The Brettler Family Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1999 and based in Seattle, Washington. Founded by businessman Daniel E. Brettler and his wife Cindy, the foundation operates as a grantmaking organization focused on addressing critical social needs in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$31.4M
-3.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.2M
+129.8% YoY
Grant Count
48
+108.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$66K
+10.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Brettler Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary focus areas include:
- Homelessness and Housing: Initiatives that assist homeless and vulnerable people, with emphasis on safe, quality supportive housing
- Mental Health Services: Mental health support and treatment for vulnerable populations
- Food Distribution: Programs addressing food insecurity
- Education: Educational initiatives and programs
- Human Services: Broader human services in support of vulnerable communities
The foundation demonstrates particular commitment to initiatives serving children and youth in vulnerable circumstances. A notable example is the A.L. Humphrey House, operated by Plymouth Housing Group and named after Cindy Brettler's late father, which the foundation supports on an ongoing basis.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s**: Typical awards range from $250,000 to $710,000.
How to Apply
**: The foundation does not maintain a public website, which limits publicly available information about formal application procedures. Organizations interested in funding are advised to network with past grantees to gain insight into the foundation's grantmaking approach.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking extends across multiple states, with primary focus in:
- Washington (primary focus area)
- North Carolina
- Hawaii
Within Washington, the foundation has demonstrated particular commitment to Seattle-area organizations serving homeless populations and vulnerable children.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Total Assets: $31,373,966
Total Annual Giving: $3,183,260 (based on 2024 IRS Form 990)
EIN: 91-2014618
Address: 4124 55th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98105-4946
Contact: 206-626-8700
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $31,373,966 | $32,335,744 | $32,476,633 |
| Revenue | $2,453,747 | $1,441,421 | $11,922,225 |
| Expenses | $3,346,883 | $1,633,477 | $2,010,336 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,243,455 | $1,416,345 | $1,689,173 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,125,959 | $882,919 | $13,012,271 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,670,776 | $1,519,297 | $1,355,519 |
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
158 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include African Community Housing and Development ($385,833), Treehouse ($358,333), Youthcare ($343,334).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AFRICAN COMMUNITY HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT SEATAC, WA | FUNDS TO SUPPORT HOUSING STABILITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICAN DIASPORA IMMIGRANTS | $385,833 |
| AKIN SEATTLE, WA | GENERAL OPERATING FUNDS TO SUPPORT DISRUPTING CYCLES OF INEQUITY BY PARTNERING WITH CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES TO TRANSFORM HEALTH AND WELL-BEING | $30,000 |
| ALLIANCE FOR GUN RESPONSIBILITY FOUNDATION SEATTLE, WA | GENERAL OPERATING FUNDS SUPPORTING GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION | $50,000 |
| ASIAN COUNSELING AND REFERRAL SERVICES (ACRS) SEATTLE, WA | GENERAL OPERATING FUNDS FOR SUPPORTING MENTAL HEALTH WELLNESS, YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, ELDER SERVICES AND OTHER SERVICES FOR THE ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMUNITY | $50,000 |
| BALLARD FOOD BANK SEATTLE, WA | GENERAL OPERATING FUNDS SUPPORTING BALLARD FOOD BANK FIGHTING HUNGER | $50,000 |
| BELLWETHER HOUSING SEATTLE, WA | GENERAL OPERATING FUNDS SUPPORTING THE CREATION OF STABLE COMMUNITIES AND ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY THROUGH AFFORDABLE HOUSING | $15,000 |
| BETHADAY COMMUNITY LEARNING SPACE SEATTLE, WA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO TRANSFORMATIVE SYSTEMS OF LEARNING FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS OF COLOR | $50,000 |
| BLACK FARMERS COLLECTIVE SEATTLE, WA | GENERAL OPERATING FUNDS FOR DEVELOPING A COOPERATIVE NETWORK FOOD SYSTEM AND LAND STEWARDSHIP FOR BLACKS | $25,000 |
| CHIEF SEATTLE CLUB SEATTLE, WA | GENERAL OPERATING FUNDS SUPPORTING AMERICAN INDIAN AND ALASKA NATIVE PEOPLE | $50,000 |
| CHOOSE 180 BURIEN, WA | GENERAL OPERATING FUNDS SUPPORTING YOUNG PEOPLE BY PROVIDING ALTERNATIVES TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, OFFERING COMMUNITY-BASED SUPPORT, AND HELPING THEM HEAL FROM TRAUMA TO BUILD A BETTER FUTURE | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Founders: Daniel E. Brettler and Cindy Brettler
Daniel E. Brettler is a businessman who graduated from the University of Vermont in 1981. He founded Car Toys in 1987, a company specializing in car stereos, phones, and auto detailing. He serves as chairman and CEO of Wireless Advocates, which operates wireless kiosks in over 400 Costco Wholesale warehouses across the United States.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DANIEL E BRETTLER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Dan and Cindy Brettler were recognized as winners of The Beacon Award for Visionary Philanthropic Leadership from United Way of King County, acknowledging their significant philanthropic contributions to the community.
Dan and Cindy Brettler, Winners of The Beacon Award for Visionary PhilanthropicSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Brettler Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary focus areas include: • **Homelessness and Housing**: Initiatives that assist homeless and vulnerable people, with emphasis on safe, quality supportive housing • **Mental Health Services**: Mental health support and treatment for vulnerable populations • **Food Distribution**: Programs addressing food insecurity • **Education**: Educational initiatives and programs • **Human Services**: Broader human services in support of vulnerable communities The foundation demonstrat…
How do I apply for a grant from The Brettler Family Foundation?
**Grant Sizes**: Typical awards range from $250,000 to $710,000. **Annual Giving**: Total giving of $3,183,260 based on the most recent IRS Form 990 filing (2024). **Application Process**: The foundation does not maintain a public website, which limits publicly available information about formal application procedures. Organizations interested in funding are advised to network with past grantees to gain insight into the foundation's grantmaking approach.
Where does The Brettler Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking extends across multiple states, with primary focus in: • Washington (primary focus area) • North Carolina • Hawaii Within Washington, the foundation has demonstrated particular commitment to Seattle-area organizations serving homeless populations and vulnerable children.
What size grants does The Brettler Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The Brettler Family Foundation awarded 48 grants totaling $3.2M — an average of about $66K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Brettler Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Brettler Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Brettler Family Foundation's EIN?
The Brettler Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-2014618. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Brettler Family 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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