Tew Foundation
Tew Foundation is a private foundation based in Seattle, Washington. Its 2024 grants supported organizations and projects including higher education, arts and culture, community programs, climate justice, local news, housing, and disaster relief.
Tew Foundation at a glance
In short: Tew Foundation gave $3.0M across 42 grants in 2024 (avg $72K), mostly in Washington. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,032,500
- +18.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 42
- +4100.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $72,202
- -97.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $22,781,431
- +33.9% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Washington (80% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Tew Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1809 7Th Ave 409, Seattle, WA 98101
Phone: (206) 487-4300
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Tew Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was University of Washington Foundation ($500K). Together the top 10 received $2.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
46 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 20 grants of 46 (43%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 80% of grant dollars went to recipients in Washington, 13% to Pennsylvania, 3% to Maryland, 3% to Maine, and a rounded less than 1% to Tennessee.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 42 itemized grants.
Cities
How Tew Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+7%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 391% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.6M (2023) to $3.2M (2022). In 2024 it made 42 grants totaling $3.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Washington Foundation Seattle, WA | Herring Endowed Chair for Rehabilitation Medicine | $500,000 |
| Dickinson College Carlisle, PA | Artic and Alpine Studies Endowment | $400,000 |
| University of Washington Seattle, WA | Restoring the Asuw Shell House | $250,000 |
| Mini Mart City Park Seattle, WA | General Support | $125,000 |
| Seattle Opera Seattle, WA | General Support 24/25 Season | $116,000 |
| Catholic Relief Services Baltimore, MD | Disaster/Emergency Relief | $100,000 |
| Got Green Seattle, WA | General Support | $100,000 |
| Grist Seattle, WA | Local News/Indigenous Desk | $100,000 |
| Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King CO Renton, WA | Home Repair Programs | $100,000 |
| Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King CO Renton, WA | Home Repair Programs | $100,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $22,781,431 | $9,151,661 | $3,450,742 | $3,032,500 | 42 | $3,178,526 | $9,157,460 | $812,754 |
| 2023 | $17,008,348 | $6,707,306 | $2,776,076 | $2,550,500 | 1 | $2,632,850 | $3,606,005 | $665,411 |
| 2022 | $14,643,912 | $5,350,303 | $3,374,359 | $3,195,000 | 1 | $3,243,637 | $2,772,627 | $705,891 |
| 2021 | $18,081,120 | $9,009,763 | $3,048,231 | $2,839,500 | 1 | $2,863,500 | $6,414,124 | $724,737 |
| 2020 | $16,171,716 | $10,606,210 | $2,755,780 | $2,574,000 | 1 | — | $5,637,737 | $589,234 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement is provided. The 2024 grants show support for a range of organizations and purposes. Among the grantees, Dickinson College describes its work as providing an interdisciplinary liberal arts and sciences education, while the University of Washington Foundation says it facilitates private contributions for the benefit of the University of Washington. Seattle Opera describes its mission as inspiring and educating through opera; Got Green describes itself as a climate justice organization that organizes and empowers Black and Brown people in Seattle’s Southend. Other grants supported environmental education and community engagement through Mini Mart City Park, and arts engagement and community building through Path with Art.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 42 grants totaling $3,032,500. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $500,000, with a median grant of $50,000. Notable awards included $500,000 to the University of Washington Foundation for a rehabilitation medicine endowed chair, $400,000 to Dickinson College for an Arctic and Alpine Studies endowment, and $250,000 to the University of Washington to restore the ASUW Shell House. Other grants included $125,000 to Mini Mart City Park for general support and $116,000 to Seattle Opera for its 2024–25 season.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Sheila Wyckoff-Dickey as president; Susan Pohl as vice president; Paul L. Wyckoff and Martha Wyckoff as treasurers; Daniel M. Asher as secretary; and Ann P. Wyckoff and Alison Milliman as directors.
Tew Foundation is led by Sheila Wyckoff-Dickey, President since 2024 (on filings since 2020); none of the 7 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Sheila Wyckoff-Dickey
President
Vice President & Director → President & Director, 2022
President & Director → President, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alison Milliman
Director
President & Director → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ann P. Wyckoff
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Daniel M. Asher
Secretary
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Martha Wyckoff
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer & Director, 2022
Treasurer & Director → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Paul L. Wyckoff
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer & Director, 2023
Treasurer & Director → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan Pohl
Vice President
Treasurer & Director → Vice President & Director, 2022
Vice President & Director → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about Tew Foundation
How much does Tew Foundation give each year?
Tew Foundation gave $3.0M across 42 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.6M across 1 grant.
What is Tew Foundation's typical grant size?
Tew Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $50,000, and its average grant was $72,202, across 42 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Tew Foundation give grants?
Tew Foundation gives mostly in Washington: 80% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Pennsylvania (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Seattle, WA (30 grants), Renton, WA (2 grants), Bellevue, WA (2 grants) and Lopez Island, WA (2 grants).
Does Tew Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 29% of Tew Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (12 of 42) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Tew Foundation's largest grantees?
Tew Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include University of Washington Foundation ($500,000), Dickinson College ($400,000) and University of Washington ($250,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 38% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Tew Foundation?
Tew Foundation reported $22.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $813K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Tew Foundation fund?
No mission statement is provided. The 2024 grants show support for a range of organizations and purposes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Tew Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Does Tew Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Tew Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/tew-foundation-morg_c0295a4be6bd4ec8be610ffebc31d26a
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_911817398_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Tew Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/tew-foundation-morg_c0295a4be6bd4ec8be610ffebc31d26a},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 Tew 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.
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