← Back to US Funders Directory

Medina Foundation

Annual Giving
$4.8M
Grant Range
$1K - $0.1M
Decision Time
3mo
Success Rate
55%

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $4.7 million (2024)
  • Decision Time: 2-5 months
  • Grant Range: $500 - $100,000
  • Median Grant: $15,000 - $25,000
  • Geographic Focus: 14 counties in Greater Puget Sound, Washington
  • Total Assets: $103.6 million (2024)

Contact Details

Address: 801 Second Avenue, Suite 1108, Seattle, WA 98104

Phone: 206-652-8783

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://www.medinafoundation.org/

Important Notice: As of December 2024, the Medina Foundation announced it will sunset in 3-5 years. The foundation is no longer accepting new Letters of Inquiry (LOIs) and is finishing regular grantmaking through the end of 2025, prioritizing current grantees.

Overview

The Medina Foundation was founded in 1947 by Norton Clapp, grandson of Weyerhaeuser Company co-founder Matthew G. Norton. Over 77 years, the foundation has invested more than $150 million in grant dollars to community organizations in the Greater Puget Sound region. Under the leadership of Executive Director Jennifer Teunon (since 2013), the foundation has become one of Washington State's largest private funders of human service organizations, making approximately 200 grants annually with $4 million in annual giving. The foundation is known for its trust-based philanthropy approach, with 76% of grants provided as general operating support in 2024. The Clapp family continues Norton Clapp's legacy of community responsibility, though the foundation will complete its mission and close within the next few years.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

General Operating Support Grants: $500 - $100,000 (median: $15,000 - $25,000)

  • Rolling application cycle (currently closed to new applicants)
  • 76% of grants are general operating support
  • Typically represents no more than 10% of an organization's operating or capital budget (exceptions for innovative start-ups)

Professional Development Grants: Up to $5,000

  • Supports organizational capacity building and staff development
  • 22 organizations received professional development grants in 2023

Multi-Year Impact Initiative: $1 million over five years to 5 organizations (special program)

Priority Areas

The foundation focuses on human service organizations providing direct support to Puget Sound residents, particularly those who are low-income, facing barriers, or in historically under-resourced communities:

Positive Pathways for Youth

  • Safe, stable housing for youth
  • Mentorship and tutoring programs
  • Educational transitions from early education through postsecondary
  • Job training for young people

Stabilization for Families and Individuals

  • Food distribution networks and hunger relief
  • Homelessness prevention
  • Domestic violence, sexual assault, and trauma prevention/reduction programs

Economic Opportunities

  • Job training and career advancement skills
  • Entrepreneurship programs
  • Financial education

What They Don't Fund

  • Environmental programs
  • Arts programs
  • Healthcare-related programs
  • Political programs
  • Religious institutions for religious purposes

Governance and Leadership

Staff

Jennifer Teunon, Executive Director (since 2013)

  • 30 years of nonprofit sector experience
  • Champion of general operating support, stating: "If we make a grant, it's because we believe in the organization and we want to see the same outcomes they want to see. But we always need to remember that we are investing in their work, not ours."

Board of Trustees

  • Margaret Clapp, President
  • Stephen Gant, Vice President
  • Gail Gant, Treasurer
  • Elizabeth Williams, Secretary
  • Andrew Clapp
  • Edelveis Clapp
  • Jean Gardner
  • Jill Gardner
  • Piper Henry-Keller
  • Kate Nunn

The board consists primarily of Norton Clapp's descendants, maintaining the family foundation's commitment to community responsibility.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Current Status: The Medina Foundation is no longer accepting new Letters of Inquiry (LOIs) as of December 2024. Applications are only being processed for organizations with existing application drafts through the end of 2025.

