The Autzen Foundation
The Autzen Foundation is a private foundation based in Portland, Oregon, established in 1951. It operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and focuses on supporting charitable work that strengthens Oregon communities through grants to smaller nonprofit organizations.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$24.9M
+213.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.8M
+9.2% YoY
Grant Count
305
-7.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$6K
+18.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Autzen Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: Supporting charitable work that makes Oregon a better place.
The foundation primarily awards grants to small nonprofit organizations with missions focused on:
- Social services
- Arts and culture
- Education
- Environmental initiatives
- Youth-centered programs
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s:** Typical awards range from $500 to $30,000.
How to Apply
** Organizations may submit only one grant request per calendar year. A final report is required from existing grantees before applying for a new grant. Applications are submitted through an online grants management system.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation awards grants to organizations serving Oregon and southwest Washington (Clark County).
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total Assets: $24,919,861
- Total Revenue: $19,090,734
- Total Expenses: $2,235,544
- Total Giving: $1,818,840
- Net Assets: $24,919,861
- Total Liabilities: $0
Tax-Exempt Status: Since January 1953 (EIN: 93-6021333)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $24,919,861 | $7,950,301 | $8,515,948 |
| Revenue | $19,090,734 | $1,291,376 | $3,445,597 |
| Expenses | $2,235,544 | $1,830,293 | $2,010,150 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,899,147 | $1,751,107 | $1,903,562 |
| Net Investment Income | $19,018,756 | $1,229,236 | $3,386,236 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,822,128 | $1,810,839 | $1,821,339 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Autzen Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Portland State University Foundation ($25,000), University of Oregon Foundation ($25,000), Oregon State University Foundation ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION PORTLAND, OR | 2024 GENERAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND | $25,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF OREGON FOUNDATION EUGENE, OR | 2024 GENERAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND | $25,000 |
| OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION CORVALLIS, OR | 2024 SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM | $25,000 |
| ST JOHN FISHER SCHOOL PORTLAND, OR | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| SEASIDE KIDS INC SEASIDE, OR | SEASIDE KIDS LIGHTHOUSE FIELD DEVELOPMENT - PERIMETER AND BACKSTOP FENCING PROJECT | $15,000 |
| CALIFORNIA TROUT SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL OPERATION SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| WILDLIFE CENTER OF THE NORTH COAST ASTORIA, OR | NATIVE WILDLIFE REHABILITATION AND CONSERVATION EDUCATION AT WILDLIFE CENTER OF THE NORTH COAST | $11,667 |
| ST PATRICK SCHOOL LARKSPUR, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $11,500 |
| NEHALEM BAY HEALTH CENTER & PHARMACY WHEELER, OR | IMPROVING RURAL HEALTH CARE ON OREGONS NORTH COAST | $10,892 |
| NORTH PORTLAND SOCCER CLUB PORTLAND, OR | NORTH PORTLAND SCHOOLS FIELDS PROJECT | $10,832 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PETER ULMAN | PRESIDENT | 1 | $595 |
| ZACHARY PATTON | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | $595 |
| KRISTEN PATTON | SECRETARY/TREASURER | 1 | $595 |
| MATT PATTON | DIRECTOR | 1 | $595 |
| THOMAS J AUTZEN | DIRECTOR | 1 | $595 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Autzen Foundation fund?
**Mission:** Supporting charitable work that makes Oregon a better place. The foundation primarily awards grants to small nonprofit organizations with missions focused on: • Social services • Arts and culture • Education • Environmental initiatives • Youth-centered programs
How do I apply for a grant from The Autzen Foundation?
**Grant Sizes:** Typical awards range from $500 to $30,000. **Eligibility Requirements:** • Applicants must be 501(c)(3) charitable organizations (including churches) or government entities such as towns, public schools, or state agencies • 501(c)(3) designation must have been in place for at least 2 years • Organizations must directly serve residents of Oregon or southwest Washington (Clark County) **Restrictions:** The foundation does not consider requests for: • Individuals • Fundraising eve…
Where does The Autzen Foundation make grants?
The foundation awards grants to organizations serving Oregon and southwest Washington (Clark County).
What size grants does The Autzen Foundation award?
In 2024, The Autzen Foundation awarded 305 grants totaling $1.8M — an average of about $6K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Autzen Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Autzen Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.8M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Autzen Foundation's EIN?
The Autzen Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 93-6021333. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Autzen Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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