80%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Philanthropy Northwest describes its network as serving Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, and beyond. The Thriving Communities program covers Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, including tribal nations in the region. In 2024, 88% of the organization’s reported grant dollars went to Washington recipients, 8% to Massachusetts, and 4% to Oregon.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 21 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Philanthropy Northwest open to new grantees?
10%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 2 of 21 grantees (10%) were first-time recipients. With only 21 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $30K; repeat grants $16K. How we count
Medians: $30K first-time, $15K repeat.
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 $345K (2022) to $26.7M (2020). In 2024 it made 21 grants totaling $360K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Latino Community Foundation Seattle, WA | To support learning goals with a focus on diversity, racial equity and inclusion. | $30,000 |
| Potlatch Fund Seattle, WA | To support learning goals with a focus on diversity, racial equity and inclusion. | $30,000 |
| Proteus Fund Amherst, MA | To support learning goals with a focus on diversity, racial equity and inclusion. | $30,000 |
| Black Futures Co-Op Seattle, WA | To support learning goals with a focus on diversity, racial equity and inclusion. | $15,000 |
| Blue Mountain Community Foundation Walla Walla, WA | To support learning goals with a focus on diversity, racial equity and inclusion. | $15,000 |
| Community Foundation for Southwest Washington Vancouver, WA | To support learning goals with a focus on diversity, racial equity and inclusion. | $15,000 |
| Community Foundation of North Central Washington Wenatchee, WA | To support learning goals with a focus on diversity, racial equity and inclusion. | $15,000 |
| Community Foundation of Snohomish County Everett, WA | To support learning goals with a focus on diversity, racial equity and inclusion. | $15,000 |
| Greater Tacoma Community Foundation Tacoma, WA | To support learning goals with a focus on diversity, racial equity and inclusion. | $15,000 |
| Innovia Foundation Spokane, WA | To support learning goals with a focus on diversity, racial equity and inclusion. | $15,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Philanthropy Northwest?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The 2024 filing describes a separate EPA award for administering more than $40 million in grants over three years. That program funding is distinct from the $360,000 in grants Philanthropy Northwest reported making in 2024.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $3,965,221 | $5,813,198 | $7,072,405 | $360,000 | 21 | $95,591 |
| 2023 | $5,098,108 | $4,230,276 | $5,694,059 | $368,334 | 22 | $81,154 |
| 2022 | $6,626,984 | $2,879,840 | $5,655,258 | $345,000 | 20 | $17,295 |
| 2021 | $9,442,103 | $7,893,544 | $9,270,845 | $3,228,789 | 23 | $12,624 |
| 2020 | $11,081,765 | $35,627,188 | $32,839,040 | $26,723,681 | 436 | $23,206 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Philanthropy Northwest’s stated mission is to grow philanthropy’s capacity to do transformative work toward redistributing resources and power to underinvested communities in the Northwest and beyond. Its website describes equitable funding as central to that mission, emphasizing community leadership, collaboration, and removing barriers to resources.
Its 2024 grants all had the stated purpose of supporting learning goals focused on diversity, racial equity, and inclusion. Recipients included community foundations and other philanthropic organizations. For example, Potlatch Fund describes its mission as expanding philanthropy with tribal nations and Native communities in the Pacific Northwest; Proteus Fund describes its work as connecting philanthropy to the frontlines of social justice; and Greater Tacoma Community Foundation describes its work as building a racially equitable, accessible, and inclusive Pierce County. These are the recipients’ descriptions of their own work.
Philanthropy Northwest also administers the Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program in partnership with the EPA. The program supports locally led environmental and public health projects, such as environmental cleanups, air- and water-quality improvements, emergency planning, and workforce development.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, Philanthropy Northwest reported 21 grants totaling $360,000. Grant amounts ranged from $15,000 to $30,000, with a median of $15,000. The filing states that the listed grants supported learning goals focused on diversity, racial equity, and inclusion. Among the largest were $30,000 each to Latino Community Foundation, Potlatch Fund, and Proteus Fund. Other listed grants included $15,000 each to Greater Tacoma Community Foundation, Kitsap Community Foundation, Seattle Foundation, and several other organizations.
The EPA Thriving Communities program is a separate, much larger pass-through grantmaking effort. Philanthropy Northwest’s website says the program was intended to distribute more than $48 million across Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, including tribal nations. The website states that applications are closed and there will be no future rounds. An additional program notice describes a non-compete option of up to $75,000 for severely capacity-constrained organizations—those with budgets under $500,000 or serving areas with populations of 50,000 or fewer. Its stated deadline, September 2, has passed.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Alex McKay as board chair; Diana Birkett Rakow and Aden Bliss as board treasurers; Warren Brown as board vice chair of operations; Shona Carter as board vice chair of programs; Cat Martin as board secretary; and Nicole Maher as immediate past board chair. It also lists Lilliane Ballesteros, Brenda Solorzano, and Michelle DeWitt as board members.
The organization’s website identifies Jill Nishi as CEO.
