Washington Research Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- Washington Research Foundation's geographic focus is Washington state, and it funds people, projects and programmes at nonprofit research institutions there working in life sciences, enabling technologies, technology commercialization, STEM research and the innovation ecosystem, so this is where fit matters most.
- Typical grants to organisations run from $10,000 to $300,000, with about 8 in 10 of its 104 grants falling in this range and a median grant of $100,000, so a request of that size is realistic, though the largest grant was about $2,550,000.
- For Technology Commercialization, funding is phased - Phase 1 is $10,000–$100,000, Phase 2 up to $250,000 and Phase 3 up to $1,000,000 - and applicants submit a pre-proposal first, with only successful ones invited to submit a full application.
- Ninety-nine per cent of its grant dollars to organisations in its latest filing went to organisations it had also funded the year before, pointing to a relationship-led pattern, though half of its 104 grants were $100,000 or less, so smaller requests are not excluded.
- Technology Commercialization does not fund basic or discovery-stage research, projects whose IP is already licensed to a company, salary for regular faculty, IP costs, or indirect costs for capital equipment over $5,000, tuition, patient care, or subawards over $25,000, so applicants to that programme seeking any of these should look elsewhere.
Overview
Washington Research Foundation is a US private foundation based in Seattle, WA.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
Washington Research Foundation funds people, projects and programmes at nonprofit research institutions in Washington state, while cultivating a vibrant and equitable ecosystem. It focuses on life sciences and enabling technologies and supports innovative research intended to improve health, advance technology and benefit the public. Its Technology Commercialization grants bridge discovery research and commercial investment, supporting translational projects to develop products and services. The Foundation also supports postdoctoral scientists pursuing innovative, translational research, student programmes connecting students with STEM research and commercialisation, and strategic programmes to strengthen Washington’s innovation ecosystem. Its approach combines phased project funding with invitation-only strategic support.
Themes
- Life sciences
- Enabling technologies
- Technology commercialization
- STEM research
- Innovation ecosystem
Geographic Focus
Washington state.
What They Don't Fund
- Technology Commercialization only: basic or discovery-stage research; a project if any IP associated with that project has already been licensed to a company; Salary costs for regular faculty (e.g., assistant professors, associate professors, full professors); IP costs (typically not allowed); indirect costs for capital equipment expenditures greater than $5,000, tuition, patient care, or subawards more than $25,000
How to apply
For Technology Commercialization, investigators submit a pre-proposal; successful applicants are invited to submit a full application.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2023 filing, 99% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022 and TY2023 filings, half of its 104 grants to organisations were $100,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- It considers the magnitude of the problem and the impact of the potential solution.
- It assesses the solution’s competitive advantage relative to what is currently available.
- It considers potential for commercialization through licensing or startup formation.
- It considers the likelihood of market uptake and time to market.
- It looks for clear and feasible milestones and budget.
- It considers leverage with other funding.
- It considers the quality of communication.
- It assesses the strength of the intellectual property.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2023.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 39% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2023, 99% of grant dollars went to organisations Washington Research Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 56 grants in tax year 2023 by size
Median $100k (tax year 2023)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Seattle Children's Research Institute · Scri: postdoc scholars program$2,560,0002023 tax year
- Seattle Children's Research Institute · Scri: rawlings: ind$2,000,0002023 tax year
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center · Fhcrc: meschinchi: ind-enabling$2,000,0002023 tax year
- University of Washington · Uw biology faculty recruitment$600,0002023 tax year
- University of Washington · Uw: carlson law in life science$500,0002023 tax year
- University of Washington · Uw: clinician-scientist fellows$300,0002023 tax year
- Washington State University · Wsu: technology gap fund$250,0002023 tax year
- University of Washington · Uw: theberge: phase ii$250,0002023 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Thomas J Cable — Director
- Jacqueline Brainard Emami — Director
- Morgan Hellar — CFO / Treasurer / Secretary
- C Kent Carlson — Director
- Thomas Daniel — President & CEO
- Desney Tan — Director
- Carol Dahl — Director
- James R Uhlir — Director
- Brooks Simpson — Chairman
- Sue Coliton — Director
- Kevin Cable — Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
2 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $16,458,293 | $10,233,660 | $340,676,021 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $22,263,056 | $17,040,138 | $344,223,391 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
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Applying to Washington Research Foundation?
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Applying to Washington Research Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required