Apex Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- Apex Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals; it identifies its own priorities and projects and then approaches organisations itself, so a formal approach from a small nonprofit will not be considered.
- Its giving is relationship-led, with 91% of its grant dollars in its latest filing going to organisations it had also funded in the two prior filings.
- If it does turn to you, expect a modest sum: about 8 in 10 of its 620 grants to organisations fall between $500 and $75,000, with a median grant of $5,000, though its largest grant reached $750,000, and its total paid giving for the year was $5,707,915.
- No geographic focus is stated, though its filings show grants mainly in Washington, New York and Arizona.
- Given it does not consider unsolicited proposals, a grant writer's best use of time is building visibility with the causes it already supports (arts, culture and history, health promotion and medical research, mental health, education and youth support, and community support) rather than preparing a submission.
Overview
Apex Foundation is a US private foundation based in Bellevue, WA.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
Apex Foundation describes its mission as investing in organisations and programmes that improve lives, strengthen communities and empower individuals. It does not consider unsolicited proposals; it identifies and develops priorities, projects and initiatives, then seeks appropriate organisations that can best implement them. Recorded grant purposes include arts, culture and history, health promotion and medical research, mental health, education and youth support, and community support. Recipients represented in the grants include museums, an aquarium, a research institute and a maritime education organisation.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Washington, New York and Arizona.
How to apply
The Foundation does not consider unsolicited proposals. It identifies and develops priorities, projects and initiatives, then seeks appropriate organisations that can best implement them.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 91% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 620 grants to organisations were $5,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 8%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 7%
- The largest single recipient received 18% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 91% of grant dollars went to organisations Apex Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- 2% of grant dollars went directly to organisations outside the US (France, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada).
- 6% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 202 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $5,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- JED Foundation · Mental health$750,0002024 tax year
- Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason · Health promotion and medical research$750,0002024 tax year
- Seattle Aquarium · Arts, culture, and history$300,0002024 tax year
- Pima Air and Space Museum · Arts, culture, and history$300,0002024 tax year
- JED Foundation · Mental health$250,0002024 tax year
- National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation · Arts, culture, and history$250,0002024 tax year
- National Aviation Hall of Fame · Arts, culture, and history$200,0002024 tax year
- Northwest Maritime Center · Education and youth support$125,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Aurelie McKinstry — Executive Director / Secretary
- Bruce R McCaw — Co-Vice President
- Jolene M McCaw — Co-Vice President
- Craig W Stewart — President
- Ryan Porter — Treasurer
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $10,242,811 | $6,604,049 | $148,897,692 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $9,604,073 | $6,116,422 | $165,605,623 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $8,634,963 | $5,707,915 | $184,846,248 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to Apex Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- info@theapexfoundation.org
- Bellevue, WA
- theapexfoundation.org
Applying to Apex Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- info@theapexfoundation.org
- Bellevue, WA
- theapexfoundation.org