The Burning Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) grantmaking foundation established in 1997 and based in Seattle, Washington. The foundation operates as a family foundation with no employees, focusing on environmental conservation and teen pregnancy prevention initiatives primarily in the Pacific Northwest region.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$11.3M
-2.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.0M
+22.6% YoY
Grant Count
54
+8.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$19K
+13.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Burning Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to protect the region's rivers, forests, native fish, and land, with a focus on preserving habitats that are part of larger functioning ecosystems.
Primary funding areas:
- Environmental Protection: Protecting threatened rivers and forests, nurturing native fish populations, and conserving land and open space for ecological and recreational purposes
- Teen Pregnancy Prevention: Supporting school-based health and education programs, mentoring projects, and community clinic programs providing information and services on birth control, choice, and sex education
Grantmaking
The foundation gives preference to requests from local groups working to improve their immediate environment and from statewide groups addressing general conservation and protection issues, rather than national organizations with projects in the Pacific Northwest.
Grant Range
$16,700
Average Grant
$16,700
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Washington and Oregon, with a preference for local and statewide groups addressing regional environmental issues.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $11,292,564–$11,532,437
- Total Revenue: $896,772–$897,000
- Total Expenses: $1,136,645–$1.14 million
- Net Assets: $11,292,564
2023 Financial Breakdown:
- Investment income and dividends: $404,127
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $110,594
- Total revenues: $514,721
- Total expenses: $947,322
2018 Financial Data:
- Fair market value of all assets: $12,739,952
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $11,292,564 | $11,532,437 | $11,965,038 |
| Revenue | $896,772 | $514,721 | $516,249 |
| Expenses | $1,136,645 | $947,322 | $948,369 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,053,344 | $891,695 | $893,115 |
| Net Investment Income | $833,471 | $460,094 | $460,995 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,049,958 | $891,220 | $885,826 |
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
2 open opportunities from The Burning Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Cascade Forest Conservancy ($30,000), Conservation Northwest ($30,000), Puget Soundkeeper Alliance ($30,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ADVOCATES FOR THE WEST BOISE, ID | PROTECTING OREGON'S SENSITIVE SPECIES AND HABITATS | $15,000 |
| AUDUBON WASHINGTON SEATTLE, WA | PUGET SOUND PROGRAM | $15,000 |
| BIRD ALLIANCE OF OREGON INC PORTLAND, OR | SUSTAINING COLLABORATIVE CONSERVATION IN THE HARNEY BASIN | $25,000 |
| BLUE MOUNTAINS BIODIVERSITY PROJECT FOSSIL, OR | HABITAT PROTECTION OF NATIONAL FORESTS IN EASTERN OREGON | $15,000 |
| CAPITOL LAND TRUST TUMWATER, WA | CONSERVING NETWORKS OF VITAL NATURAL AREAS | $20,000 |
| CASCADE FOREST CONSERVANCY VANCOUVER, WA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $30,000 |
| CASCADES CARNIVORE PROJECT HOOD RIVER, OR | SENTINEL OF MOUNTAIN ECOSYSTEMS | $15,000 |
| CASCADIA WILD PORTLAND, OR | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $10,000 |
| CASCADIA WILDLANDS EUGENE, OR | MATURE AND OLD-GROWTH FOREST PROTECTION CAMPAIGN | $15,000 |
| CENTER FOR RESPONSIBLE FORESTRY QUILCENE, WA | WASHINGTON STATE MATURE FOREST CONSERVATION | $20,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- David N. Weise – President
- Daniel W. Weise – Vice President
- Alisa Kf Weise – Secretary
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAVID N WEISE | PRESIDENT | 5 | — |
| DANIEL W WEISE | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| ALISA KF WEISE | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
Contact Information
- Website: burningfoundation.org
- Phone: (206) 920-6252
- Address: PO Box 15275, Seattle, WA 98115
- EIN: 91-1815335
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Burning Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to protect the region's rivers, forests, native fish, and land, with a focus on preserving habitats that are part of larger functioning ecosystems. **Primary funding areas:** • **Environmental Protection**: Protecting threatened rivers and forests, nurturing native fish populations, and conserving land and open space for ecological and recreational purposes • **Teen Pregnancy Prevention**: Supporting school-based health and education programs, mentoring projects, and…
How do I apply for a grant from The Burning Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 52 grants in 2023 • Total giving: $855,000–$867,000 (2023) • Average grant size: $16,700 • Median grant size: $15,000 • Typical award range: $6,000–$25,000 **Recent Grantees (2023):** • Conservation Northwest: $25,000 (General Support) • Cascade Forest Conservancy: $25,000 (General Support) • Puget Soundkeeper Alliance: $25,000 (Protecting Our Waterways) **Funding Preferences:** The foundation gives preference to requests from local groups working to improve their imm…
Where does The Burning Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Washington and Oregon, with a preference for local and statewide groups addressing regional environmental issues.
What size grants does The Burning Foundation award?
In 2024, The Burning Foundation awarded 54 grants totaling $1.0M — an average of about $19K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Burning Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Burning Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.0M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Burning Foundation's EIN?
The Burning Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-1815335. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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