The Bullitt Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Seattle, Washington, established in 1952 by Dorothy S. Bullitt, a prominent Seattle businesswoman and philanthropist. The foundation was incorporated in Washington in 1952 and has been tax-exempt since June 1953. It operates as a 501(c)(3) private foundation dedicated to environmental protection and sustainability in the Pacific Northwest.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$46.4M
-4.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.4M
-61.3% YoY
Grant Count
56
-64.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$44K
+7.7% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is "to safeguard the natural environment by promoting responsible human activities and sustainable communities in the Pacific Northwest."
The foundation's primary focus areas include:
- Environmental protection and restoration in the Pacific Northwest
- Urban ecology, particularly within the "Emerald Corridor" extending from Vancouver, British Columbia to Portland, Oregon (refined focus as of 2016)
- Sustainable communities
- Education related to environmental issues
Grantmaking
Historically, the foundation maintained a generous payout rate, distributing an average of 9 percent of its endowment annually over the past 25 years—significantly exceeding the 5 percent requirement set by the Internal Revenue Service.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds environmental work in the Pacific Northwest, with specific emphasis on:
- The Pacific Northwest region broadly
- The "Emerald Corridor" from Vancouver, British Columbia to Portland, Oregon
- Washington and Oregon states
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $46,399,562
- Total revenues: $1,182,032
- Total expenses: $5,446,565
- Total liabilities: $5,800,000
- Number of employees: 4
Historical context: As of the end of 2010, the foundation's assets exceeded $100 million. After Dorothy Bullitt's death in 1989, the foundation inherited 28 percent of the stock from King Broadcasting Company.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $46,399,562 | $48,706,824 | $53,716,848 |
| Revenue | $1,182,032 | $1,536,429 | $559,917 |
| Expenses | $5,446,565 | $7,721,631 | $10,217,999 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,657,257 | $8,101,321 | $7,586,407 |
| Net Investment Income | $805,657 | $707,291 | $289,114 |
| Distributable Amount | $904,865 | $1,142,114 | $1,459,435 |
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
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Denis Hayes - President (hired in 1992; national organizer of the first Earth Day)
- Harriet Bullitt - Foundation trustee
- Erim Gomez - Bullitt Trustee and former Bullitt Prize winner (accepted position at the W.A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation at the University of Montana)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DENIS HAYES | CEO & CHAIR | 40 | $337,388 |
| SALLEY ANDERSON | CFO & TREASURER | 40 | $321,306 |
| JESSIE WOOLLEY-WILSON | VICE CHAIR | 0.2 | — |
| ROB PENA | SECRETARY | 0.2 | — |
| ERIM GOMEZ | TRUSTEE | 0.2 | — |
| MARK EDLEN | TRUSTEE | 0.2 | — |
| PAUL SCHWER | TRUSTEE | 0.2 | — |
| LISA GRAUMLICH | TRUSTEE | 0.2 | — |
| HOWARD FRUMKIN | TRUSTEE | 0.2 | — |
| RICO QUIRINDONGO | TRUSTEE | 0.2 | — |
| ROD BROWN | TRUSTEE | 0.2 | — |
Recent Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation awarded the 2023 Bullitt Environmental Prize to Kristina Chu for research on environmental and health risks of urban community gardens and farms
In just two weeks, join PSBJ at this year's Environmental ... - FacebookIn 2024, the Bullitt Center saw 1,654 visitors on 79 tours (public and private)
The foundation paid $47,396 in 2024 for charitable activities primarily related to education, including docent-led building tours and energy system expertise for building owners
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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