Magic Cabinet (Ken Birdwell Foundation)

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $14.0 million (2023)
• Total Assets: $100.0 million
• Grant Range: $1,000 - $2,500,000 (over 5 years)
• Cohort Funding: ~$500,000 per year per cohort ($2.5M over 5 years for standard cohorts; $3.2M for rural power-building cohorts)
• Engagement Grant: $1,000
• Geographic Focus: San Francisco Bay Area (9 counties) and Puget Sound, Washington
• Application Method: Invitation only (introduce yourself via website form)
• Grants Awarded: 204 grants in 2023

Contact Details

Website: www.magiccabinet.org
Email: hello@magiccabinet.org
Mailing Address: PO Box 21448, Seattle, WA 98111
Office Location: 10900 NE 4th St, Suite 1400, Bellevue, WA 98004
EIN: 82-5328231

For Introductions: Nonprofits can introduce themselves through a website form at magiccabinet.org to determine if there is a good fit for partnership.

Overview

Magic Cabinet (formerly the Ken Birdwell Foundation) was founded in 2018 by Ken Birdwell, Employee #1 at Valve Corporation, who helped create the wildly popular video games Half-Life and Portal. The foundation was established as an evolution of a 509(a)(3) nonprofit Birdwell had been running since 2011, using a portion of his wealth to create an innovative approach to philanthropy. With total assets of $100.0 million and annual giving of $14.0 million, Magic Cabinet practices a unique form of participatory grantmaking that focuses on long-term capacity building for small to medium-sized nonprofits.

Since 2019, Magic Cabinet has distributed more than $45 million in five-year, unrestricted, capacity-building grants to 21 cohorts of three nonprofits each (63 nonprofits total). The foundation's name comes from Birdwell's childhood fascination with a Pong arcade console he encountered in a Seattle mall and could only describe as a "magic cabinet." This innovative foundation is reshaping philanthropic practices by centering community knowledge, providing flexible funding, and committing to long-term partnerships rather than transactional grants.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

Cohort Grants (Primary Programme):

• $2.5 million per cohort over five years (~$500,000 annually) for standard cohorts
• $3.2 million per cohort over five years for rural power-building cohorts
• Groups of three nonprofits work collaboratively
• Unrestricted, flexible capacity-building funds
• Nonprofits collectively decide how funds are allocated within their cohort
• Five-year commitment to each cohort

Engagement Grants:

• $1,000 grant to all nonprofits completing the engagement process
• Includes results of iCAT (Impact Capacity Assessment Tool)
• Provides pathway to eligibility for larger Cohort grants

Fiscally-Sponsored Cohorts (New in 2024):

• Supports organisations that are fiscally sponsored rather than independent 501(c)(3)s
• Same five-year, capacity-building model
• First cohorts launched in Puget Sound in 2024

Partnership Programmes:

• Native Voices Rising Partnership: $7.5 million over five years (announced 2025)
• Collaborative partnerships with other foundations and funders
• Recent partners include Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation and East Bay Community Foundation

Priority Areas

Magic Cabinet funds organisations focused on:

• Community-led change and local engagement
• Capacity building (team development, infrastructure, tools, sustainability)
• Organisations serving people in their communities
• Social justice and equity (reproductive justice, immigrant rights, racial equity)
• Grassroots organising and powerbuilding
• Economic justice (worker rights, economic empowerment)
• Native-led organisations and tribal sovereignty

Eligibility Requirements:

• People-focused, locally engaged organisations
• Annual budgets between $500,000 and $2.5 million
• Community-trusted (serving community for 3+ years)
• Learning organisations open to new ideas
• 501(c)(3) tax-determined nonprofits OR fiscally-sponsored organisations
• Located in target geographic regions (Bay Area or Puget Sound)

Geographic Focus:

• California Bay Area Counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sonoma
• Washington: Puget Sound region (primarily Seattle and surrounding areas)

What They Don't Fund

Magic Cabinet does not fund:

• Organisations outside their geographic focus areas
• Organisations with budgets under $500,000 or over $2.5 million
• Single-programme initiatives (focus is on organisational capacity, not specific programmes)
• Organisations not rooted in community or lacking community trust
• Organisations unwilling to participate in a collaborative cohort model

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors:

Ken Birdwell, Founder and Board Chair
Birdwell helped start the video game company Valve as Employee #1, contributing to Half-Life and Portal (which sold over 4 million copies). He retired from Valve in 2016 and has been active in the nonprofit sector since 1992 as a donor, volunteer, and board member. His vision for Magic Cabinet was influenced by his nonprofit work where he "saw the value of their work and the limiting nature of programme-specific grants and the troubling power dynamics of much traditional funding."

