The Pless Foundation
The Pless Foundation is a private foundation based in Lynden, Washington. It describes itself as a modest family foundation supported by ongoing investments from the estate of its founder, Ann F. Pless, and says it provides supplemental support to organizations serving children and youth.
The Pless Foundation at a glance
In short: The Pless Foundation gave $320K across 12 grants in 2024 (avg $27K), mostly in Arizona. 42% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $320,000
- +82.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 12
- +71.4% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $26,667
- +6.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $30,000
- Total assets
- $2,402,422
- -3.2% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 42% first-time grantees (5 of 12, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Arizona (67% 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 Pless Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. The filing lists Julie as the contact and states no restrictions on awards. No application materials are specified.
- Review Cycle
- The filing lists August 30 for a November 30 fiscal year. This is a past cycle, not an open deadline.
- Deadline
- The filing lists August 30 for a November 30 fiscal year.
- Contact
Application contact: Julie
Mailing address: 4556 Saginaw Hill Dr, Tucson, AZ 85746
Phone: (520) 730-4383
Website: https://www.plessfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Pless Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Arizona Association for Foster & Adoptive Parents ($35K). Together the top 10 received $280K.
Grant Size Distribution
51 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 51 grants of 51 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website identifies youth in Washington state and Arizona as its geographic focus. Its 2024 grants also went to recipients in Missouri: 67% of grant dollars went to Arizona, 25% to Washington, and 8% to Missouri.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Pless Foundation open to new grantees?
42%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 5 of 12 grantees (42%) were first-time recipients. With only 12 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $28K; repeat grants $26K. How we count
Medians: $30K first-time, $30K repeat.
- 17% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 83% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 161% 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 $93K (2020) to $320K (2024). In 2024 it made 12 grants totaling $320K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona Association for Foster & Adoptive Parents Peoria, AZ | General Fund | $35,000 |
| Christian Hope Assn Lynden, WA | General Fund | $30,000 |
| Engedi Refuge Ministries Lynden, WA | General Fund | $30,000 |
| Arizona Justice Center Glendale, AZ | General Fund | $30,000 |
| Unified Arizona Vererans Phoenix, AZ | General Fund | $30,000 |
| Harvest Compassion Center Phoenix, AZ | General Fund | $30,000 |
| Community Food Bank of Southern AZ Tucson, AZ | General Fund | $30,000 |
| Project Linus Belton, MO | General Fund | $25,000 |
| Kitchen on the Street Phoenix, AZ | General Fund | $20,000 |
| Live and Learn Phoenix, AZ | General Fund | $20,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Pless Foundation?
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 | $2,402,422 | $322,260 | $403,721 | $320,000 | 12 | $320,000 | $238,539 | $198,960 |
| 2023 | $2,482,230 | $197,743 | $257,622 | $175,000 | 7 | $175,000 | $118,706 | $201,783 |
| 2022 | $2,540,697 | $-84,969 | $232,231 | $150,000 | 6 | $150,000 | $18,058 | $212,186 |
| 2021 | $2,824,670 | $104,464 | $260,807 | $175,000 | 13 | — | $3,173 | $210,119 |
| 2020 | $3,070,259 | $172,801 | $165,021 | $93,000 | 13 | — | $43,539 | $185,225 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Pless Foundation reported a distributable amount of $199K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation says it works to improve children’s lives and support their health, education, and welfare. Its stated areas of work include nutritional support, academic opportunity, medical intervention, and community cultivation. It describes nutritional support as including food banks, pantry efforts, and food and meal delivery for families facing hunger; academic opportunity as addressing gaps in education access and scholarships; and medical intervention as assistance for organizations helping families with children’s hospitalization, rehabilitation, and preventative care costs.