Philanthropy Northwest is led by Jill Teiko Nishi, CEO since 2022 (on filings since 2020); 7 of 31 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Jill Teiko Nishi
CEO
Board Member → CEO, 2022
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$142K (2022) → $297K (2024)
Alex McKay
Board Chair
Secretary → Board Chair, 2024
On filings since 2022
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lyn Hunter
Director Strategic Initiatives
Director, Regional Strategies & Networks → Director Strat. Initiates & Board Development, 2023
Director Strat. Initiates & Board Development → Director Strategic Initiatives, 2024
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$103K (2021) → $126K (2024)
Danielle Crystal
Director of Grantmaking
Director Grantmaking → Director of Grantmaking, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$105K (2023) → $123K (2024)
Karen Page Westing
Vice President Marketing & Communications
Vice President, Marketing & Communications → Vice President Marketing & Communications, 2022
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$103K (2020) → $140K (2024)
Meredith Sue Heong Higashi
Chief of Staff
Director, Public Policy & Advocacy → Chief of Staff, 2022
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$108K (2020) → $170K (2024)
Nancy Sanabria
Vice President Strategies
Director & Learning Strategies → Vice President Program Strategies, 2022
Vice President Program Strategies → Vice President Strategies, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$100K (2020) → $145K (2024)
Rachel Jackson
Vice President People, Operations & Finance
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$155K (2023) → $198K (2024)
Aleesha Towns-Bain
Board Member
Board Member → Member, 2023
Member → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brenda Solorzano
Board Member
Secretary → Vice Chair of Programs, 2022
Vice Chair of Programs → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cat Martin
Board Secretary
Board Member → Member, 2023
Member → Board Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Diana Birkett Rakow
Board Treasurer
Board Member → Board Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ernie Rasmussen
Board Member
Board Member → Member, 2023
Member → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kris Hermanns
Board Member
Board Member → Member, 2023
Member → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lilliane Ballesteros
Board Member
Board Member → Vice Chair of Operations, 2021
Vice Chair of Operations → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mike Halligan
Board Member
Board Member → Member, 2023
Member → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nicole Maher
Immediate Past Board Chair
Treasurer → Chair, 2022
Chair → Immediate Past Board Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ayyu Qassataq
Board Member
Board Member → Member, 2023
Member → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brian Tanner
Board Member
Board Member → Member, 2023
Member → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Huong Vu
Board Member
Board Member → Member, 2023
Member → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michelle Dewitt
Board Member
Board Member → Member, 2023
Member → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shona Carter
Board Vice Chair of Programs
Board Member → Member, 2023
Member → Board Vice Chair of Programs, 2024
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Warren Brown
Board Vice Chair of Operations
Board Member → Member, 2023
Member → Board Vice Chair of Operations, 2024
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Aden Bliss
Board Treasurer
Member → Board Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Omni Romero
Board Member
Member → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Se-Ah-Dom Edmo
Board Member
Member → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gloria Dixon
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kendall Clawson
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kendra Witt-Doyle
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mito Alfieri
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Toya Fick
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (29)
- Former: Kaberi Banjeree Murthy (2021–2023) — Member
- Former: Diana Burkett-Rakow (2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Anjana Pandey (2020–2022) — Interim CEO
- Former: Mark Dederer (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Michelle Kauhane (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Nancy Zwieback (2020–2022) — CFO
- Former: Toya Nash Randall (2021–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Cc Gardner Gleser (2022) — Board Member
- Former: Lynelle Hunter (2022) — Director Strat. Initiates & Board Devo
- Former: Nora Yuree Kim (2022) — Business Director
- Former: Alexandria McKay (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Audrey Haberman (2020–2021) — Managing Director & Tgp
- Former: Brian Boyd (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: C'ardiss Cc Gardner Gleser (2020–2021) — Vice Chair of Programs
- Former: Doug Stamm (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Elizabeth Ripley (2020–2021) — Vice Chair of Operations
- Former: Erin Kahn (2020–2021) — Co-Chair Public Policy
- Former: Karen Bilowith (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Kelly Bruggeman (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Mary Rutherford (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Sindhu Knotz (2020–2021) — Managing Partner & Tgp
- Former: Susan Anderson (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Ernest Rasmussen (2021) — Board Member
- Former: La Quen Naay Medicine Crow (2021) — Board Member
- Former: Antoinette Malveaux (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Huong Vu Bozarth (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Jane Broom (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Kiran Ahuja (2020) — CEO
- Former: Liz Medicine Crow (2020) — Board Member
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 $297K, to Jill Teiko Nishi (CEO). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Philanthropy Northwest
How much does Philanthropy Northwest give each year?
Philanthropy Northwest gave $360K across 21 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $368K across 22 grants.
What is Philanthropy Northwest's typical grant size?
Philanthropy Northwest's median grant in 2024 was $15,000, and its average grant was $17,143, across 21 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Philanthropy Northwest that year got $30K on average.
Where does Philanthropy Northwest give grants?
Philanthropy Northwest gives mostly in Washington: 88% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was Massachusetts (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Seattle, WA (5 grants), Everett, WA (2 grants), Spokane, WA (2 grants) and Yakima, WA (2 grants).
Does Philanthropy Northwest give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 21 grants with a stated purpose on Philanthropy Northwest's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are Philanthropy Northwest's largest grantees?
Philanthropy Northwest's largest 2024 grantees include Latino Community Foundation ($30,000), Potlatch Fund ($30,000) and Proteus Fund ($30,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 25% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Philanthropy Northwest?
Philanthropy Northwest reported $4.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $5.8M.
What does Philanthropy Northwest fund?
Philanthropy Northwest’s stated mission is to grow philanthropy’s capacity to do transformative work toward redistributing resources and power to underinvested communities in the Northwest and beyond. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Philanthropy Northwest?
The Thriving Communities program is closed to applications, with no future rounds planned. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Philanthropy Northwest's EIN?
Philanthropy Northwest's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-1110995. 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 10, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS September 27, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 29, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 15, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Other open foundation grants in Washington
Washington Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Philanthropy Northwest's focus areas in our free grants database
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Funders that support many of the same organizations
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Philanthropy Northwest funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/philanthropy-northwest-morg_6b3fff77c6054474a0f95030c544f88b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_911110995_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Philanthropy Northwest funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/philanthropy-northwest-morg_6b3fff77c6054474a0f95030c544f88b},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. 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 Philanthropy Northwest'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.
Philanthropy Northwest down — hundreds of funders to go?