Whisper Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 81-1292744 · since 2016garymilgardfamilyfoundation.org·Pierce County·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$4.9M

Annual giving, 2025 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

$10,000 to $400k

Grant range

From grants in the 990-PF filings

$100k

Typical grant (median)

23 grants in the latest filing

Open to applications

Rolling, no deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

The Whisper Foundation is based in Tacoma, WA and gives priority to the Pierce County, Washington area, so grant writers should check their work sits within that area before approaching.
It funds social services, animal initiatives and health and wellness, so a good match in theme matters.
Most grants to organisations fall between $10,000 and $400,000, with a median of $100,000, so a request in that range is realistic, though the largest grant was $1,000,000.
The process starts with a letter of inquiry, which is reviewed for fit with the foundation's funding priorities, and only if that is approved is a full application invited; applications are accepted on a rolling basis, so there is no fixed deadline to work around.
Note that 44% of its grant dollars went to organisations it had also funded in the two previous filings, so while new applicants can succeed, relationships built over time feature strongly; organisations should also check they are a 501(c)3, and should not apply for annual funds, galas or other special event fundraising activities, for sectarian religious activities, political lobbying or legislative activities, or if they discriminate on the basis of age, race, national origin, ethnicity, gender, disability, political affiliation or religious belief.

Overview

Whisper Foundation is a US private foundation based in Tacoma, WA.

What they fund

Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2025, TY2024, TY2023) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

The Whisper Foundation supports well managed organisations that work to improve quality of life and make a positive difference in the Pierce County, Washington area. Its focus areas include social services, animal initiatives and the overall health and wellness of the community, particularly in Pierce County. It supports programmes and organisations that have a direct, meaningful impact on those they serve, and well managed non-profit projects and programmes focused on community health. Its approach is to listen to people who see community needs first-hand and learn where best to support their efforts.

Themes

Social services
Animal initiatives
Health and wellness

Geographic Focus

Priority: Pierce County, Washington area.

What They Don't Fund

Organizations that do not qualify as 501(c)3 tax-exempt under the Internal Revenue Code
Annual funds, galas, or other special event fundraising activities
Sectarian religious activities, political lobbying, or legislative activities
Organizations that discriminate on the basis of age, race, national origin, ethnicity, gender, disability, political affiliation or religious belief

How to apply

A letter of inquiry is the first step. If it is approved, the applicant is asked to provide a full application.

Application success factors

Repeat giving: In its TY2025 filing, 44% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2023 or TY2024 filing.
Grant size: Across its TY2023, TY2024 and TY2025 filings, half of its 57 grants to organisations were $100,000 or less.

What the foundation says:

A letter of inquiry is reviewed for whether the proposal aligns with the foundation’s funding priorities.
Grantees are required to report through the grant database at six months and again at one year, where applicable; capital campaigns submit status updates every six months until completion.
Failure to meet grant-reporting requirements disqualifies an organisation from future grants.

Where grants go

From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2023–2025.

Grant dollars by state

Washington98%

Oregon2%

The largest single recipient received 9% of grant dollars to organisations.
In tax year 2025, 44% of grant dollars went to organisations Whisper Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
6% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.

Grants

23 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $100k

How much do they typically give?

Share of 23 grants in tax year 2025 by size

$10k–$25k13%

$25k–$50k4%

$50k–$100k13%

$100k–$250k35%

$250k–$500k26%

$500k–$1M0%

$1M and over9%

Median $100k (tax year 2025)

The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:

TRA Medical Imaging Foundation · Mobile mammonw
$1,000,0002025 tax year
Tacoma Rescue Mission · Services/shelter expansion
$1,000,0002025 tax year
GoodRoots · Locker network- round two
$339,0002025 tax year
Boys & Girls Club of South Puget Sound · General operations
$300,0002025 tax year
Kitsap Humane Society · Bog dog crisis initiative
$300,0002025 tax year
YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties · Community learning ctrs
$250,0002025 tax year
PACK—People for Animal Care and Kindness · Party with a purpose 2025
$250,0002025 tax year
HopeSparks Family Services · Pediatric healthcare integration
$250,0002025 tax year

Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.

Officers and directors

Paul Degoede — Director
Kirby Milgard — VP & Treasurer
Kasey Milgard — VP & Secretary
Cari Milgard — President

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2023 tax year	$1,901,065	$1,101,000	$107,024,164	Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year	$5,716,511	$4,588,000	$115,342,235	Filing for 2024 tax year
2025 tax year	$6,055,915	$4,874,000	$127,402,634	Filing for 2025 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.