Trish Millines Dziko (Elected September 2023)
Co-founder and executive director of Technology Access Foundation (TAF) in Seattle. Currently serves on the boards for InvestED, Seattle Foundation, and the National Charter Collaborative.

Leticia Landa (Elected September 2023)
Executive director of La Cocina in San Francisco. Currently serves on the Advisory Board of Kitchen Table Advisors and previously held a fellowship with Hispanics in Philanthropy. La Cocina is a past Magic Cabinet grantee.

Leadership:

Christina Engel, Chief Executive Officer (2019-2025)
Engel joined Magic Cabinet in 2019 as their first programme director and became CEO. She announced in 2024 that she will step down at the end of 2025, with a new CEO expected to be announced in 2026. Engel oversees a grant-making system that centres on equity, transparency, and long-term sustainability, and has dedicated her career to developing platforms for emergent leadership, community, and creativity.

Karen Toering, Director of Advocacy (Appointed May 2023)
Previously served as Seattle Programme Director before shifting to the advocacy role.

Key Philosophy from Leadership:

From a grantee quote about meeting Ken Birdwell: "Everything that we needed was really capacity-building, and nobody does that... I Googled him when we were in the room and was like, 'Okay, this is legit.' Then it was magical."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a traditional public application process. Magic Cabinet operates on an invitation-only basis and does not accept unsolicited grant applications. However, they welcome introductions from nonprofits.

Introduction Process:

1. Submit Introduction Form: Visit magiccabinet.org and complete the "Introduce Your Nonprofit" form
2. Provide Basic Information: Share information about your organisation and needs to determine if there is a good fit
3. Wait for Foundation Contact: Magic Cabinet's engagement officers review submissions and reach out to organisations that align with their current priorities

How Organisations Are Selected: Magic Cabinet's engagement officers develop lists of possible nonprofit grantees through:

• Regional research and analysis
• Site visits and community conversations
• Input from "grasstops folks" and "grassroots folks" in target neighbourhoods
• Direct connections with nonprofits
• Community recommendations and networking

According to Magic Cabinet: "It's a lot more work this way. But it's worth it to us to do the work so we're not wasting nonprofits' time."

Engagement Process (for invited organisations):

1. Brief Application: Initial application form
2. iCAT Assessment: Complete Impact Capacity Assessment Tool
3. Site Visit: Foundation conducts site visit to learn about organisation
4. Celebratory Gathering: Event for all participating organisations
5. Engagement Grant: Receive $1,000 engagement grant and iCAT results
6. Cohort Matching: Become eligible for placement in funded cohorts

Magic Cabinet gets to know nonprofits deeply through "site visits, surveys, facilitated discussions, document gathering, events and many follow-up conversations."

Getting on Their Radar

Magic Cabinet has specific ways organisations can connect with them:

1. Submit an Introduction Through Their Website
The foundation maintains an "Introduce Your Nonprofit" form at magiccabinet.org specifically for organisations to share information about themselves. This is the primary pathway for organisations not currently known to the foundation.

2. Attend Sector Conferences Where Magic Cabinet Participates
Magic Cabinet staff attend and engage at specific conferences including:

• Philanthropy Northwest
• Native Americans in Philanthropy conferences
• Northern California Grantmakers events
• Filantropía Puerto Rico

3. Connect Through Partner Organisations
Magic Cabinet works with several partner organisations that may provide introductions:

• Communities of Opportunity
• Solano Community Foundation
• Northern California Grantmakers
• Native Voices Rising (for Native-led organisations)

4. Network With Current or Past Grantees
Magic Cabinet values community recommendations. Their past grantees include Asian Women's Shelter, La Cocina, East Oakland Boxing Association, GOT GREEN, Planting Justice, Pogo Park, First Graduate, and others.

5. Build Visibility in Target Communities
Magic Cabinet's engagement officers actively research nonprofits in their target regions and talk to community leaders. Being visible and trusted in communities within the Bay Area (Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, Sonoma counties) or Puget Sound region increases likelihood of being discovered.

Decision Timeline

Overall Timeline: The entire engagement and cohort selection process takes place over several months to a year, depending on when Magic Cabinet is forming new cohorts.

