Washington Federal Foundation is a corporate foundation based in Seattle, Washington, established in 2007 and granted tax-exempt status in May 2008. The foundation is supported by Washington Federal Bank NA and operates as a 501(c)(3) organization classified as a corporate foundation. It makes grants to support community-based nonprofits serving low- and moderate-income populations across multiple states.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.5M
+137.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.2M
-1.6% YoY
Grant Count
265
+6.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$4K
-7.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Washington Federal Foundation reported a distributable amount of $68K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Washington Federal Foundation supports direct giving to community-based nonprofits serving the needs of low- and moderate-income individuals. Special emphasis is directed toward:
- Housing and community development
- Senior citizens and low-income families
- Financial literacy
- Education
- Human services
- Arts and culture
- Civic affairs
- Health
- Economic development for small businesses
- Community revitalization
- Job training programs
Grantmaking
The foundation operates two primary grant programs:
Grant Range
$5,000 - $20,000
Average Grant
award: $5,000
Ready to take the next step with Washington Federal Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation distributes funding across multiple states, with primary focus on:
- Washington
- Oregon
- New Mexico
- Arizona
- Idaho
The foundation primarily supports organizations in Washington, Oregon, and New Mexico, which account for 66% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 10 states.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent (2024)
- Total Assets: $1,501,465
- Total Revenues: $2,029,404
- Total Expenses: $1,159,084
- Total Giving: $1,158,305
Historical Trend
- Total assets have grown from $390,000 in 2011 to $631,000 in 2023
- Annual giving decreased from $2,000,000 in 2020 to $1,200,000 in 2023
Organization Structure
- Number of employees: 0
- Governed by 4 officers and trustees
- Principal officer: Washington Federal Savings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,501,465 | $631,145 | $1,392,299 |
| Revenue | $2,029,404 | $416,594 | $1,780,890 |
| Expenses | $1,159,084 | $1,177,748 | $832,723 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,158,965 | $1,177,695 | $832,720 |
| Net Investment Income | $8,368 | $8,527 | $3,832 |
| Distributable Amount | $68,482 | $51,583 | $41,381 |
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
2 open opportunities from Washington Federal Foundation
Washington Federal Foundation: Community Impact Grants
WASHINGTON FEDERAL FOUNDATION
Amount
US $5,000 - US $20,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Washington Federal Foundation: Community Service Micro Grants
WASHINGTON FEDERAL FOUNDATION
Amount
US $1,000 - US $5,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Chelan Valley Housing Trust ($20,000), Burbank Housing Management Corporation ($10,000), Care Fund ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1ST PHOENIX COMMUNITY CENTER PHOENIX, OR | FINANCIAL LITERACY | $2,000 |
| A FAMILY FOR EVERY CHILD EUGENE, OR | FINANCIAL LITERACY | $2,500 |
| ACTION OF CENTRAL TEXAS AUSTIN, TX | ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT | $1,500 |
| AGAPE HOUSE OF PRESCOTT PRESCOTT, AZ | COMMUNITY SERVICES TO LMI | $3,000 |
| ALLIANCE MEDICAL CENTER HEALDSBURG, CA | FINANCIAL LITERACY | $5,000 |
| AMIGOS DE SEATTLE SEATTLE, WA | FINANCIAL LITERACY | $1,500 |
| ANGELS ANONYMOUS INC LINCOLN CITY, OR | FINANCIAL LITERACY | $3,000 |
| ARTSPACE SALT LAKE CITY, UT | FINANCIAL LITERACY | $2,500 |
| ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF BOISE GARDEN CITY, ID | FINANCIAL LITERACY | $2,500 |
| ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF KLAMATH BASIN KLAMATH FALLS, OR | FINANCIAL LITERACY | $2,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KRISTI ELLEFSON | DIRECTOR & PRESIDENT | 8 | — |
| LISA FURMAN | SECRETARY | 2 | — |
| CATHY COOPER | DIRECTOR & TREASURER | 1 | — |
| ROBERT ZIRK | OFFICER | 1 | — |
| BRAD GOODE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Recent Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Recent grants awarded include support to organizations such as:
Fall 2024 Grants Awarded: $300,000 to 18 Nonprofits |United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley ($50,000 for community services to low- and moderate-income populations)
Dallas Children's Advocacy Center ($25,000 for financial literacy)
PEP Housing ($25,000 for community services to low- and moderate-income populations)
Council on Aging of Central Oregon (grant to help sustain Meals on Wheels programming)
Council on Aging of Central Oregon Receives Grant from the ...Contact Information
- Address: 425 Pike Street, Seattle, WA 98101-3902
- Phone: 541-880-5228 or (206) 777-8360
- Website: www.washingtonfederal.com/about-us/community-
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Washington Federal Foundation fund?
The Washington Federal Foundation supports direct giving to community-based nonprofits serving the needs of low- and moderate-income individuals. Special emphasis is directed toward: • Housing and community development • Senior citizens and low-income families • Financial literacy • Education • Human services • Arts and culture • Civic affairs • Health • Economic development for small businesses • Community revitalization • Job training programs
How do I apply for a grant from Washington Federal Foundation?
The foundation operates two primary grant programs: **Community Impact Grants** • Grant range: $5,000 - $20,000 • Focus on sustainable housing, economic development, community revitalization, and job training **Community Service Micro Grants** • Grant range: $1,000 - $5,000 • Support for essential services including housing assistance, financial literacy, and basic needs support • Made 283 grants totaling over $4 million in the most recent reporting period • Historical data shows 1,273 total gr…
Where does Washington Federal Foundation make grants?
The foundation distributes funding across multiple states, with primary focus on: • Washington • Oregon • New Mexico • Arizona • Idaho The foundation primarily supports organizations in Washington, Oregon, and New Mexico, which account for 66% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 10 states.
What size grants does Washington Federal Foundation award?
In 2024, Washington Federal Foundation awarded 265 grants totaling $1.2M — an average of about $4K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Washington Federal Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Washington Federal Foundation reported a distributable amount of $68K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Washington Federal Foundation's EIN?
Washington Federal Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-8777284. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Washington Federal Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program
SOUTHEASTERN, PA
Assets
$22.2B
Grants
24,269
Total Given
$3.0B
The Blackbaud Giving Fund
CHARLESTON SC, SC
Assets
$52.7M
Grants
1,860
Total Given
$41.4M
The Oregon Community Foundation
PORTLAND, OR
Assets
$3.3B
Grants
2,149
Total Given
$171.4M
The Kroger Co Foundation
CINCINNATI, OH
Assets
$111.4M
Grants
253
Total Given
$4.8M
Umpqua Bank Charitable Foundation
LAKE OSWEGO, OR
Assets
—
Grants
317
Total Given
$3.2M
Network for Good
WASHINGTON, DC
Assets
$96.2M
Grants
4,733
Total Given
$216.2M
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
SAINT LOUIS, MO
Assets
—
Grants
9,499
Total Given
$73.1M
Seattle Foundation
SEATTLE, WA
Assets
$1.4B
Grants
5,379
Total Given
$177.9M
Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc
INDIANAPOLIS, IN
Assets
$9.1B
Grants
19,253
Total Given
$1.2B
Charities Aid Foundation America
ALEXANDRIA, VA
Assets
$444.9M
Grants
10,157
Total Given
$466.3M
Puget Sound Energy Foundation
WILMINGTON, DE
Assets
$19.6M
Grants
451
Total Given
$1.2M
The Norcliffe Foundation
SEATTLE, WA
Assets
$22.5M
Grants
586
Total Given
$40.5M
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Washington Federal Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching Washington Federal Foundation to a real strategy.