Firstenburg Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $1,361,456 (2023)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: $10,000 - $100,000
• Geographic Focus: Clark, Cowlitz, Klickitat, and Skamania Counties, Southwest Washington

Contact Details

• Address: 1220 Main Street, Suite 203, Vancouver, WA 98660-2960
• Website: www.theffdn.org
• Phone: Jennifer Rhoads, Executive Director: (360) 699-4212; Sherrie Bagnas, Associate Executive Director: (360) 699-4205
• Email: Contact through website portal

Overview

The Firstenburg Foundation is a private family foundation established in 2004 by E.W. and Mary Firstenburg in Vancouver, Washington. With total assets of approximately $31.9 million (2023), the foundation distributed $1,361,456 in charitable grants in 2023. Since its inception, the foundation has awarded more than $22 million to local grantees. The foundation is operated by the Firstenburg family and focuses on supporting educational and community organizations in Southwest Washington, specifically in Clark, Cowlitz, Klickitat, and Skamania Counties. As a private grantmaking foundation, they support organizations through multiple grant programs with a focus on basic needs, health and human services, education, and homelessness prevention.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Small Nonprofit Grant Program

• Multi-year grants of $10,000 per year for three years (total $30,000)
• For organizations with annual revenue under $500,000
• Supports capacity building, partnerships and coalitions, leadership development, staff professional development, and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives

Homelessness Prevention & Affordable Housing Grant Program

• Supports organizations working on homelessness prevention, housing stability, and affordable housing creation
• Grant amounts vary

General Grantmaking

• Grants typically range from $10,000 to $100,000
• Supports education, basic needs, health and human services programs

Priority Areas

• Basic Needs/Health and Human Services
• Education (schools and educational programs)
• Homelessness Prevention and Affordable Housing
• Capacity building for small nonprofits
• Youth and family programs

What They Don't Fund

Organizations must provide direct services in Clark, Cowlitz, Klickitat, and Skamania Counties to be eligible. Organizations must be 501(c)(3) charitable entities or utilize fiscal sponsors. For the Small Nonprofit Grant Program, organizations must have at least one year of documented program delivery and annual revenue under $500,000.

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by members of the Firstenburg family. William Firstenburg, Bruce Firstenburg, and Joyce Chiles were appointed as the first Board of Directors in 2004. Today, E.W. and Mary's grandchildren—Jeffrey Wayne Firstenburg, Jeffrey William Firstenburg, Molly Linz, and Nicole Flack—along with Shelly Firstenburg, lead the foundation.

Staff:

• Executive Director: Jennifer Rhoads
• Associate Executive Director: Sherrie Bagnas

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Firstenburg Foundation accepts applications through their online grantee portal at www.theffdn.org. All grant requests must be submitted through the online portal; requests sent by other means will not be considered. Applicants must create an account in the grantee portal, which allows applicants to save materials as drafts and review and revise grant materials multiple times before submitting a final application.

Eligibility Requirements

• Must be a public 501(c)(3) charitable or exempt entity or utilize a fiscal sponsor
• Must provide direct services in Southwest Washington (Clark, Cowlitz, Klickitat, and Skamania Counties)
• For Small Nonprofit Grant Program: annual revenue under $500,000 and at least one year of documented program delivery

Decision Timeline

Application deadlines and decision timelines vary by grant program. The Small Nonprofit Grant Program has multiple application cycles throughout the year. Contact the foundation or check their website for current deadlines.

Success Rates

No public data available on application numbers or success rates.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations may apply to multiple grant programs and reapply in subsequent cycles.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's stated priorities:

• Strong local presence in Clark, Cowlitz, Klickitat, or Skamania Counties
• Direct service delivery to Southwest Washington residents
• Alignment with priority areas (Basic Needs/Health and Human Services, Education, Homelessness Prevention/Affordable Housing)
• For small nonprofits: demonstrated organizational capacity-building needs
• Demonstrated community impact and effective program delivery
• For small organizations: focus on partnerships, leadership development, staff development, or DEI initiatives

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• The Firstenburg Foundation is a private family foundation with a public application process through an online portal
• Geographic eligibility is limited to organizations serving Clark, Cowlitz, Klickitat, and Skamania Counties
• Focus on Basic Needs/Health and Human Services, Education, and Homelessness Prevention/Affordable Housing
• Small Nonprofit Grant Program offers $30,000 over three years ($10,000/year) for capacity building
• All applications must be submitted through the online grantee portal at www.theffdn.org
• Grant amounts typically range from $10,000 to $100,000
• Multiple application cycles throughout the year for different grant programs
• Organizations must be 501(c)(3) entities or use fiscal sponsors
• Foundation has distributed more than $22 million since 2004

References

• Firstenburg Foundation website (www.theffdn.org) (accessed May 2026)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Firstenburg Foundation Profile (EIN 68-0525464) (accessed May 2026)
• IRS Form 990-PF filing data (2023)
• Charity Navigator Organization Profile (accessed May 2026)
• CauseIQ Foundation Profile and Grant Recipients (accessed May 2026)