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Moccasin Lake Foundation

Annual Giving
$7.0M
Grant Range
$2K - $1.0M

Moccasin Lake Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $7,039,500 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: Varies widely; median $10,000, with grants ranging from $2,000 to $1,000,000+
  • Geographic Focus: Pacific Northwest, with special focus on Methow Valley, Washington
  • Total Assets: $74.7 million
  • Number of Grants: 163 (2023)

Contact Details

Moccasin Lake Foundation
PO Box 70367
Seattle, WA 98127

Website: www.moccasinlakefoundation.org
Grant Submission Portal: fsrequests.com/moccasinlake

Overview

The Moccasin Lake Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1991 as a long-term philanthropic program. With total assets of approximately $74.7 million, the foundation distributed $7,039,500 through 163 grants in 2023. Founded "with broad charitable purposes so that its grant-making policies may always reflect the diverse interests of the Foundation and its individual board members," the foundation is led by a volunteer board including members of the Anderson and Pigott families. Lisa P. Anderson currently serves as President, while Mark Kranwinkle holds the position of President (sources vary on exact leadership structure). The foundation operates through three specialized committees—Education, Environment, and Social Services—with most funding concentrated in the Pacific Northwest region, and a particular emphasis on the Methow Valley area of Washington State.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through a rolling application process via an online portal. Grants are awarded across three main focus areas:

  • Education: Supporting educational initiatives and programs
  • Environment: Funding environmental conservation and protection projects
  • Social Services: Addressing social service needs in communities

Grant Sizes: The foundation shows significant flexibility in grant amounts, with a median grant of $10,000 but ranging from small grants of $2,000 to major awards exceeding $1 million. The average grant size is approximately $43,187.

Recent Grant Examples (2023)

  • Methow Housing Trust - $1,000,000 for Pledge fund
  • Seattle Nativity School - $600,000 for two classes fund
  • Books to Prisoners - $530,000 to purchase property for the organization
  • Methow Housing Trust - $500,000 for general & unrestricted support
  • Save the Children Federation Inc - $500,000 for Save the Children's programming in Western Washington
  • Methow Watershed Council - $2,000 (2024) to support work on drought issues, including researching residential dry well solutions

Priority Areas

The foundation focuses exclusively on three areas:

  • Education: Educational programs and institutions
  • Environment: Environmental conservation, watershed protection, and natural resource management
  • Social Services: Community services, housing, and social welfare programs

Geographic Priorities: Most funding is directed to the Pacific Northwest region, with special emphasis on the Methow Valley in Washington State. The foundation also funds projects across various U.S. cities and states when aligned with their mission.

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly detailed on their website, the foundation:

  • Only accepts requests from registered 501(c)(3) organizations
  • Prefers not to provide grants exceeding 10% of an organization's annual budget or 10% of a specific capital project (though exceptions may be made)
  • Prioritizes "funding for specific programs, rather than for administrative or general operations purposes"
  • Typically declines multi-year funding except in unusual circumstances

Governance and Leadership

Leadership:

  • Lisa P. Anderson - President of the Moccasin Lake Foundation (also serves as President of the Norcliffe Foundation and on the Leadership Council for Conservation International)
  • Mark Kranwinkle - President (sources vary)
  • Board members include representatives from the Anderson and Pigott families

The leadership team serves on a voluntary basis without compensation. The foundation operates with "broad charitable purposes so that its grant-making policies may always reflect the diverse interests of the Foundation and its individual board members."

Committee Structure: The foundation's work is organized through three committees:

  • Education Committee
  • Environmental Committee
  • Social Services Committee

Each committee reviews grant proposals in its respective area.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis through the foundation's online grant submission portal at fsrequests.com/moccasinlake.

Process:

  1. Submit a concept paper through the online portal at any time
  2. The foundation will review your submission
  3. If they have questions or need clarification, they will contact you
  4. The foundation does not conduct meetings (in-person, phone, or video) before receiving a formal submission

Important: The foundation has stated that "it is their policy not to meet (either in person or via phone/video call) before a request comes in."

Historical Note: In 2020, the foundation was not accepting concept papers from organizations not previously funded, though this policy was noted as potentially changing. Current application status should be verified through their website.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. Applicants have noted that "the process of submitting a request is easy, and it didn't take long for them to review the request and communicate their decision," though exact timeframes vary.

Success Rates

The foundation does not publicly disclose:

  • Total number of applications received
  • Acceptance/success rates
  • Competitiveness metrics

Known Data: The foundation made 163 grants in 2023, 175 grants in 2022, 172 grants in 2021, and 161 grants in 2020, indicating consistent grantmaking activity of 160-175 grants annually.

Reapplication Policy

The foundation has clear reapplication policies:

General Rule: "We ask that applicants do not make grant requests more than once per year."

After Eligibility Rejection: Organizations can reapply after adjusting their program goals or waiting at least 12 months since their last grant award.

After Board Rejection: Reapplication is permitted, but applicants should wait at least 18 months before resubmitting.

Application Success Factors

Based on information from the foundation's FAQ and guidelines:

Key Success Factors

Alignment with Funding Priorities: The foundation exclusively funds projects in Education, Environment, or Social Services. Geographic alignment with the Pacific Northwest, especially the Methow Valley region, appears to strengthen applications.

Appropriate Grant Size: The foundation prefers grants that do not exceed 10% of an organization's annual budget or 10% of a specific capital project. Applications should be sized appropriately to the organization's scale.

Program-Specific Funding: The foundation prioritizes "funding for specific programs, rather than for administrative or general operations purposes." Applications should focus on concrete program activities rather than general operating support (though some general support grants are made, particularly to organizations in the Methow Valley).

Demonstrated Need: Denials may occur due to "insufficient demonstrated need," so applications must clearly articulate the problem being addressed and why funding is necessary.

Mission Alignment: Denials also occur when there is a "lack of board interest in the organization's mission," suggesting that the foundation's board members' diverse interests play a significant role in funding decisions.

501(c)(3) Status: Only registered 501(c)(3) organizations are eligible. Organizations must meet foundation criteria for eligibility.

Common Reasons for Denial

According to the foundation's FAQ, denials occur due to:

  • Failure to meet foundation criteria
  • Insufficient demonstrated need
  • Lack of board interest in the organization's mission
  • Requests outside the three funding areas (Education, Environment, Social Services)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Focus on program-specific requests: The foundation strongly prefers funding specific programs over general operating support, though exceptions exist for organizations in their priority regions.

  • Right-size your request: Keep grant requests at or below 10% of your annual budget to align with foundation preferences. With grants ranging from $2,000 to over $1,000,000, there's significant flexibility for appropriately scaled requests.

  • Geographic advantage: Organizations located in or serving the Pacific Northwest, particularly the Methow Valley in Washington, appear to have a strategic advantage given the foundation's stated geographic priorities.

  • Don't request meetings before applying: The foundation has a clear policy against pre-application meetings. Submit your concept paper first; they will reach out if they need more information.

  • Respect timing guidelines: Wait a full year between applications, or 18 months after a board rejection. The foundation tracks application frequency.

  • Be patient with multi-year requests: The foundation typically declines multi-year funding except in unusual circumstances, so structure your request accordingly or make the case for why your situation is exceptional.

  • Demonstrate clear need: Applications must show demonstrated need for funding and how the project addresses a specific problem or opportunity.

References

Accessed: December 2025

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