Sustainable Northwest
Sustainable Northwest is a Portland, Oregon-based public charity, formed in 1994, that works with communities on locally led solutions for nature, people, and local economies. Its work includes forests, wood markets, regenerative ranching, clean energy, and water.
Sustainable Northwest at a glance
In short: Sustainable Northwest gave $1.3M across 12 grants in 2025 (avg $111K), mostly in Oregon. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,335,699
- -48.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 12
- +9.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $111,308
- -52.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $72,026
- Total assets
- $8,103,815
- +33.9% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Oregon (58% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Sustainable Northwest
- Contact
Mailing address: 233 Sw Naito Parkway 200, Portland, OR 97204
Phone: (503) 221-6911
Website: https://sustainablenorthwest.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Sustainable Northwest funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Vibrant Planet Public Benefit Corporation ($314K). Together the top 10 received $1.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
23 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 8 grants of 23 (35%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Sustainable Northwest says it partners with communities throughout the Northwest. Its 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in Oregon (58%), California (23%), Washington (12%), and Colorado (7%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
Cities
How Sustainable Northwest gives
- 75% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2025). 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 2024 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.3M (2025) to $2.6M (2024). In 2025 it made 12 grants totaling $1.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Vibrant Planet Public Benefit Corporation Truckee, CA | To build markets for climate-smart commodities and invest in America's climate-smart producers to strengthen us rural and agricultural communities | $313,805 |
| Ecotrust Portland, OR | To build markets for climate-smart commodities and invest in America's climate-smart producers to strengthen us rural and agricultural communities | $230,942 |
| Applegate Partnership Jacksonville, OR | To document the cooperation between the parties to promote and conserve fire adapted natural ecosystems in Oregon, develop applicable education materials and tool kits to be available to both parties and odf to increase soicl license for prescribed fore use and methods for development of prescribed burn associations across Oregon, and educate private landowners and other non-federal entities about the responsible and cultural use of prescribed fire through cooridntion of the opfc | $230,389 |
| Jackson Soil and Water Central Point, OR | Building nursery and recovery infrastructure for climate and fire resilient Oregon forests | $131,848 |
| Northwest Natural Resources Seattle, WA | To build markets for climate-smart commodities and invest in America's climate-smart producers to strengthen us rural and agricultural communities | $110,295 |
| Vibrant Planet Data Commons Conifer, CO | To build markets for climate-smart commodities and invest in America's climate-smart producers to strengthen us rural and agricultural communities | $88,862 |
| Bonneville Environmental Foundation Portland, OR | Building nursery and recovery infrastructure for climate and fire resilient Oregon forests | $55,190 |
| Washington Conservation Action Seattle, WA | To build markets for climate-smart commodities and invest in America's climate-smart producers to strengthen us rural and agricultural communities | $43,746 |
| Clackamas Soil and Water Beavercreek, OR | To estabilsh the framework for cooperation between nrcs and lead partner to implement elgible activities and obtain rcpp project conservation benefits by addressing resource concerns with eligible producers and partners within the approved project area | $36,645 |
| Trout Mountain Forestry Portland, OR | To build markets for climate-smart commodities and invest in America's climate-smart producers to strengthen us rural and agricultural communities | $34,398 |
Ready to take the next step with Sustainable Northwest?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $8,103,815 | $10,789,117 | $8,324,952 | $1,335,699 | 12 | $91,504 |
| 2024 | $6,051,824 | $9,464,220 | $10,124,088 | $2,582,630 | 11 | $87,746 |
| 2023 | $5,643,260 | $5,733,139 | $7,552,606 | — | — | $97,902 |
| 2022 | $6,885,220 | $5,342,652 | $4,178,877 | — | — | $22,471 |
| 2021 | $5,425,924 | $2,924,728 | $2,629,722 | — | — | $101,949 |
| 2020 | $4,963,618 | $4,889,455 | $2,196,313 | — | — | $177,466 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s mission, as stated in its 2025 filing, is to “forge community-led solutions that work for nature, people, and jobs.” Its stated program areas include forest health and resilience; wood markets using local materials from forestry projects; regenerative ranching; clean energy; and water.
Its website describes work with rural and Tribal communities on forest resilience, locally driven clean energy, and water use that balances the needs of nature, people, and local economies. It also describes support for ranchers adopting climate-resilient practices and for sourcing wood from forestry projects that support forest health and local economies.
