The Northwest Fund for the Environment
The Northwest Fund for the Environment is a private foundation based in Seattle, Washington, established in 1971. It operates as an endowed foundation dedicated to supporting environmental protection and preservation of natural resources in Washington State through grants to nonprofit organizations.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.7M
-6.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$399K
+12.4% YoY
Grant Count
69
+102.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$6K
-44.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Northwest Fund for the Environment reported a distributable amount of $448K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission centers on investing in Washington State's environment through grants to nonprofit organizations that protect and preserve natural resources. The fund prioritizes three main program areas:
Aquatic Ecosystems — Protecting and restoring the extensive network of fresh and saltwater ecosystems in Washington and the native species that inhabit these ecosystems.
Growth Management — Promoting community-driven land use practices and policies that encourage smart growth and prevent damage to environmentally sensitive areas.
Community Response — The Community Response Fund (CRF) awards small grants supporting grassroots engagement and bringing new communities into the foundation's grantmaking.
The foundation also supports environmental regulation enforcement, wildlife habitat protection, water quality improvement, shoreline and wetland conservation, and capacity building for conservation organizations.
Grantmaking
The Northwest Fund for the Environment operates two primary grantmaking mechanisms:
Grant Range
$2,500 to $20,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds environmental work in Washington State. However, it also supports projects in other states including California, Oregon, and New Mexico, with operations in cities such as Seattle, Portland, and San Francisco.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Current Financial Position:
- Total assets: Approximately $5.7 to $10 million (endowed foundation)
- Total revenues (2024): $76,419
- Total expenses (2024): $480,434
- Total giving (most recent year): $355,000 to $406,000
Historical Context: Since 1987, the foundation has granted approximately $8.2 million to various environmental causes in Washington State.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,679,205 | $6,083,220 | $7,190,091 |
| Revenue | $76,419 | $138,115 | $957,419 |
| Expenses | $480,434 | $410,683 | $498,313 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $479,634 | $406,268 | $463,775 |
| Net Investment Income | $136,816 | $138,100 | $935,890 |
| Distributable Amount | $447,903 | $381,388 | $378,611 |
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
168 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Northwest Fund for the Environment
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Center for Environmental Law & Policy ($20,000), Columbia Riverkeeper ($20,000), Futurewise ($20,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ABORIGINAL OUTFITTERS NESPELEM, WA | 2024 year-end fund for staff recognition | $1,000 |
| ABORIGINAL OUTFITTERS NESPELEM, WA | Environmental Organization Building Fund | $5,000 |
| AMERICAN RIVERS INC WASHINGTON, DC | 2024 year-end fund for staff recognition | $1,000 |
| AMERICAN RIVERS INC WASHINGTON, DC | Protecting and Restoring Yakima and Chehalis River Basins - NW Office | $10,000 |
| AMERICAN WHITEWATER SPRINGFIELD, OR | 2024 year-end fund for staff recognition | $1,000 |
| AMERICAN WHITEWATER SPRINGFIELD, OR | Watchdogging dam proposals and advancing removal in Washington State | $10,000 |
| CASCADE FOREST CONSERVANCY VANCOUVER, WA | 2024 year-end fund for staff recognition | $1,000 |
| CASCADE FOREST CONSERVANCY VANCOUVER, WA | Protecting the Green River Valley from mining | $10,000 |
| CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL LAW & POLICY SEATTLE, WA | Protecting and Restoring Washington's Instream Water Resources | $20,000 |
| CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL LAW & POLICY SEATTLE, WA | 2024 year-end fund for staff recognition | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is governed by a board of 10 trustees drawn from the community, including at least one representative from the family that endowed the foundation in 1994. Board members serve without compensation and include:
- Paul Kampmeier (President, Trustee)
- James Harless (Treasurer, Trustee)
- JoAnn Yoshimoto (Secretary, Trustee)
- Chris Golde (Trustee)
- Nicole Herron (Trustee)
- Martin Minkoff (Trustee)
- Ken Nitz (Trustee)
- Jaimini Parekh (Trustee)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audrey Clungeon | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Steve Dubiel | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Chris Golde | Trustee, VP | 5 | — |
| James Harless | Treas, Trustee | 5 | $100 |
| Nicole Herron | Trustee | 1 | $100 |
| Paul Kampmeier | Trustee | 5 | $100 |
| Phoebe Lipkis | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Martin Minkoff | Trustee, Pres | 5 | $100 |
| Jaimini Parekh | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Sarah Yerkan | Trustee | 1 | — |
| JoAnn Yoshimoto | Sec, Trustee | 5 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Northwest Fund for the Environment fund?
The foundation's mission centers on investing in Washington State's environment through grants to nonprofit organizations that protect and preserve natural resources. The fund prioritizes three main program areas: **Aquatic Ecosystems** — Protecting and restoring the extensive network of fresh and saltwater ecosystems in Washington and the native species that inhabit these ecosystems. **Growth Management** — Promoting community-driven land use practices and policies that encourage smart growth …
How do I apply for a grant from The Northwest Fund for the Environment?
The Northwest Fund for the Environment operates two primary grantmaking mechanisms: **Board-Directed Grants** — Since 2023, the foundation has made grants to pre-selected nonprofit organizations determined by the board. **Community Response Fund (CRF)** — Provides short-term grants for specific projects or needs to eligible nonprofit organizations, supporting grassroots environmental work. **Grant Characteristics:** • Grant range: $2,500 to $20,000 • Median grant amount: $10,000 • Recent annual…
Where does The Northwest Fund for the Environment make grants?
The foundation primarily funds environmental work in Washington State. However, it also supports projects in other states including California, Oregon, and New Mexico, with operations in cities such as Seattle, Portland, and San Francisco.
What size grants does The Northwest Fund for the Environment award?
In 2024, The Northwest Fund for the Environment awarded 69 grants totaling $399K — an average of about $6K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Northwest Fund for the Environment required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Northwest Fund for the Environment reported a distributable amount of $448K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Northwest Fund for the Environment's EIN?
The Northwest Fund for the Environment's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7134880. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Northwest Fund for the Environment'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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