Seattle Foundation
Seattle Foundation is a public charity based in Seattle, Washington. Established in 1946, its mission is to ignite powerful and rewarding philanthropy to make Greater Seattle a stronger, more vibrant community for all. Its work includes donor-recommended grantmaking, foundation-directed grants, community leadership, and philanthropic advising.
Seattle Foundation at a glance
In short: Seattle Foundation gave $177.9M across 5,379 grants in 2024 (avg $33K), mostly in Washington. 25% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $177,889,348
- +24.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 5,379
- -3.9% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $33,071
- +29.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $6,000
- Total assets
- $1,449,925,075
- +9.8% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 25% first-time grantees (406 of 1,624, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Washington (60% 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 Seattle Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Review available grants and application previews through the foundation’s portal. Requirements vary by program; Whitehorse begins with a letter of inquiry, while Neighbor to Neighbor and other portal grants use application forms.
- Review Cycle
- Neighbor to Neighbor lists January 30, April 30, July 30, and October 30; the foundation says its summer cycle is paused and the fall application is expected to reopen in the fall.
- Deadline
- Neighbor to Neighbor lists January 30, April 30, July 30, and October 30; the foundation says its summer cycle is…
- Contact
Mailing address: 1601 Fifth Avenue 1900, Seattle, WA 98101
Phone: (206) 622-2294
Website: https://seattlefoundation.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 Seattle Foundation
Neighbor to Neighbor (N2N) Grant
Seattle Foundation
Amount
Up to US $7,500
Deadline
Deadline not published
The Medical Funds Grant
Seattle Foundation
Amount
Approximately US $40,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
The Morgan Fund Grant
Seattle Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Seattle Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was University Lutheran Church ($10.0M across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $49.1M.
Organizations only. It also paid 16 grants to individuals ($357,446), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
26,448 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 22,812 grants of 26,448 (86%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation describes its principal grantmaking region as Greater Seattle and an individual recipient, while donor-recommended grantmaking also extends nationally and internationally. In 2024, 60% of reported grant dollars went to recipients in Washington, followed by California (7%), New York (5%), Washington, D.C. (5%), and Missouri (3%). Neighbor to Neighbor serves South Seattle, White Center, and Kent; the Whitehorse Foundation supports organizations operating in Snohomish County.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 5,379 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Seattle Foundation open to new grantees?
25%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 406 of 1,624 grantees (25%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $102K; repeat grants $112K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $30K repeat.
- 64% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−7%). 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 $142.7M (2023) to $191.4M (2021). In 2024 it made 5,379 grants totaling $177.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University Lutheran Church Seattle, WA | To support project a: accessibility addition and project p: new electrical service. | $7,000,000 |
| United Way of King County Seattle, WA | To Provide General Support | $6,728,848 |
| Greater Horizons Kansas City, MO | To Support the NIEL04 Fund. | $6,059,329 |
| Washington Policy Center Seattle, WA | To Provide General Support | $3,500,000 |
| DAFGIVING360 Omaha, NE | Od Fisher Charitable Fund | $3,111,418 |
| University Lutheran Church Seattle, WA | To Support Phase 2 Project Costs | $3,000,000 |
| Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle Seattle, WA | To Support the 2024 We See You Awards. | $2,600,000 |
| REI Cooperative Action Fund Pasadena, CA | To Provide General Support | $1,400,000 |
| The Redford Center San Francisco, CA | To provide support for the production of groundswell documentary | $1,250,000 |
| REI Cooperative Action Fund Pasadena, CA | To Provide General Support | $1,209,636 |
Ready to take the next step with Seattle Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,449,925,075 | $314,722,382 | $244,548,637 | $177,889,348 | 5,379 | $62,689,496 |
| 2023 | $1,320,217,050 | $186,713,007 | $182,608,290 | $142,662,247 | 5,596 | $43,260,523 |
| 2022 | $1,193,135,889 | $159,592,537 | $208,182,776 | $155,183,810 | 6,275 | $19,423,638 |
| 2021 | $1,440,443,987 | $283,945,398 | $230,833,709 | $191,438,004 | 2,055 | $74,366,413 |
| 2020 | $1,281,544,781 | $303,698,138 | $209,122,509 | $172,013,634 | 7,143 | $45,819,959 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Seattle Foundation’s website describes its core grantmaking as support for community-led solutions, community power, and policy and systems change. It says this work is not issue-specific and focuses on racial and economic equity. Its resources are generally multi-year general operating support for organizations led by and serving Black, Indigenous, and/or People of Color that pursue equitable policy or systems change strategies in Seattle and King County. The foundation also describes strategic partnerships, impact-first investing, policy advocacy, and collective action as parts of its work.
