Ventures
Ventures is a Seattle-based public charity, formed in 1995, that supports small-business ownership through business education, coaching, incubation, and access to capital for people from underrepresented communities. Its services focus on entrepreneurs for whom traditional business development services are out of reach, including women, people of color, immigrants, and people with low incomes.
Ventures at a glance
In short: Ventures gave $683K across 68 grants in 2024 (avg $10K), mostly in Washington. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $682,500
- +307.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 68
- +223.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $10,037
- +26.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $3,739,386
- -0.3% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Washington (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Ventures
- Contact
Mailing address: 2100 24Th Ave South Suite 380, Seattle, WA 98144
Phone: (206) 352-1945
Website: https://venturesnonprofit.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Ventures
Who Ventures funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Roda Food LLC ($13K). Together the top 10 received $103K.
Grant Size Distribution
89 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 89 grants of 89 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Ventures is based in Seattle. All itemized grant dollars reported for 2024 went to recipients in Washington, including businesses in Everett, Shoreline, Marysville, Lake Stevens, Snohomish, Longview, and Lynnwood. The filing says the Small Business Innovations Assistance grant through Snohomish County was based on designated COVID-19 census tracts and affected industry codes.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 68 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Ventures gives
- 0% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (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 2021 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $163K (2022) to $683K (2024). In 2024 it made 68 grants totaling $683K.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Roda Food LLC Everett, WA | Economic Recovery & Storefront Repair | $12,500 |
| 206 Foods LLC DBA Seattle Granola Company Shoreline, WA | Economic Recovery & Storefront Repair | $10,000 |
| Abundant Living Senior Services LLC Marysville, WA | Economic Recovery & Storefront Repair | $10,000 |
| Luna Cleaning Services Everett, WA | Economic Recovery & Storefront Repair | $10,000 |
| Alphabetz Daycare LLC Lake Stevens, WA | Economic Recovery & Storefront Repair | $10,000 |
| Angie's Daycare Snohomish, WA | Economic Recovery & Storefront Repair | $10,000 |
| Bea-Rod Companies LLC DBA Taqueria Rodriguez Estilo Michoacan Everett, WA | Economic Recovery & Storefront Repair | $10,000 |
| Bradford Glass LLC Everett, WA | Economic Recovery & Storefront Repair | $10,000 |
| Adventures Cleaning Services Longview, WA | Economic Recovery & Storefront Repair | $10,000 |
| Grim Reaper Studios Everett, WA | Economic Recovery & Storefront Repair | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $3,739,386 | $3,586,357 | $3,517,792 | $682,500 | 68 | $43,665 |
| 2023 | $3,751,244 | $2,930,364 | $3,395,649 | $167,331 | 21 | $4,116 |
| 2022 | $3,910,500 | $2,657,913 | $2,919,986 | $163,399 | Total only | $2,210 |
| 2021 | $4,062,617 | $2,865,608 | $2,206,720 | $214,147 | Total only | $2,649 |
| 2020 | $3,455,254 | $3,617,629 | $2,668,471 | — | — | — |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Ventures states that its mission is to empower people with limited resources and unlimited potential to improve their lives through small-business ownership. Its website describes courses and workshops in English and Spanish, business coaching, retail and food-business incubation, market access, and loans and savings programs. Its Business Builder Loans are available for approved business expenses and can be up to $50,000, subject to program requirements.
The 2024 filing describes grants for “economic recovery & storefront repair,” and identifies recipients including food businesses, childcare providers, cleaning services, and other businesses. It also reports estimated business grants awarded to 126 businesses or individuals as part of its financial-products activities.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, Ventures reported 68 itemized grants totaling $682,500. Grants ranged from $10,000 to $12,500, with a median of $10,000; all reported grant dollars went to recipients in Washington. The largest listed grant was $12,500 to RODA FOOD LLC in Everett for economic recovery and storefront repair. Other listed $10,000 recipients included 206 FOODS LLC DBA SEATTLE GRANOLA COMPANY, ABUNDANT LIVING SENIOR SERVICES LLC, LUNA CLEANING SERVICES, ALPHABETZ DAYCARE LLC, and ANGIE'S DAYCARE, each for the same stated purpose.
The 2024 filing also estimates $739,873 in business grants awarded to 126 businesses or individuals. In 2023, the filing reports 21 grants totaling $167,331; in 2022, it reports no itemized grants. These filing figures are separate from the website’s description of its 2022 Spring Mini-Grant program, which offered $500 grants to graduates of the Ventures Business Basics Course with a business or personal address in Washington. The program had no restrictions on use of funds and did not require receipts. Its application deadline was April 18, 2022, so that cycle is past.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Renee Martin as president; Jamie Sherbondy as vice president; Erik Winters as outgoing treasurer; John Yu as treasurer; and Janet Careaga, Doug Hall, Brian Jaeger, Paul Osher, Jonathan Shallow, and David Spicer as directors.
Ventures is led by Monique Valenzuela, Executive Director on every filing since 2023; 1 of 14 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Monique Valenzuela
Executive Director
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$87K (2023) → $159K (2024)
Renee Martin
President
Director → Secretary, 2021
Secretary → President, 2023
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Spicer
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dianna Winegarden Sr.
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Doug Hall
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jonathan Shallow
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brian Jaeger
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Janet Careaga
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paul Osher
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chris Silva
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Liam O'Connor
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Erik Winters
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jamie Sherbondy
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Yu
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (16)
- Former: Lisa Taylor (2020–2023) — Secretary
- Former: Octaiviea Renee (2020–2023) — President
- Former: Ronny Mendieta (2020–2023) — Vice President
- Former: Laura Donaldson-Fletcher (2022–2023) — Interim Executive Director
- Former: Chris Rooks (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: David Goldberg (2020–2022) — Vice President
- Former: Yesenia Celestino (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Ximena Juarez I. (2022) — Director
- Former: Carlos A. Sanchez-Yarce (2020–2021) — Executive Director
- Former: Ximena Juarez (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Aaron Cahoon (2020) — Director
- Former: Bart Cornelissen (2020) — Director
- Former: Berry Zimmerman (2020) — Director
- Former: Fitsum Misgano (2020) — Director
- Former: Melissa Forziat (2020) — Director
- Former: Peyina Lin-Roberts (2020) — 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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $159K, to Monique Valenzuela (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Ventures
How much does Ventures give each year?
Ventures gave $683K across 68 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $167K across 21 grants.
What is Ventures's typical grant size?
Ventures's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $10,037, across 68 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does Ventures give grants?
Ventures gives mostly in Washington: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Everett, WA (25 grants), Lynnwood, WA (15 grants), Marysville, WA (6 grants) and Snohomish, WA (5 grants).
Does Ventures give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 68 grants with a stated purpose on Ventures's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Economic Recovery & Storefront Repair" (68 grants).
Who are Ventures's largest grantees?
Ventures's largest 2024 grantees include Roda Food LLC ($12,500), 206 Foods LLC DBA Seattle Granola Company ($10,000) and Abundant Living Senior Services LLC ($10,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 5% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Ventures?
Ventures reported $3.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $3.6M.
What does Ventures fund?
Ventures states that its mission is to empower people with limited resources and unlimited potential to improve their lives through small-business ownership. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Ventures?
Ventures has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check venturesnonprofit.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Ventures's EIN?
Ventures's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-1704028. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS September 29, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Ventures's focus areas in our free grants database
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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Ventures'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.
Ventures down — hundreds of funders to go?