Engagement Process: Organisations completing the engagement process receive their $1,000 engagement grant and iCAT assessment results relatively quickly after completion.

Cohort Formation: Magic Cabinet forms cohorts on a rolling basis as they identify three compatible organisations in the same geographic area with complementary (but not overlapping) missions.

Five-Year Commitment: Once selected for a cohort, organisations receive funding for five years with annual grants totaling approximately $500,000 per year per cohort for standard cohorts (divided among the three organisations based on their collective decisions), or $640,000 per year for rural power-building cohorts.

Notification: Selected organisations are contacted directly by Magic Cabinet's engagement officers. There is no formal rejection notification for organisations that submit introductions but are not selected, as the foundation maintains relationships and may reach out in the future.

Success Rates

• 204 grants awarded in 2023 across all programmes
• 63 nonprofits have received cohort grants since 2019 (21 cohorts of 3 organisations each)
• 9 fiscally-sponsored organisations selected for first fiscally-sponsored cohorts in 2024
• More than $45 million distributed since 2019
• All organisations completing the engagement process receive the $1,000 engagement grant

The foundation is highly selective but invests deeply in organisations they choose. Success depends heavily on alignment with their current geographic and thematic priorities and availability of cohort placement opportunities.

Reapplication Policy

Given the invitation-only model and five-year cohort commitments, traditional reapplication doesn't apply. However:

• Organisations that complete the engagement process but aren't immediately placed in a cohort remain in the foundation's network
• Magic Cabinet maintains ongoing relationships with organisations in their ecosystem
• The foundation is open to continued conversations with organisations that have engaged with them previously
• Organisations can update their information by reaching out to hello@magiccabinet.org

Application Success Factors

Based on Magic Cabinet's documented preferences and approach, organisations should focus on the following to increase their chances of partnership:

1. Demonstrate Deep Community Roots and Trust
Magic Cabinet prioritises organisations that are "community-trusted" with at least 3 years of service. They talk to both "grasstops folks" and "grassroots folks" in neighbourhoods to understand which organisations are truly serving their communities. As their materials state, they fund organisations that are "locally engaged in the Bay Area communities they serve."

2. Show Willingness to Collaborate
The cohort model requires organisations to work together with two other nonprofits, meet quarterly, and "collectively approve proposals for fund usage." Organisations need to demonstrate they are "learning organisations open to new ideas" and can work collaboratively with peers.

3. Articulate Capacity-Building Needs
As one grantee said: "Everything that we needed was really capacity-building, and nobody does that." Magic Cabinet specifically seeks organisations that need support for "team development, infrastructure, tools, and sustainability" rather than programme-specific funding. Successful applicants should clearly identify capacity gaps they want to address.

4. Align with Budget Requirements
Organisations must have annual budgets between $500,000 and $2.5 million. This is a strict eligibility criterion. Being too small or too large disqualifies an organisation.

5. Embrace Participatory Decision-Making
Magic Cabinet's guiding principles emphasise "participatory decisions" and "transparent relationships." Organisations should be comfortable with a model where they have significant input into how funds are used and share decision-making with their cohort partners. According to the foundation: "Ideally, members look out for each other and decide, together, who needs what."

6. Focus on People, Not Just Programmes
Magic Cabinet funds "people-focused organisations" that serve communities directly. The foundation invests in organisational strength rather than specific programme outcomes, providing "unrestricted, capacity-building funds to the group to spend as they see fit."

7. Be Prepared for Deep Engagement
The foundation gets to know nonprofits through "site visits, surveys, facilitated discussions, document gathering, events and many follow-up conversations." Organisations should be ready for a thorough engagement process including the iCAT assessment, site visits, and multiple conversations.

8. Demonstrate Long-Term Vision
Magic Cabinet provides "five-year capacity-building funding" because they believe in "long-term investment" that moves "beyond transactional, short-term grants." Organisations should articulate how five years of flexible funding would help them achieve sustainability and increased impact.

9. Recent Funding Examples Show Their Priorities
Recent grants illuminate what Magic Cabinet values:

• GOT GREEN (Seattle): $167K for strategy, structure and leadership capacity building
• Planting Justice (Oakland): $166K for admin support and marketing
• Pogo Park (Richmond, CA): $166K for campaign capacity building
• First Graduate (San Francisco): $161K for staff development
• Asian Women's Shelter, La Cocina, East Oakland Boxing Association

These examples show emphasis on organisational infrastructure, staffing, systems, and leadership development.

