The Russell Family Foundation
The Russell Family Foundation is a private independent foundation headquartered in Gig Harbor, Washington. Established in 1999 by Jane and George Russell using proceeds from the sale of Frank Russell Company to Northwestern Mutual Life, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to contribute to a sustainable and peaceful world for people, places, and communities.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$76.6M
-0.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.0M
+57.7% YoY
Grant Count
128
-7.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$15K
+71.2% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: The Russell Family Foundation seeks to contribute to a sustainable and peaceful world for people, places and communities.
Vision: A thriving, equitable, and sustainable Earth.
The foundation operates across three geographical areas and three thematic interests:
Geographic Areas:
- Local: Grassroots leadership and selected nonprofit organizations in Tacoma and Pierce County
- Regional: Western Washington, focused on environmental sustainability
- Global: Select nonprofits working on issues of peace and security
Thematic Focus Areas:
- Environmental Sustainability and Climate Crisis
- Environmental Education
- Food for Climate Solutions
- Catalytic Climate Finance
- Puget Sound Protection and Restoration
- Community Leadership Development
The foundation has recently reimagined its focus to center on addressing the climate crisis while prioritizing equity, justice, and belonging.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$3,000 to $600,000
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds in three geographic areas:
- Local: Tacoma and Pierce County, Washington
- Regional: Western Washington (Puget Sound region and surrounding counties)
- Global: Select nonprofits working on peace and security issues
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $77.3 million (2023)
Annual Giving: $1,237,599 (2023)
Total Revenue: $1.67 million (2023)
Total Expenses: $4.6 million (2023)
Total Liabilities: $1.37 million (2023)
Staffing: 4 employees
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $76,638,299 | $77,299,440 | $75,360,711 |
| Revenue | $3,558,803 | $1,665,615 | $-1,004,304 |
| Expenses | $4,303,630 | $4,596,433 | $4,911,129 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $4,215,812 | $3,478,651 | $4,234,181 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,736,934 | $3,178,173 | $365,960 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,742,575 | $3,693,719 | $3,776,963 |
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
1 open opportunity from The Russell Family Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Chief Executive Officer: Kathleen Simpson
Grants and Operations Manager: Britta Francesconi
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KATHLEEN SIMPSON | CEO | 40 | $406,806 |
| SARAH CAVANAUGH | PRESIDENT | 3 | — |
| CHRIS RURIK | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| TIM CAVANAUGH | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| DION RURIK | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| JOSH CAVANAUGH | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MIMI CHAU | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| SARAH CLEVELAND | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| EVLYN ANDRADE | DIRECTOR | 1 | $18,750 |
| RASHAD MORRIS | DIRECTOR | 1 | $18,750 |
Contact Information
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 2567 Gig Harbor, WA 98335
Office Address: 3025 Harborview Drive Gig Harbor, WA 98335
Phone: (253) 858-5050
Email: info@trff.org
Website: https://trff.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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