The foundation’s 2024 filing also describes donor-recommended grants for a broad range of community needs and scholarship programs, foundation-directed grants through area-of-interest funds, and community leadership through cross-sector initiatives. Its website describes Neighbor to Neighbor as supporting grassroots efforts to increase engagement, power, and influence among people affected by poverty and racial disparities, with priority for efforts led by people from diverse and under-invested communities.
Examples of grantee organizations’ stated missions illustrate the range of organizations receiving support. United Way of King County says it works side by side with communities to build an equitable future for everyone. The Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle says it works to help African Americans and other diverse underserved communities thrive through educational and economic opportunities. Washington Policy Center says it promotes public policy solutions through research and education. The Redford Center says it advances environmental solutions through storytelling.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, Seattle Foundation reported 5,379 grants totaling $177,889,348. Grant amounts ranged from $60 to $7,000,000, with a median grant of $6,000.
Among the largest reported grants were $7,000,000 to University Lutheran Church for accessibility and electrical-service projects; $6,728,848 to United Way of King County for general support; $6,059,329 to Greater Horizons to support the NIEL04 Fund; $3,500,000 to Washington Policy Center for general support; and $2,600,000 to the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle for the 2024 We See You Awards. Other large grants included $1,400,000 to REI Cooperative Action Fund for general support and $1,250,000 to The Redford Center for production of the Groundswell documentary.
The foundation lists the Morgan Fund, a donor-advised fund established to support performing arts organizations, with a primary focus on theatre and dance. Its stated maximum grants are $16,000 for general support and $24,000 for program or project funding. Applicants must be 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations or fiscally sponsored by one; the fund seeks performing-arts organizations in the greater Seattle/Puget Sound region and Washington, D.C., and does not fund individual artists.
The Whitehorse Foundation supports nonprofit organizations operating in Snohomish County that work to improve residents’ quality of life, with a focus on children, youth, and families. Its application process begins with a concise two-page letter of inquiry; requests that meet its criteria may proceed to a formal application. The foundation’s website says letters of inquiry may be submitted on an ongoing basis and that its board meets twice a year to consider requests.
Neighbor to Neighbor awards grants quarterly to community-based organizations in South Seattle, White Center, and Kent, focusing on organizations with small budgets. Organizations may receive funding once per calendar year. The foundation’s current-opportunities page says the summer cycle is paused while it prepares for the fall cycle and that the application is expected to reopen in the fall. The page lists application dates of January 30, April 30, July 30, and October 30.
For portal applications, the foundation’s guidance says applicants create a personal account and link it to their organization’s record. Application previews are available for most grants, and applicants can save an application and return to it later.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Ed Taylor as chair and Kelley Hall as treasurer. Trustees listed are Amy Banovich, Amy Carter, Ben Danielson, Colleen Echohawk, Diana White, Donna Moodie, Ed Thomas, and Janet Levinger.
Seattle Foundation is led by Alesha Washington, President & CEO on every filing since 2022; 9 of 27 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Alesha Washington
President & CEO
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$313K (2022) → $481K (2024)
John Kim
Healthierhere CEO
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ed Taylor
Chair
Vice Chair → Chair, 2021
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Steve Andryszewski
Managing Director & Controller
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$191K (2024)
Mariel Turner-Tamiyasu
Director Strategic Initiatives & Secretary
Director, Strategic Initiatives & Board Secretary → Director Strategic Initiatives & Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$102K (2022) → $118K (2024)
Colleen Echohawk
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ed Thomas
Trustee
Chair → Past Chair, 2021
Past Chair → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Janet Levinger
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Larry Estrada
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amy Banovich
Trustee
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amy Carter
Trustee
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Diana White
Trustee
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Donna Moodie
Trustee
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ben Danielson
Trustee
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Karla Horwitz
Trustee
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robin Lien
Trustee
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Trish Millines-Dziko
Trustee
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Keri Rhodes
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kristine Hermanns
CIO & Contractor
Chief Impact Officer → CIO & Contractor, 2024
On filings since 2020
23.8 hrs/week
$224K (2020) → $287K (2024)
Michael Brown
Exec-In-Residence & Committee Ps
Civic Commons Chief Architect → Exec-In-Residence & Committee Pships, 2022
Exec-In-Residence & Committee Pships → Exec-In-Residence & Committee Ps, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$182K (2023) → $200K (2024)
Michele Frix Dassell
Executive Vice President
Chief Strat Officer & Chief of Staff → Executive Vice President, 2023
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$215K (2022) → $274K (2024)
Larry Buycks
Chief Financial Officer
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$281K (2024)
Mary Rennekamp
Chief Philanthropy Officer
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$249K (2024)
Sally Gillis
Chief Impact Officer
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$215K (2024)
