The Satterberg Foundation Inc
The Satterberg Foundation is a private family foundation based in Seattle, Washington, established in 1990 and tax-exempt since February 1991. Named to honor Elmer and Ruth Satterberg, the foundation strengthens communities by promoting a just society and a sustainable environment. The foundation was imagined by Virginia (Ginny) Satterberg Pigott Helsell and Bill Helsell, who brought together the children of their blended family and committed to ensuring their connection far into the future. The foundation is governed by the Founding Board, composed of their children.
Key facts about The Satterberg Foundation Inc
- EIN
- 91-1501066
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $42,623,686
- Grants made (2024)
- 286
- Average grant
- $149,034
- Median grant
- $125,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 11% first-time grantees (27 of 254, 2024)
- Total assets
- $425,573,369
- Primary geography
- Washington (45% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who The Satterberg Foundation Inc funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Satterberg Foundation Inc's 286 itemized 2024 grants were Washington (45%), California (37%) and District of Columbia (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Seattle, WA (105 grants), Los Angeles, CA (22 grants), San Diego, CA (18 grants) and Oakland, CA (14 grants). 88% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Honorarium" (6 grants).
Is The Satterberg Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
11%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 27 of 254 grantees (11%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $157K; repeat grants $169K. How we count
Medians: $101K first-time, $125K repeat.
- 78% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−9%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 203% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with The Satterberg Foundation Inc
- How to evaluate The Satterberg Foundation Inc as a funder
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$425.6M
-4.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$42.6M
-6.3% YoY
Grant Count
286
-29.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$149K
+33.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Satterberg Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $22.6M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to maintain and enjoy the interconnection of its family while providing funds to non-profit organizations that enrich and support its communities. The foundation's initial mission, established in 1990, was "to improve the quality of life in the Pacific Northwest community through focused, considered grantmaking." This mission has evolved to reflect what matters most to the foundation in the 21st century.
Primary funding focus areas include:
- Education
- Human Services and Nonprofit Human Services
- Poverty Alleviation
- Reproductive Health
- Social Justice and Racial Equity
- Environmental Sustainability
Grantmaking
Since its founding in 1991, the Satterberg Foundation has provided over $300 million in grants to non-profit organizations. The foundation's grantmaking has grown significantly over time: in 1991, the foundation authorized $13,916 in grants; by 2011, this had grown to $388,000; and by 2015, annual grantmaking exceeded $22 million.
Average Grant
amount: $110,000
Grant Types
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports organizations in Washington, California, and Arizona, which account for approximately 90% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 29 states, with a particular emphasis on the Pacific Northwest region.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 286 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets and Revenue (2024):
- Total Assets: $425.6 million
- Annual Revenue: $21.7 million
- Total Giving: $42.6 million
- Total Liabilities: $591,000
Historical Growth: Total assets have grown from $2.1 million in 2011 to $425.6 million in 2024.
2023 Financial Data:
- Total Revenues: $80.3 million
- Total Expenses: $50.1 million
- Total Assets: $443.3 million
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $425,573,369 | $443,335,399 | $392,319,939 |
| Revenue | $21,660,433 | $80,338,467 | $50,066,288 |
| Expenses | $47,375,928 | $50,117,843 | $48,565,294 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $45,865,956 | $48,292,017 | $47,351,600 |
| Net Investment Income | $20,664,778 | $78,290,058 | $49,169,971 |
| Distributable Amount | $22,647,231 | $20,186,629 | $18,889,282 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
1,939 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Liberty Hill Foundation ($1,660,496 across 2 grants), Rainier Valley Corps ($1,589,902 across 6 grants), See Inc ($1,468,879 across 4 grants).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMALGAMATED CHARITABLE FDN Washington, DC | DECOLONIZING WEALTH PROJECT NON CASH GRANT DATE: 08/31/2024 COST BASIS: 324,763 FMV: 1,033,234 | $1,033,231 |
