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The Seattle Foundation

Annual Giving
$85.0M
Grant Range
$1K - $0.2M
Decision Time
2w

The Seattle Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $85+ million
  • Total Assets: $1+ billion
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: 1-2 weeks for approved grantees; varies by program
  • Grant Range: $1,000 - $200,000+ (varies by program)
  • Geographic Focus: Greater Seattle region, King County, and Snohomish County (Washington State)

Contact Details

Address: 1601 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1900, Seattle, WA 98101-3615

Phone: 206.515.2111

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://www.seattlefoundation.org

Grant Application Support: [email protected]

Overview

Founded in 1946, The Seattle Foundation is the oldest and largest community foundation in Washington State, managing over $1 billion in assets. The foundation serves as an agent of change, igniting powerful philanthropy to create a region of shared prosperity, belonging, and justice for all. Under the leadership of President and CEO Alesha Washington (appointed in 2022), the foundation has deepened its commitment to racial equity and community-led solutions. The foundation's grantmaking is guided by its Blueprint for Impact framework, which emphasizes investments in communities most impacted by racism and poverty. In 2024, the Evergreen Impact Housing Fund earned the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Secretary's Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships, recognizing the foundation's innovative approach to affordable housing development.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Neighbor to Neighbor (N2N)

  • Grant Range: $1,000 - $7,500
  • Focus: Grassroots efforts in South Seattle, White Center, Kent, and SeaTac/Tukwila
  • Eligibility: Organizations with budgets generally under $200,000 that have limited access to traditional funding
  • Application: Quarterly deadlines (January 30, April 30, July 30, October 30)
  • Method: Online application system; contact with Program Consultant recommended before applying

Fund for Inclusive Recovery

  • Grant Range: $200,000 per year for 3-4 years (multi-year grants)
  • Focus: BIPOC-led organizations addressing critical needs from pandemic impacts
  • Priority Areas: Civic engagement, economic justice, reproductive justice, health and wellness
  • Application: Invitation-based; rounds conducted periodically (2022, 2024)
  • Total Commitment: $50 million goal over five years

REPAIR Initiative

  • Total Investment: Minimum $25 million over five years (2021-2026)
  • Focus: Black-led organizations in King County
  • Framework: Racially Equitable Philanthropy Aimed at Initiating Reparations
  • Purpose: Addresses philanthropic underinvestment in Black communities

Weaving Wealth

  • Launch: 2023
  • Focus: Indigenous framework supporting Native-led nonprofits and community movements in King County
  • Approach: Funding and advocacy to amplify Native-led work

Medical Funds Program

  • Total Available: $200,000 annually
  • Grant Range: Typically up to $40,000 per organization
  • Focus: Medical research benefiting the community and healthcare needs of low-income children

The Morgan Fund

  • Focus: Performing arts organizations specializing in dance and theatre
  • Geographic Scope: Puget Sound or Washington, DC regions
  • Type: Donor-advised fund with specific application cycles

Whitehorse Foundation

  • Geographic Focus: Snohomish County
  • Purpose: Supporting children, youth, and families to thrive
  • Structure: Supporting organization of Seattle Foundation since 1989

Priority Areas

The foundation's current strategic priorities focus on:

  • Housing: Expanding innovative financing tools to increase affordable housing and support BIPOC developers
  • Community Power Building: Investments in BIPOC-led and rooted organizations, movements, and coalitions
  • Racial Equity and Justice: Community-led strategies and movements that transform systems through power-building and policy change
  • Climate Justice: Supporting environmental justice work
  • Civic Engagement: Voter education and civic participation
  • Economic Justice: Addressing wealth disparities and economic opportunity
  • Transit and Childcare Access: Key issues affecting community well-being

Priority is given to efforts led by people from under-invested communities, including Black, Indigenous, immigrant/refugee, and low-income communities.

What They Don't Fund

Specific funding exclusions are not publicly detailed on their website. Applicants should contact the foundation directly or consult specific program guidelines to understand eligibility restrictions.

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

Alesha Washington, President and CEO (appointed 2022)

  • Washington brings a vision centered on joy, racial equity, and courageous leadership
  • Key philosophy: "We need to lean much more deeply into being bold in conversations and decision-making, learning together, and truly believing that we are a collective whose joy and well-being are tied to one another."
  • On courage: "Do we show up when it really matters? Are we willing to stand publicly on the things that we think we agree to behind closed doors about an organization, our values, what we believe in?"