Thuy Hua-Ly
Healthierhere CFO
Healthierhere CFO → Healthierhere CFO & Interim Executive Director, 2022
Healthierhere CFO & Interim Executive Director → Healthierhere CFO, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kelley Hall
Treasurer
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marya Gingrey
Chief Equity & Strategy Officer
Healthierhere Chief Strategist → Chief Equity & Strategy Officer, 2022
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (35)
- Former: Allyson Tucker (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Debra Somberg (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: John Hotta (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Josephine Wong (2021–2023) — Chief Financial Operating Officer · Filing note: Thru 323
- Former: Michael McKee (2021–2023) — Chief Health Transformation Officer
- Former: Stephen Andryszewski (2022–2023) — Managing Director & Controller
- Former: Alexis Desrosiers (2023) — Database Manager
- Former: Allison Matsumoto (2023) — Director & Communications
- Former: Larry Buycks Eff (2023) — Chief Financial Officer
- Former: Taylor Hoang (2023) — Trustee
- Former: David Bley (2020–2022) — President & CEO
- Former: Marcia Fujimoto (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Nancy Saelee (2020–2022) — Assistant Secretary
- Former: Steve Hill (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Susan McLaughlin (2020–2022) — Healthierhere Executive Director
- Former: Trish Millines Dziko (2021–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Benjamin Danielson (2022) — Trustee
- Former: Stephanie McLemore (2022) — Chief Engagement Officer
- Former: Asha Sharma (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Brett Prather (2020–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Fraser Black (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Kirstin Sandaas (2020–2021) — Chief Finance Op Officer
- Former: Michele Frix (2020–2021) — Chief of Staff
- Former: Scott Shapiro (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Terry Myerson (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Tony Mestres (2020–2021) — President & CEO
- Former: Mari Tamiyasu (2021) — Director Strat. Init. & Secretary
- Former: Stephanie McLemore Bray (2021) — Chief Engagement Officer
- Former: Ann Watson (2020) — Trustee · Filing note: Thru 6/2020
- Former: Fidelma McGinn (2020) — Vice President Philanthropic Services · Filing note: Thru 1/2020
- Former: Kelley Hall Eff (2020) — Treasurer
- Former: Mark Gibson (2020) — Treasurer · Filing note: Thru 6/2020
- Former: Mary Grace Roske (2020) — Vice President Director of Communications · Filing note: Thru 1/2020
- Former: Michelle Purnell-Hepburn (2020) — Dei Director
- Former: Nancy Beacham (2020) — Mgng Director, People & Culture
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 $481K, to Alesha Washington (President & CEO). 9 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Seattle Foundation
How much does Seattle Foundation give each year?
Seattle Foundation gave $177.9M across 5,379 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $142.7M across 5,596 grants.
What is Seattle Foundation's typical grant size?
Seattle Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $6,000, and its average grant was $33,071, across 5,379 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Seattle Foundation that year got $102K on average.
Where does Seattle Foundation give grants?
Seattle Foundation gives mostly in Washington: 60% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was California (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Seattle, WA (2,761 grants), Washington, DC (196 grants), New York, NY (126 grants) and Bellevue, WA (125 grants).
Does Seattle Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 75% of Seattle Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (4,035 of 5,379) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990. Recurring purposes include "To Support the Capital Campaign" (34 grants), "Coo Systems and Policy Change 2023-2024" (31 grants) and "To Provide Project Support" (28 grants).
Who are Seattle Foundation's largest grantees?
Seattle Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include University Lutheran Church ($10,000,000 across 2 grants), United Way of King County ($9,325,227 across 80 grants) and Greater Horizons ($6,059,329), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. It also paid 16 grants to individuals ($357,446), which are not listed by name. Together they received 14% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Seattle Foundation?
Seattle Foundation reported $1.4B in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $314.7M.
What does Seattle Foundation fund?
Seattle Foundation’s website describes its core grantmaking as support for community-led solutions, community power, and policy and systems change. It says this work is not issue-specific and focuses on racial and economic equity. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Seattle Foundation?
Review available grants and application previews through the foundation’s portal. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Seattle Foundation's EIN?
Seattle Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-6013536. 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 October 29, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 8, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Seattle Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Washington
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REI Cooperative Action Fund
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Assets
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Total Given
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More similar funders
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Seattle Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 7, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/seattle-foundation-morg_5eb02cfea76d4c13a45ccfb4dbce4eaa
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_916013536_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Seattle Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/seattle-foundation-morg_5eb02cfea76d4c13a45ccfb4dbce4eaa},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-07. 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 Seattle 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.
Seattle Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?