Willow View Association

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: Not publicly disclosed
• Success Rate: N/A (no public application process)
• Decision Time: N/A (trustee discretion)
• Grant Range: Unknown
• Geographic Focus: Contra Costa County, CA (particularly Concord area)

Contact Details

• Website: None identified
• Phone: Not publicly available
• Email: Not publicly available
• Address: 4021 Port Chicago Highway, Concord, CA 94520

Overview

The Willow View Association is a private grantmaking foundation established in December 2019 by the Seeno family, prominent East Bay home builders. With assets of $112 million as of 2024, the foundation focuses on charitable purposes including making grants to exempt organizations, with particular emphasis on providing educational opportunities to the local community. A significant component of their work involves the construction and operation of the Western Heritage and Wildlife Museum, a 90,000 square foot facility on their Concord property that provides educational experiences focused on wildlife conservation and heritage. The foundation has experienced remarkable growth since inception, growing from $6.5 million in initial assets to over $112 million, while maintaining relatively low operating expenses of approximately $328,000 annually.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not publicize specific grant programs or amounts. All grants appear to be made through trustee discretion without a public application process.

Priority Areas

• Educational opportunities for the community
• Nonprofit capacity building and organizational strengthening
• Wildlife conservation and heritage preservation
• Local community support in Contra Costa County

What They Don't Fund

No explicit exclusions published, but the foundation's private nature suggests they likely do not fund:

• Organizations outside their geographic focus area
• Unsolicited proposals
• Individual requests

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors (all serving without compensation):

• President: Albert D. Seeno Jr. - Prominent East Bay home builder and 2023 inductee to California Waterfowl Hall of Fame for conservation work
• Vice President: Sandra L. Seeno
• Director: Jacqueline M. Seeno
• Director: Sherri Holt
• CFO: John Arcidiacono
• Secretary: Kathleen M. Blackard

The foundation operates as a family foundation with the Seeno family maintaining full control over grant decisions.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. Grants are awarded through trustee discretion based on relationships and alignment with the foundation's mission. The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis.

Getting on Their Radar

• Develop relationships with board members through business and philanthropic networks in Contra Costa County
• Partner with or utilize the Western Heritage and Wildlife Museum for educational programming
• Demonstrate strong alignment with educational opportunities and nonprofit capacity building in the Concord area
• The museum facility is available at no cost to schools, nonprofits, and worthy organizations by invitation

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - decisions are made at trustee discretion without formal timelines.

Success Rates

Not available due to the private nature of the foundation's grantmaking.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Application Success Factors

Since this is a private foundation without a public application process, traditional application success factors don't apply. However, organizations seeking support should:

• Focus on building authentic relationships with the Seeno family and their networks
• Demonstrate clear impact in Contra Costa County, particularly Concord
• Align programs with educational opportunities and community strengthening
• Consider how the Western Heritage and Wildlife Museum could enhance your educational programming
• Show evidence of organizational stability and capacity to deliver on mission
• Connect your work to wildlife conservation or heritage preservation where relevant

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is a legitimate private grantmaking foundation with substantial assets ($112M+) but no public application process
• All grants are made through trustee discretion - relationship building is essential
• The foundation is closely tied to the Western Heritage and Wildlife Museum project
• Geographic focus is clearly on Contra Costa County, particularly Concord area
• Educational opportunities and nonprofit capacity building are primary focus areas
• The Seeno family's business and conservation interests may influence funding decisions
• Consider partnership opportunities through the museum rather than direct grant requests

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Willow View Association Form 990-PF filings (2020-2024). Accessed January 1, 2026. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/843884818
• Cause IQ - Willow View Association organizational profile. Accessed January 1, 2026. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/willow-view-association,843884818/
• The Press (Brentwood) - "Private wildlife museum coming to county" February 2023. https://www.thepress.net/news/regional_and_national/private-wildlife-museum-coming-to-county/article_9b6751fa-a323-11ed-933d-a71594461daa.html
• California Waterfowl - "2023 Waterfowler's Hall of Fame" inductee Albert D. Seeno Jr. https://calwaterfowl.org/news/2023-waterfowlers-hall-of-fame
• OpenCorporates - Willow View Association California incorporation records. https://opencorporates.com/companies/us_ca/C4533602
• USPTO Trademark Database - "World Wildlife - Heritage Museum" trademark registration 97931531
• OpenGovUS - Western Heritage and Wildlife Museum incorporation details. https://opengovus.com/california-corporation/03924780