David And Amy Fulton Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $17.3 million (2024)
• Success Rate: N/A (invitation only)
• Decision Time: N/A (discretionary grants)
• Grant Range: $5,000 - $20 million
• Geographic Focus: National, with emphasis on Jewish organizations

Contact Details

• Administrative Office: c/o K&L Gates, 925 4th Avenue, Suite 2900, Seattle, WA 98104
• Phone: (206) 623-7580
• Email: Not publicly available
• Website: No public website

Overview

The David And Amy Fulton Foundation, established in 1997 in Washington State, is a private independent foundation with total assets of $60.4 million as of 2024. The foundation distributed $17.3 million in grants in 2024, representing 97.3% of its total expenses. Founded by David Fulton, former Microsoft Vice President and co-founder of Fox Software (sold to Microsoft in 1992), and his wife Amy (née Chapman), the foundation reflects the couple's personal interests in Jewish heritage, classical music, and education. David is a renowned collector of rare stringed instruments, having owned 30 rare violins before donating them to the foundation in 2018. Amy's Southern Jewish heritage and family history as Holocaust survivors significantly influence the foundation's giving priorities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs but makes discretionary grants ranging from:

• Small grants: $5,000 - $50,000 (community organizations)
• Medium grants: $200,000 - $500,000 (educational institutions)
• Major gifts: $1 million - $20 million (transformational projects)

Priority Areas

• Jewish agencies, temples, and synagogues
• Jewish education and cultural preservation
• Southern Jewish heritage organizations
• Classical music and rare stringed instruments
• Medical research
• General education
• Arts and cultural programs

What They Don't Fund

As a private foundation making discretionary grants only, they do not fund:

• Unsolicited requests
• Organizations without pre-existing relationships
• For-profit entities
• Individual assistance

Governance and Leadership

Governors (all serving without compensation):

• David Fulton - Founder and Governor. Born 1944, studied mathematics at University of Chicago, founded Computer Science Department at Bowling Green State University (1970), co-founded Fox Software (sold to Microsoft 1992), retired as Microsoft VP of Database Products (1994).
• Amy Fulton - Co-founder and Governor. Baton Rouge native with Southern Jewish heritage, computer science graduate from Bowling Green State University (1979). Her mother fled Austria during the Holocaust.
• Richard Fulton - Governor
• Eric Fulton - Governor

David Fulton stated regarding their $20 million gift to the Library of Congress: "My wife Amy's very existence is thanks to the safe haven the United States provided for her mother after her family fled the Holocaust in Austria."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The foundation explicitly states in its IRS filings that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations" and "does not accept unsolicited applications." All grants are made at the discretion of the trustees to organizations with which they have established relationships.

Getting on Their Radar

Based on the foundation's giving patterns and family background, organizations most likely to receive consideration are those with:

• Connections through Jewish community networks, particularly Southern Jewish organizations where Amy Fulton has family ties (Baton Rouge, Shreveport, New Orleans)
• Involvement in classical music, especially organizations working with rare stringed instruments or the Library of Congress Music Division
• Personal connections to the Fulton family through Bowling Green State University or Microsoft alumni networks
• Existing relationships with current grantees like the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made on a discretionary basis without formal timelines.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation operates on an invitation-only basis.

Application Success Factors

Given this foundation's closed application process, traditional success factors don't apply. However, analysis of their giving reveals:

• Personal significance is paramount: The $20 million Stradivari viola gift and $1.25 million to the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience both connect directly to the Fultons' personal interests and Amy's heritage
• Jewish organizations receive consistent support: From small congregations ($5,000) to major cultural institutions ($1.25 million)
• Geographic connections matter: Organizations in Seattle/Bellevue (where they reside) and Louisiana (Amy's home state) appear more frequently
• Excellence in specialized fields: World-class institutions like the Library of Congress receive transformational gifts when aligned with David's collecting interests

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is a discretionary foundation - there is no application process to navigate
• Building authentic relationships through shared interests (Jewish heritage, classical music, Southern history) is the only potential pathway
• The foundation makes both small community grants and transformational multi-million dollar gifts
• Family heritage and personal passions drive all funding decisions
• Amy Fulton's Southern Jewish background and Holocaust family history are central to the foundation's identity
• David Fulton's passion for rare stringed instruments creates unique opportunities for music organizations
• Professional administration through K&L Gates law firm suggests formal proposal materials would be expected if invited to apply

References

• CauseIQ Foundation Profile. Accessed February 4, 2026. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/david-and-amy-fulton-foundation,911811411/
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - IRS Form 990 Data. Accessed February 4, 2026. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/911811411
• Library of Congress Press Release: "Library of Congress Acquires 1690 Stradivari Tuscan-Medici Viola" (January 2025). https://newsroom.loc.gov/news/library-of-congress-acquires-1690-stradivari-tuscan-medici-viola/s/76654220-27e4-4377-bd1b-9d6605a14806
• Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience: "$1.25 Million Gift Announcement" (2025). https://msje.org/museum-receives-transformational-1-25-million-gift/
• Instrumentl 990 Report Analysis. Accessed February 4, 2026. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/david-and-amy-fulton-foundation
• Washington Secretary of State Corporation Records. Accessed February 4, 2026. https://opengovwa.com/corporation/601790055
• Wikipedia: David L. Fulton. Accessed February 4, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_L._Fulton