The Tew Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Seattle, Washington, established in February 1998. As a 501(c)(3) organization, it operates as a philanthropic institution focused on supporting charitable causes through grants and community investment.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$22.8M
+33.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.0M
+18.9% YoY
Grant Count
42
+4100.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$72K
-97.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Tew Foundation reported a distributable amount of $813K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports initiatives across multiple subject areas including:
- Arts and Culture — including museums and art museums
- Education — spanning elementary and secondary education through university-level programs
- Environment — with emphasis on natural resources
- Religion — particularly Christianity and Catholicism
- Human Services
Grantmaking
The foundation operates with a preselected approach and limited staffing, relying on a volunteer board for governance and decision-making.
Grant Range
$5,000 to $500,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds projects and organizations within Seattle, Washington, with some activity in Tennessee and Pennsylvania.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total assets: $22,781,431
- Total revenue: $9,151,661
- Total expenses: $3,450,742
- Net income: $5,700,919
Historical Context (2023):
- Total assets: $17,008,348
- Total revenue: $6,707,306
- Total expenses: $2,776,076
The foundation has demonstrated significant financial growth, with revenue increasing an average of 44.9% annually over the past five years.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $22,781,431 | $17,008,348 | $14,643,912 |
| Revenue | $9,151,661 | $6,707,306 | $5,350,303 |
| Expenses | $3,450,742 | $2,776,076 | $3,374,359 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,178,526 | $2,632,850 | $3,243,637 |
| Net Investment Income | $9,157,460 | $3,606,005 | $2,772,627 |
| Distributable Amount | $812,754 | $665,411 | $705,891 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
46 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include University of Washington Foundation ($500,000), Dickinson College ($400,000), University of Washington ($250,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN RED CROSS SEATTLE, WA | SERVICE TO THE ARMED FORCES | $25,000 |
| BURKE MUSEUM ASSOCIATION SEATTLE, WA | BURKE BOX SHIPPING 24-25 | $12,500 |
| CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES BALTIMORE, MD | DISASTER/EMERGENCY RELIEF | $100,000 |
| CLASSICAL KING FM SEATTLE, WA | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $5,000 |
| DICKINSON COLLEGE CARLISLE, PA | ARTIC AND ALPINE STUDIES ENDOWMENT | $400,000 |
| DUCKS UNLIMITED INC MEMPHIS, TN | WINGS & WETLANDS NW | $10,000 |
| EVERGREEN GOODWILL SEATTLE, WA | ADULT BASIC EDUCATION PROGRAM | $15,000 |
| FOREST RIDGE SCHOOL OF THE SACRED HEART BELLEVUE, WA | 2024/25 FOREST RIDGE FUND | $5,000 |
| FRACTURED ATLAS INC NEW YORK, NY | ROCKLAND RESIDENCY AFRICAN AMERICAN COHORT | $10,000 |
| FRIENDS OF LOPEZ ISLAND POOL LOPEZ ISLAND, WA | GENERAL BUILDING FUND | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is governed by a volunteer board serving without compensation:
- Sheila Wyckoff-Dickey — President
- Susan Pohl — Vice President
- Daniel M. Asher — Secretary
- Paul L. Wyckoff — Treasurer
- Martha Wyckoff — Treasurer
- Ann P. Wyckoff — Director
- Alison Milliman — Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANN P WYCKOFF | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| PAUL L WYCKOFF | TREASURER | 2 | — |
| MARTHA WYCKOFF | TREASURER | 2 | — |
| SHEILA WYCKOFF-DICKEY | PRESIDENT | 2 | — |
| SUSAN POHL | VICE PRESIDENT | 2 | — |
| ALISON MILLIMAN | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| DANIEL M ASHER | SECRETARY | 2 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 1809 7th Avenue, Suite 409 Seattle, WA 98101
EIN: 91-1817398
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Tew Foundation fund?
The foundation supports initiatives across multiple subject areas including: • **Arts and Culture** — including museums and art museums • **Education** — spanning elementary and secondary education through university-level programs • **Environment** — with emphasis on natural resources • **Religion** — particularly Christianity and Catholicism • **Human Services**
How do I apply for a grant from Tew Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving: $3,032,500 (2024) • Median grant amount: $50,000 • Grant range: $5,000 to $500,000 • Number of grants: 42 grants reported in recent filings • The foundation is open to new applicants **Approach:** The foundation operates with a preselected approach and limited staffing, relying on a volunteer board for governance and decision-making.
Where does Tew Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds projects and organizations within **Seattle, Washington**, with some activity in Tennessee and Pennsylvania.
What size grants does Tew Foundation award?
In 2024, Tew Foundation awarded 42 grants totaling $3.0M — an average of about $72K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Tew Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Tew Foundation reported a distributable amount of $813K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Tew Foundation's EIN?
Tew Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-1817398. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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