The Bullitt Foundation
The Bullitt Foundation is a private foundation based in Seattle, Washington, that supports environmental work in the Pacific Northwest. Its website announced that it would sunset grantmaking in 2024, and says it stopped accepting new applications as of 2023. The 2024 filing nevertheless reports 56 grants; the foundation appears to have stopped grantmaking after its planned wind-down.
The Bullitt Foundation at a glance
In short: The Bullitt Foundation gave $2.4M across 56 grants in 2024 (avg $44K), mostly in Washington. 17% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,441,654
- -61.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 56
- -64.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $43,601
- +7.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $45,000
- Total assets
- $46,399,562
- -4.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 17% first-time grantees (8 of 48, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Washington (63% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Bullitt Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Contact
Mailing address: 1501 East Madison Street 600, Seattle, WA 98122-4013
Phone: (206) 330-9004
Website: https://bullitt.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Bullitt Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was University of Washington Foundation ($129K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $1.0M.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($75,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
686 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 448 grants of 686 (65%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s stated focus was the Emerald Corridor, bounded by Vancouver, BC to the north, Portland to the south, and the Cascades to the east. In 2024, 63% of grant dollars went to recipients in Washington and 23% to recipients in Oregon; smaller shares went to recipients in DC, California, and Minnesota.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 56 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Bullitt Foundation open to new grantees?
17%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 8 of 48 grantees (17%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $7K; repeat grants $58K. How we count
Medians: $700 first-time, $53K repeat.
- 56% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 47% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 404% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.4M (2024) to $6.3M (2023). In 2024 it made 56 grants totaling $2.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Toxic-Free Future Seattle, WA | To advocate for the elimination of toxics in the emerald corridor while promoting the use of safer alternative products and inherently nontoxic chemicals. | $125,000 |
| Futurewise Seattle, WA | For a General Support Exit Grant. | $100,000 |
| Washington Conservation Action Seattle, WA | Bullitt Prize Endowment | $100,000 |
| Verde Portland, OR | To plan a clean materials campus campus in ne portland, Oregon. For general support | $100,000 |
| University of Washington Foundation Seattle, WA | Harrison Endowment at the Evans School | $100,000 |
| Transportation Choices Coalition Seattle, WA | To build organizational capacity and advocate for new revenue sources to support public transit. | $100,000 |
| Oregon Environmental Council Portland, OR | For General Support. | $95,000 |
| Sightline Institute Seattle, WA | For a General Support Exit Grant. | $95,000 |
| 350 Seattle Seattle, WA | As an exit grant for the activities of the amazon employees for climate justice program. | $90,000 |
| Bluegreen Alliance Foundation Minneapolis, MN | To leverage the strength of the labor-environmental alliance to achieve greenhouse gas reductions needed to meet state climate goals. | $80,000 |
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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 | $46,399,562 | $1,182,032 | $5,446,565 | $2,441,654 | 56 | $3,657,257 | $805,657 | $904,865 |
| 2023 | $48,706,824 | $1,536,429 | $7,721,631 | $6,315,710 | 156 | $8,101,321 | $707,291 | $1,142,114 |
| 2022 | $53,716,848 | $559,917 | $10,217,999 | $5,692,462 | 148 | $7,586,407 | $289,114 | $1,459,435 |
| 2021 | $60,942,002 | $1,220,943 | $6,714,580 | $4,643,641 | 136 | $6,473,462 | $644,706 | $1,767,559 |
| 2020 | $65,390,606 | $1,588,791 | $7,908,011 | $6,136,575 | 190 | — | $1,049,803 | $1,989,052 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Bullitt Foundation reported a distributable amount of $905K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
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. Its stated geographic focus was the Emerald Corridor, bounded by Vancouver, BC, Portland, and the Cascades to the east. Its website describes a catalytic approach, seeking opportunities to support innovative approaches and build intellectual foundations and political support for change.