Grantees in 2025 included organizations working on conservation, watershed restoration, climate, and environmental advocacy. For example, Ecotrust describes its own mission as advancing ecological and cultural stewardship, broadly shared regional wealth, and climate resilience. Applegate Partnership describes its mission as promoting ecosystem health in the Applegate watershed through education and restoration with landowners, agencies, and others. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not Sustainable Northwest’s.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, Sustainable Northwest reported 12 grants totaling $1,335,699. Grants ranged from $25,199 to $313,805, with a median of $72,026.
Notable awards included $313,805 to Vibrant Planet Public Benefit Corporation for work building markets for climate-smart commodities and investing in climate-smart producers; $230,942 to Ecotrust for the same stated purpose; and $230,389 to Applegate Partnership for work promoting and conserving fire-adapted ecosystems in Oregon. Other awards included $131,848 to Jackson Soil and Water for nursery and recovery infrastructure for climate- and fire-resilient Oregon forests, and $110,295 to Northwest Natural Resources for climate-smart commodities and producers.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers and directors listed on the 2025 filing are John Rose, board chair; Betsy Cowles, vice chair; Steve Stadum, finance chair; Stephen Goodman, treasurer; and directors Dr. Kimberlee Chambers, Dr. Cristina Eisenberg, Martin Goebel, Dr. Laura Hazlett, Allison Hensey, and Dr. Stephen Kelley.
Sustainable Northwest is led by Dylan Kruse, President since 2025 (on filings since 2022); 4 of 21 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Dylan Kruse
President
Vice President → President, 2025
On filings since 2022
35 hrs/week
$108K (2022) → $179K (2025)
John Rose
Board Chair
Vice Chair → Chair, 2022
Chair → Board Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steve Stadum
Finance Chair
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lee Rahr
Director of Programs
On filings since 2023
35 hrs/week
$110K (2023) → $119K (2025)
Natalie Bennon
Comms. & Development Director
On filings since 2024
35 hrs/week
$126K (2024) → $127K (2025)
Dudley Slater
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Von Schlegell
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Wilson
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Martin Goebel
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nat Parker
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cristina Eisenberg
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kimberlee Chambers
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Laura Hazlett
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paul Ward
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephen Kelley
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mike Warjone
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Susie Pape
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Allison Hensey
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brian York
Chief Financial Officer
Chief Executive Officer → Chief Financial Officer, 2025
On filings since 2024
35 hrs/week
$141K (2024) → $52K (2025)
Stephen Goodman
Treasurer
Director → Finance Chair, 2022
Finance Chair → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Betsy Cowles
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2023
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (13)
- Former: Greg Block (2020–2024) — President
- Former: Jeff Nuss (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Elaine Albrich (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: K. Norman Johnson (2023) — Director
- Former: Alando Simpson (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Alicia Daniels Uhlig (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Norman K. Johnson (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Russ Vaagen (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Ngu Castro (2021–2022) — CFO
- Former: Don Sampson (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Kimberly Chambers (2020–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Robin Boies (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Jessamine Fitzpatrick (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $179K, to Dylan Kruse (President). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Sustainable Northwest
How much does Sustainable Northwest give each year?
Sustainable Northwest gave $1.3M across 12 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $2.6M across 11 grants.
What is Sustainable Northwest's typical grant size?
Sustainable Northwest's median grant in 2025 was $72,026, and its average grant was $111,308, across 12 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Sustainable Northwest give grants?
Sustainable Northwest gives mostly in Oregon: 58% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest states were California (23%) and Washington (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Portland, OR (3 grants) and Seattle, WA (2 grants).
Does Sustainable Northwest give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 12 grants with a stated purpose on Sustainable Northwest's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are Sustainable Northwest's largest grantees?
Sustainable Northwest's largest 2025 grantees include Vibrant Planet Public Benefit Corporation ($313,805), Ecotrust ($230,942) and Applegate Partnership ($230,389), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 58% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Sustainable Northwest?
Sustainable Northwest reported $8.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $10.8M.
What does Sustainable Northwest fund?
The organization’s mission, as stated in its 2025 filing, is to “forge community-led solutions that work for nature, people, and jobs.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Sustainable Northwest?
Sustainable Northwest has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check sustainablenorthwest.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Sustainable Northwest's EIN?
Sustainable Northwest's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 93-1152222. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
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 2024 (received by the IRS November 5, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 4, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Sustainable Northwest's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Sustainable Northwest funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/sustainable-northwest-morg_f4e232fe43d648cd8a908392c0443529
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_931152222_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Sustainable Northwest funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/sustainable-northwest-morg_f4e232fe43d648cd8a908392c0443529},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. 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 Sustainable 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.
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