The Firstenburg Foundation is a private family foundation established in 2004 in Vancouver, Washington. Founded by E.W. and Mary Firstenburg, the organization serves as a philanthropic vehicle for advancing community strength and resilience in Southwest Washington. Since its inception, the Foundation has awarded more than $22 million to local grantees and continues to be managed by the Firstenburg family.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$42.8M
+34.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.3M
-1.2% YoY
Grant Count
68
+3.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$20K
-4.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Firstenburg Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: To serve as a trusted partner for nonprofits in Southwest Washington by providing essential investment and strategic support for their work.
Vision: A community where strategic investment, collaboration, and empathy converge to create a lasting and transformative impact that enhances the well-being of all.
The Foundation prioritizes two primary focus areas:
Homelessness Prevention and Affordable Housing: The Foundation addresses housing insecurity—a growing problem in Southwest Washington driven by high housing costs and scarce inventory. It prioritizes grants toward proven interventions and strategies to keep residents stably housed, along with innovative ideas and organizational partnerships to address housing insecurity.
Small Nonprofit Capacity Building: The Foundation recognizes that smaller nonprofits and grassroots organizations are often best positioned to meet people where they are and provide timely, effective support. It provides generous grants to organizations already embedded in the community and working directly with those facing housing instability and homelessness.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s:** Typical awards range from $50,000 to $150,000, with recent grants documented at $50,000.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation focuses exclusively on Southwest Washington, with particular emphasis on the Vancouver and Clark County region.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Total Assets: $31,943,544 (as of 2023)
Annual Giving: Approximately $1.3 to $1.7 million annually
Total Giving Since Inception: More than $22 million awarded to local grantees
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $42,840,324 | $31,943,544 | $31,979,918 |
| Revenue | $9,978,899 | $1,976,248 | $823,914 |
| Expenses | $1,948,806 | $1,958,780 | $2,514,092 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $5,239,692 | $1,756,935 | $2,198,604 |
| Net Investment Income | $9,658,310 | $1,745,046 | $815,634 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,843,874 | $1,864,680 | $1,895,308 |
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
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Boys & Girls Club of Sw Washington ($50,000), Community House on Broadway ($50,000), Council for the Homeless ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A CARING CLOSET VANCOUVER, WA | TO BE APPLIED AS PROGRAM SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| ASHBY FAMILY LEAD & ENGAGEMENT SERVICES VANCOUVER, WA | TO BE APPLIED TO PEER MENTORSHIP PROGRAM | $10,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF SW WASHINGTON VANCOUVER, WA | TO BE APPLIED AS CAPACITY BUILDING | $50,000 |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF SW WASHINGTON VANCOUVER, WA | TO BE APPLIED TO WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE PADDLE RAISE | $900 |
| CASCADE AIDS PROJECT VANCOUVER, WA | TO BE APPLIED TO HOUSING SERVICES | $40,000 |
| CDM CAREGIVING SERVICES VANCOUVER, WA | TO BE APPLIED TO HOPE PROGRAM | $5,000 |
| CLARK COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAM RIDGEFIELD, WA | TO BE APPLIED AS PROGRAM SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| CLOTH AND FOSTER VANCOUVER, WA | TO BE APPLIED AS PROGRAM SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| COLUMBIA RIVER MENTAL HEALTH VANCOUVER, WA | TO BE APPLIED AS ESSENTIAL NEEDS SUPPORT | $30,000 |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR SOUTHWEST WA VANCOUVER, WA | TO BE APPLIED AS COMMUNITY SCREENING | $1,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The Foundation is led by the Firstenburg family:
- William Firstenburg (Board Governor)
- Bruce Firstenburg (Board Governor)
- Joyce Chiles (Board Governor)
Marc Grignon serves as the registered agent.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JEFFREY WAYNE FIRSTEBBURG | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| WILLIAM FIRSTENBURG | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| BRUCE FIRSTENBURG | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| JENNIFER RHOADS | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $134,144 |
| JEFFREY WILLIAM FIRSTENBURG | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| SHELLY FIRSTENBURG | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MOLLY LINZ | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| NICOLE FLACK | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Foundation marked its 20th anniversary in 2024 with a continued focus on housing as a critical strategy for building stronger communities. Recent grant activity demonstrates the Foundation's commitment to addressing housing instability affecting students and families in the region, with particular attention to how housing insecurity undermines physical and mental well-being and disrupts educational outcomes.
Firstenburg Foundation Grant Strengthens Housing Stability for VPS StudentsSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Firstenburg Foundation fund?
**Mission:** To serve as a trusted partner for nonprofits in Southwest Washington by providing essential investment and strategic support for their work. **Vision:** A community where strategic investment, collaboration, and empathy converge to create a lasting and transformative impact that enhances the well-being of all. The Foundation prioritizes two primary focus areas: **Homelessness Prevention and Affordable Housing:** The Foundation addresses housing insecurity—a growing problem in South…
How do I apply for a grant from The Firstenburg Foundation?
**Grant Ranges:** Typical awards range from $50,000 to $150,000, with recent grants documented at $50,000. **Recent Grants:** • $50,000 to the Foundation for Vancouver Public Schools for the Safe Haven program, which helps prevent eviction for families experiencing housing instability • $50,000 to the Foundation for Vancouver Public Schools for the Community Schools Initiative **Grantee Examples:** The Foundation has supported notable community institutions including Vancouver's Firstenburg Com…
Where does The Firstenburg Foundation make grants?
The Foundation focuses exclusively on Southwest Washington, with particular emphasis on the Vancouver and Clark County region.
What size grants does The Firstenburg Foundation award?
In 2024, The Firstenburg Foundation awarded 68 grants totaling $1.3M — an average of about $20K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Firstenburg Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Firstenburg 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 Firstenburg Foundation's EIN?
The Firstenburg Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 68-0525464. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Firstenburg 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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