The 2024 grants included support for environmental health, conservation, land-use policy, sustainable transportation, clean materials, climate work, and environmental legal services. Grantees describe their own work in varied terms: Toxic-Free Future says it uses science, education, and activism to advance protections from toxic chemicals and pollution; Transportation Choices Coalition says it advocates for safe, sustainable, and equitable transportation in Washington; and Futurewise says it works on healthy, equitable communities and protecting farmland, forests, and water through land-use policy.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 56 grants totaling $2,441,654. Grants ranged from $150 to $125,000, with a median of $45,000. The largest listed awards included $125,000 to Toxic-Free Future for advocacy to eliminate toxics in the Emerald Corridor and promote safer alternatives; $100,000 each to Futurewise, Washington Conservation Action, Verde, the University of Washington Foundation, and Transportation Choices Coalition; and $95,000 each to Oregon Environmental Council and Sightline Institute. Other listed grants included $90,000 to 350 Seattle and $75,000 to Earthjustice.
The foundation’s website says it planned to award final grants and spend down its endowment by April 2024, and that it was no longer accepting applications as of 2023. How to apply: The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests; it states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and is no longer accepting new applications.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Denis Hayes as CEO and chair; Salley Anderson as CFO and treasurer; Jessie Woolley-Wilson as vice chair; Rob Pena as secretary; and Erim Gomez, Mark Edlen, Paul Schwer, Lisa Graumlich, Howard Frumkin, and Rico Quirindongo as trustees.
The Bullitt Foundation is led by Denis Hayes, CEO & Chair since 2021 (on filings since 2020); 2 of 11 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Denis Hayes
CEO & Chair
President & CEO → Chair & CEO, 2021
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$385K (2020) → $337K (2024)
Erim Gomez
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Howard Frumkin
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Graumlich
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mark Edlen
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Paul Schwer
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rico Quirindongo
Trustee
On filings since 2023
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rod Brown
Trustee
On filings since 2023
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Salley Anderson
CFO & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$223K (2020) → $321K (2024)
Jessie Woolley-Wilson
Vice Chair
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rob Pena
Secretary
Trustee → Secretary, 2021
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (5)
- Former: Harriet S. Bullitt (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Martha Kongsgaard (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Frank Greer (2020) — Secretary
- Former: Maud Daudon (2020) — Trustee
- Former: Rodney Brown (2020) — Chair
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $337K, to Denis Hayes (CEO & Chair). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Bullitt Foundation
How much does The Bullitt Foundation give each year?
The Bullitt Foundation gave $2.4M across 56 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $6.3M across 156 grants.
What is The Bullitt Foundation's typical grant size?
The Bullitt Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $45,000, and its average grant was $43,601, across 56 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Bullitt Foundation that year got $7K on average.
Where does The Bullitt Foundation give grants?
The Bullitt Foundation gives mostly in Washington: 63% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Oregon (23%). The most frequent recipient cities were Seattle, WA (27 grants), Portland, OR (8 grants), Washington, DC (2 grants) and Tacoma, WA (2 grants).
Does The Bullitt Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 32% of The Bullitt Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (18 of 56) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Matching Grants" (16 grants).
Who are The Bullitt Foundation's largest grantees?
The Bullitt Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include University of Washington Foundation ($128,596 across 2 grants), Washington Conservation Action ($125,150 across 3 grants) and Toxic-Free Future ($125,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($75,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 16% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Bullitt Foundation?
The Bullitt Foundation reported $46.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.7M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $905K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Bullitt Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to safeguard the natural environment by promoting responsible human activities and sustainable communities in the Pacific Northwest. Its stated geographic focus was the Emerald Corridor, bounded by Vancouver, BC, Portland, and the Cascades to the east. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Bullitt Foundation?
The Bullitt Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals, according to Grantable's research on its published guidelines. Check bullitt.org for any change to that policy.
What is The Bullitt Foundation's EIN?
The Bullitt Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-6027795. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Bullitt 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Bullitt Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Bullitt Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-bullitt-foundation-morg_b7d7e58a49874ad58cfa9bd0479d4e87
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_916027795_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Bullitt Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-bullitt-foundation-morg_b7d7e58a49874ad58cfa9bd0479d4e87},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 The Bullitt 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.
The Bullitt Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?