Senior Leadership Team:

  • Larry Buycks, Chief Financial Officer
  • Mary Rennekamp, Chief Philanthropy Officer
  • Michele Frix, Executive Vice President

Board of Trustees

Board Leadership:

  • Dr. Ed Taylor: Former Board Chair (2022-2024), continues as board member; Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs at University of Washington
  • Amy K. Carter: Governance Committee Chair
  • Colleen Echohawk: Impact & Engagement Committee Co-Chair
  • Karla Horwitz: Audit Committee Chair; founder and managing director of The Horwitz Group

Recent Trustee Appointments (2024):

  • Lucy Lee Helm: Retired from Starbucks Coffee Company, former Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, and Chief Partner Officer
  • Jason Malinowski: Chief Investment Officer of the Seattle City Employees' Retirement System

Other Trustees:

  • Dr. Benjamin Danielson

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Seattle Foundation uses an online grants portal for most applications. The application process varies by program:

General Process (for funds using LOI system):

  1. Create an account at the Seattle Foundation grants portal
  2. Submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) describing your project and request
  3. If determined to meet funding criteria, you will be invited to submit a formal application
  4. Applications are reviewed, with proposals accepted on a rolling basis for some funds and reviewed at quarterly board meetings

Specific Program Requirements:

  • Neighbor to Neighbor: Contact the Program Consultant before applying to ensure strong fit with current funding strategies; submit online application by quarterly deadlines
  • Fund for Inclusive Recovery: Invitation-based; not open to unsolicited applications
  • REPAIR Initiative: Framework-based funding; contact foundation for information on application opportunities
  • Medical Funds: Specific application guidelines available on current grant opportunities page

Contact for Application Support:

  • General inquiries: [email protected] or 206.515.2109
  • Technical support: [email protected]

Key Advice from Seattle Foundation: "Please keep your proposals concise and specific" - the foundation is interested in how a grant would help your organization advance its mission.

Decision Timeline

  • Pre-approved/returning grantees: Checks typically cut within 1 week of grant approval
  • New or less common grantees: Process typically takes 2 weeks
  • Programs with board review: Vary by program; some use quarterly board meetings
  • Rolling basis programs: Reviewed continuously throughout the year

Specific timelines vary significantly by program and fund. Contact the foundation for program-specific timelines.

Success Rates

Seattle Foundation does not publicly disclose overall success rates for grant applications. Given the foundation's size and profile, competition for grants is likely significant, consistent with larger foundations (over $10 million annually) which typically have lower success rates due to larger applicant pools.

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies are not publicly documented. Applicants should contact program staff directly to inquire about reapplication timelines and requirements for their specific program of interest.

Application Success Factors

Foundation-Specific Insights:

1. Alignment with Community-Led Priorities The foundation prioritizes grassroots, community-led efforts. Organizations led by people from under-invested communities—particularly BIPOC, Indigenous, immigrant/refugee, and low-income communities—are central to their funding strategy.

2. Focus on Systems Change Seattle Foundation's Blueprint for Impact emphasizes investments that transform systems through power-building and policy change, not just direct services. Applications should demonstrate how work contributes to broader systemic transformation.

3. Multi-Year Partnership Approach Recent grantmaking trends show a preference for multi-year, flexible funding that supports organizational capacity and sustainability. The Fund for Inclusive Recovery grants ($200,000/year for 3-4 years) exemplify this approach.

4. Joy-Centered Work President and CEO Alesha Washington emphasizes centering joy in the foundation's work: "But the center of our work for me since I've come on almost two years ago really is about joy. In the giving that we do, how do we center our racial equity?" Applications should reflect not just challenges but the positive community vision and joy in the work.

5. Budget Size Considerations For programs like Neighbor to Neighbor, smaller organizations (budgets under $200,000) with limited access to traditional funding sources are prioritized. Don't assume you're "too small" to receive funding.

6. Pre-Application Communication The foundation explicitly recommends contacting program consultants before applying, particularly for N2N grants, to ensure your organization is a strong fit with current funding strategies. Use this opportunity to build relationships and clarify alignment.

7. Concise and Specific Proposals The foundation values concise, specific proposals that clearly articulate how grant funding will help advance organizational mission and community impact.

8. Examples of Recent Funded Work:

  • Bellwether Housing's Aries at Bitter Lake: 200-unit affordable housing project funded through Evergreen Impact Housing Fund
  • Fair Vote Washington, Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, Transportation Choices Coalition: civic engagement and policy work
  • Environmental Professionals of Color: environmental justice initiatives

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Centering racial equity is non-negotiable: The foundation's strategic direction, REPAIR framework, Weaving Wealth initiative, and Fund for Inclusive Recovery all demonstrate deep commitment to BIPOC-led and community-rooted work. Applications must clearly demonstrate racial equity analysis and practice.

  • Build relationships before applying: Contact program staff to discuss fit, especially for Neighbor to Neighbor. The foundation values authentic relationships and community connection over transactional grantmaking.

  • Emphasize community leadership and systems change: The foundation prioritizes grassroots organizing, power-building, and policy advocacy over traditional service delivery. Show how your work builds community power and addresses root causes.

  • Don't overlook smaller grant programs: N2N grants ($1,000-$7,500) may seem modest but provide critical support for grassroots organizations and can open doors to deeper relationships with the foundation.

  • Multi-year thinking: While not all programs offer multi-year grants, demonstrate organizational sustainability and long-term community impact vision in applications.

  • Geographic specificity matters: Different programs serve different geographic areas (South Seattle vs. King County vs. Snohomish County). Ensure your organization and work align with program geography.

  • Show authentic courage and boldness: Washington's emphasis on courage and showing up publicly on values suggests the foundation appreciates applicants who take principled stands and demonstrate bold, transformative approaches to equity and justice.

References

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