| SEE INC Calabasas, CA | TRUST BASED PHILANTHROPY PROJECT NON CASH GRANT DATE: 08/31/2024 COST BASIS: 324,763 FMV: 1,018,879 | $1,018,879 |
| BYRD BARR PLACE Seattle, WA | BIPOC ED COALITION NON CASH GRANT DATE: 04/30/2024 COST BASIS: 253,032 FMV: 995,916 | $995,916 |
| LIBERTY HILL FOUNDATION Los Angeles, CA | TO SUPPORT THE LOS ANGELES NONPROFIT COMMUNITY NON CASH GRANT DATE: 04/30/2024 COST BASIS: 227,738 FMV: 896,360 | $896,360 |
| NCFP Washington, DC | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT NON CASH GRANT DATE: 08/31/2024 COST BASIS: 270,621 FMV: 849,019 | $849,019 |
| COMPASSPOINT NONPROFIT SERVICE Oakland, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT NON CASH GRANT DATE: 08/31/2024 COST BASIS: 243,565 FMV: 774,902 | $774,902 |
| RAINIER VALLEY CORPS Seattle, WA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT NON CASH GRANT DATE: 08/31/2024 COST BASIS: 243,565 FMV: 774,902 | $774,902 |
| LIBERTY HILL FOUNDATION Los Angeles, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT NON CASH GRANT DATE: 08/31/2024 COST BASIS: 243,565 FMV: 764,136 | $764,136 |
| SOCIAL JUSTICE FUND NW Seattle, WA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT NON CASH GRANT DATE: 08/31/2024 COST BASIS: 243,565 FMV: 764,136 | $764,136 |
| SOUTHERN CA GRANTMAKERS Los Angeles, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT NON CASH GRANT DATE: 08/31/2024 COST BASIS: 162,397 FMV: 509,486 | $509,486 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Sarah Walczyk is listed as the principal officer and executive director of the foundation.
The foundation is governed by 10 officers and trustees, representing the children of the blended family that established the foundation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sarah Walczyk | Executive Director | 40 | $443,000 |
| Tyler Pigott | Director | 2 | — |
| Pete Helsell | Treasurer | 5 | — |
| Judy Pigott | Secretary | 5 | — |
| Sean Boyd | Director | 5 | — |
| Mary Pigott | President | 5 | — |
| Frank Helsell | Director | 2 | — |
| Ben Lazarus | Director | 2 | — |
| Meagan Gable | Director | 2 | — |
| CB Shamah | Director | 2 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has undergone a significant transition, with updates and frequently asked questions about this transition available on its website. The foundation has reaffirmed its commitment to racial justice funding, particularly supporting Black-led organizations, even as some funders have pulled back on such commitments.
Satterberg Foundation - Form 990PF - Nonprofit Explorer - ProPublicaThe foundation has been recognized for its pioneering adoption of Trust-Based Philanthropy, an approach emphasizing integrity, community, joy, compassion, respect, and responsibility in its grantmaking relationships.
Recent grantees have included Liberty Hill Foundation, CompassPoint Nonprofit Services, and Byrd Barr Place, among hundreds of other organizations across its funding areas.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Satterberg Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's mission is to maintain and enjoy the interconnection of its family while providing funds to non-profit organizations that enrich and support its communities. The foundation's initial mission, established in 1990, was "to improve the quality of life in the Pacific Northwest community through focused, considered grantmaking." This mission has evolved to reflect what matters most to the foundation in the 21st century. Primary funding focus areas include: • Education • Human Servic…
How do I apply for a grant from The Satterberg Foundation Inc?
Since its founding in 1991, the Satterberg Foundation has provided over $300 million in grants to non-profit organizations. The foundation's grantmaking has grown significantly over time: in 1991, the foundation authorized $13,916 in grants; by 2011, this had grown to $388,000; and by 2015, annual grantmaking exceeded $22 million. **Grant Characteristics:** • Typical grant awards range from $500 to $2,715,962 • Median grant amount: $100,000 • Average grant amount: $110,000 • The foundation has …
Where does The Satterberg Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation primarily supports organizations in Washington, California, and Arizona, which account for approximately 90% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 29 states, with a particular emphasis on the Pacific Northwest region.
What size grants does The Satterberg Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, The Satterberg Foundation Inc awarded 286 grants totaling $42.6M — an average of about $149K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Satterberg Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Satterberg Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $22.6M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Satterberg Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Satterberg Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-1501066. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.