Historical Application Process (for reference):

  1. Submit Letter of Inquiry (LOI) through online E-Grant System
  2. If invited, submit full application by emailed due date
  3. Foundation contacts applicants within 1-6 weeks to schedule site visit
  4. Site visits last approximately one hour, typically in-person with Executive Director
  5. Trustees review completed applications in order received at bi-monthly meetings
  6. Approved grants require Executive Director/CEO signature via DocuSign
  7. Funding issued via check

Decision Timeline

  • Full Process: 2-5 months from initial application submission
  • Site Visit Scheduling: 1-6 weeks after full application submission
  • Trustee Meetings: Every other months; applications reviewed in order received
  • Notification: Via telephone call/email to address in online account
  • 2025 Timeline: All remaining requests will be notified of funding status by mid-December 2025

Success Rates

  • Applications Processed: Approximately 200+ applications per year
  • Grants Made: 164 grants in 2024; 185 grants in 2023
  • New Grantees: Nearly 11% of grants went to new partner organizations in 2023
  • Estimated Success Rate: Approximately 50-60% (based on grant volume vs. typical application numbers)

Reapplication Policy

Organizations that have previously applied must wait at least 12 months after their last decision date before submitting a new LOI. For capital or multi-year grants, the waiting period is measured from the last payment date.

Unsuccessful applicants are welcome to reapply after the 12-month waiting period.

Application Success Factors

What the Foundation Values

Trust-Based Philanthropy: The foundation believes in unrestricted general operating support, recognizing that "if every funder only pays for a specific program or a specific line item, a nonprofit becomes fragmented and unstable."

Trustee Preferences: Applications are prioritized based on:

  1. Critical needs: Organizations addressing urgent community needs
  2. Community-driven: Programs directed by the voices of those being served
  3. Innovation: Innovative and effective approaches to problems
  4. Unique niche: Organizations filling gaps in their communities
  5. Diverse funding: Organizations with a diverse funding base demonstrating sustainability

Organizational Characteristics They Seek:

  • Strong leadership through diverse and engaged boards
  • Dedicated executive directors and staff
  • Strategic planning with well-mapped programmatic and financial goals
  • Demonstrated positive results through programs
  • Focus on racial equity and dismantling systemic racism

Recent Grantee Examples (2023-2024)

Youth Programs: Bike Works Seattle ($20,000), Boys & Girls Clubs of King County ($40,000), America SCORES Seattle ($15,000), Asia Pacific Cultural Center ($50,000)

Economic Opportunities: Ada Developers Academy ($25,000), CASA Latina ($30,000), Ventures ($40,000), Dress for Success Seattle ($15,000), Juma Ventures ($25,000)

Family Stabilization: Bellingham Food Bank ($30,000), Chief Seattle Club ($30,000), Childhaven ($35,000), Associated Ministries of Tacoma-Pierce County ($50,000), Atlantic Street Center ($30,000)

Strategic Advice

  • Focus on general operating support needs: The foundation overwhelmingly prefers funding unrestricted operating costs
  • Demonstrate community engagement: Show how those most affected by issues are involved in developing solutions
  • Keep grant requests reasonable: Generally limit requests to no more than 10% of your operating or capital budget
  • Emphasize innovation alongside proven approaches: The foundation supports both "innovative new approaches and proven long-standing programs"
  • Show diverse funding sources: Demonstrate sustainability through varied revenue streams

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Foundation is sunsetting: No new applications are being accepted; only current grantees and in-progress applications will be considered through 2025
  • Unrestricted funding champion: With 76% of grants as general operating support, this foundation values organizational flexibility and trust
  • Geographic specificity matters: Must serve one or more of 14 specific Puget Sound counties
  • Median grants are $15,000-$25,000: Set realistic expectations; grants typically don't exceed 10% of your budget
  • Community voice is paramount: Applications succeed when they demonstrate leadership from those being served
  • Rolling review process: Applications were reviewed in order received, not by deadline cohorts (when accepting applications)
  • Moderate competition: With roughly 50-60% success rate historically, applications are competitive but not exceptionally selective
  • Site visits are standard: Expect an in-person site visit lasting about one hour as part of the review process

References

← Back to US Funders Directory