Fries Family Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests and makes contributions only to organisations it has preselected, so a cold application is unlikely to be considered.
- Your best route is a warm introduction through someone who already knows the foundation.
- Its recorded grants cover research, conservation, wildlife care and climate work, so a group in those fields fits its record, though the filing does not set out a wider programme or eligibility rules.
- Most of its grants are modest: half of its five grants to organisations were $10,000 or less, and the median grant was $10,000, so a request of about that size matches its record.
- In its most recent filing, none of its grant dollars went to organisations it had funded in the two filings before, so a past grant should not be taken as a basis for expecting another.
Overview
Fries Family Foundation is a US private foundation based in Seattle, WA.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The filed grant record shows support for a university research fund, alongside general support for charitable activities and general support. The recorded recipients include a conservation organisation, a wildlife shelter and a climate-focused organisation, as well as a university foundation supporting a professor’s research. This is a varied record of organisational giving across research, conservation, wildlife care and climate work, with some awards described only as general support. The filing does not state a wider funding programme or explain which organisations are eligible to request support. Its grants reached organisations in California and Washington, but those payments alone do not establish a geographic restriction or preference.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in California and Washington.
How to apply
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, none 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 5 grants to organisations were $10,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 86% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 0% of grant dollars went to organisations Fries Family Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
Grants
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- University of California Irvine Foundation · Support for professor don hoffman's research fund$200,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Karen Fries — Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $19,154 | $13,000 | $5,010,954 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $28,026 | $18,250 | $15,730,344 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $377,669 | $200,000 | $15,897,608 | 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
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At a glance
Applying to Fries Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Seattle, WA
Applying to Fries Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Seattle, WA