10. Geographic and Thematic Alignment
Organisations must be located in and serve communities within Magic Cabinet's target areas: nine Bay Area counties (Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, Sonoma) or Puget Sound, Washington. Recent thematic priorities include immigrant rights, reproductive justice, racial equity, worker rights, Native-led organisations, and grassroots powerbuilding.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Invitation-only but accessible: While Magic Cabinet doesn't accept traditional applications, they actively welcome introductions through their website form and conduct extensive community research to find potential partners. Submit an introduction and build visibility in target communities.

• Five-year, unrestricted funding is transformative: Magic Cabinet provides approximately $500,000 per year for five years to standard cohorts of three organisations ($2.5M total per cohort), or $640,000 per year for rural power-building cohorts ($3.2M total), with complete flexibility in how funds are used for capacity building. This is among the most flexible funding available.

• Budget sweet spot is critical: Organisations must have annual budgets between $500,000 and $2.5 million. Don't waste time if you're outside this range.

• Collaboration is non-negotiable: You'll work with two other nonprofits in your cohort, meet quarterly, and make collective decisions about fund usage. Demonstrate collaborative skills and openness to peer learning.

• Capacity building, not programmes: Magic Cabinet funds infrastructure, staffing, systems, leadership development, and organisational sustainability—not specific programmes. Frame your needs around building organisational capacity.

• Community trust matters most: The foundation conducts deep community research and talks to grassroots and established leaders. Your reputation and relationships in the community are crucial to selection.

• Participatory ethos shapes everything: Magic Cabinet practices "trust-based philanthropy" and cedes power to nonprofits. They value transparency, flexibility, and nonprofit decision-making authority. Embrace this collaborative partnership model rather than traditional funder-grantee dynamics.

References

1. Magic Cabinet Official Website - www.magiccabinet.org (Accessed January 2026)
2. Magic Cabinet Grantmaking Page - https://www.magiccabinet.org/grantmaking/ (Accessed January 2026)
3. Magic Cabinet Guiding Principles - https://www.magiccabinet.org/our-guiding-principles/ (Accessed January 2026)
4. Magic Cabinet 2024 Year in Review - https://www.magiccabinet.org/2024-our-year-in-review/ (Accessed January 2026)
5. Inside Philanthropy: "Magic Cabinet: A Matchmaking Participatory Grantmaker Helps Teams of Grantees Build Capacity" (June 2023) - https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2023-6-13-magic-cabinet-a-matchmaking-participatory-grantmaker-helps-teams-of-grantees-build-capacity
6. Inside Philanthropy Funder Profile - https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant-places/bay-area-grants/magic-cabinet (Accessed January 2026)
7. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Ken Birdwell Foundation (EIN: 82-5328231) - https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/825328231 (Accessed January 2026)
8. GuideStar Profile - Ken Birdwell Foundation - https://www.guidestar.org/profile/82-5328231 (Accessed January 2026)
9. Charity Navigator Profile - Ken Birdwell Foundation - https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/825328231 (Accessed January 2026)
10. Cause IQ Profile - Ken Birdwell Foundation - https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/ken-birdwell-foundation,825328231/ (Accessed January 2026)
11. Magic Cabinet: "Magic Cabinet Commits $7.5 million to Native Voices Rising to Strengthen Native-led Organisations" (2025) - https://www.magiccabinet.org/magic-cabinet-commits-7-5-million-to-native-voices-rising-to-strengthen-native-led-organizations/
12. Magic Cabinet: "Magic Cabinet Elects Two New Board Members From Local Community Nonprofits" (September 2023) - https://www.magiccabinet.org/magic-cabinet-elects-two-new-board-members-from-local-community-nonprofits/
13. Public Profit: "Magic Cabinet: Promoting Capacity Building through Participatory, Trust-Based Philanthropy" - https://www.publicprofit.net/case-study-magic-cabinet/ (Accessed January 2026)
14. Catchafire Blog: "Rewriting nonprofit capacity building with Magic Cabinet" - https://blog.catchafire.org/rewriting-nonprofit-capacity-building-with-magic-cabinet (Accessed January 2026)
15. Magic Cabinet About Ken Birdwell - https://www.magiccabinet.org/ken-birdwell/ (Accessed January 2026)
16. Magic Cabinet: "Magic Cabinet Appoints Karen Toering as Director of Advocacy" (May 2023) - https://www.magiccabinet.org/magic-cabinet-appoints-karen-toering-as-director-of-advocacy/