The 2024 grantees illustrate the range of organizations supported. Engedi Refuge Ministries says it provides safe housing and a therapeutic program for women who have survived sexual exploitation, including educational advancement and skills development. Project Linus says it provides handmade blankets to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need. Kitchen on the Street says it supports children at the intersection of nutrition and academic achievement through nourishment, education, resources, and food. Other 2024 grantees included the Arizona Justice Center, whose stated mission is transforming lives through help, hope, and encouragement, and Whatcom County Pregnancy Clinic, which says it educates, equips, and empowers individuals and families to make informed, life-affirming choices.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation gave $320,000 through 12 grants. Awards ranged from $20,000 to $35,000, with a median grant of $30,000. Notable grants included $35,000 to Arizona Association for Foster & Adoptive Parents; $30,000 each to Christian Hope Assn, Engedi Refuge Ministries, Arizona Justice Center, Unified Arizona Veterans, Harvest Compassion Center, and Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona; and $25,000 to Project Linus. Each of these grants was listed for general fund support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Julie Pless as president and Jane A Burrill and Jerry Bernard as directors. The foundation’s website describes its board as entirely volunteer.
The Pless Foundation is led by Julie Pless, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Julie Pless
President
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jerry Bernard
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jane A. Burrill
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Jane A. Pless (2020–2021) — Director
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.
Frequently asked questions about The Pless Foundation
How much does The Pless Foundation give each year?
The Pless Foundation gave $320K across 12 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $175K across 7 grants.
What is The Pless Foundation's typical grant size?
The Pless Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $30,000, and its average grant was $26,667, across 12 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Pless Foundation that year got $28K on average.
Where does The Pless Foundation give grants?
The Pless Foundation gives mostly in Arizona: 67% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Washington (25%) and Missouri (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Phoenix, AZ (5 grants) and Lynden, WA (2 grants).
Does The Pless Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Pless Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (12 of 12) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Pless Foundation's largest grantees?
The Pless Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Arizona Association for Foster & Adoptive Parents ($35,000), Christian Hope Assn ($30,000) and Engedi Refuge Ministries ($30,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 30% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Pless Foundation?
The Pless Foundation reported $2.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $320K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $199K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Pless Foundation fund?
The foundation says it works to improve children’s lives and support their health, education, and welfare. Its stated areas of work include nutritional support, academic opportunity, medical intervention, and community cultivation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Pless Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Pless Foundation's EIN?
The Pless Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 86-1048021. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Pless 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 September 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 Pless Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Mayo Family Foundation
Scottsdale, AZ
The Mayo Family Foundation supports children, community care, food banking, education, technology, and related needs, with most 2025 funding going to Arizona and additional grants in Georgia and California. Its 2025 grants ranged from $250 to $67,600, with a median of $3,600; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$5.0M
Grants
20
Total Given
$252K
John F Long Foundation Inc
Phoenix, AZ
John F Long Foundation supports Arizona charities, schools, education programs, and community needs, including efforts that strengthen neighborhoods and help people help themselves. Its 2025 grants ranged from $500 to $50,000, with a median of $3,000; nearly all grant dollars went to Arizona, with a small share going to Idaho. It accepts requests with no stated deadline from eligible 501(c)(3) organizations.
Assets
$7.9M
Grants
96
Total Given
$385K
Sundt Foundation
Tucson, AZ
The Sundt Foundation funds specific programs in youth development, hunger and nutrition, basic needs and social services, and military and veterans, for eligible nonprofits in communities where Sundt employee-owners live and work across its listed regions. Applicants are asked to request $2,500–$25,000; recent grants had a median of $10,000. The profile describes an application process but does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$670K
Grants
107
Total Given
$1.8M
MC Companies - Sharing the Good Life Foundation
Scottsdale, AZ
Assets
$157K
Grants
64
Total Given
$143K
The HS Lopez Family Foundation
Tucson, AZ
The H.S. Lopez Family Foundation funds nonprofit projects in education, health, and welfare that improve quality of life, primarily in Southern Arizona or areas where a board member lives. In 2025, grants ranged from $1,000 to $150,000, with a median of $10,000. It accepts online applications from eligible 501(c)(3) organizations; the profile does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$22.4M
Grants
86
Total Given
$1.8M
Gives Sunset FKA Depcom Gives
Scottsdale, AZ
Assets
—
Grants
8
Total Given
$37K
More similar funders
More Funders in Washington
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Pless Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-pless-foundation-morg_351340b68dc1401ea48aa024955c152f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_861048021_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Pless Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-pless-foundation-morg_351340b68dc1401ea48aa024955c152f},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 Pless 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 Pless Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?