444 S Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $2,510,625 (2024)
• Total Assets: $45,774,374
• Decision Time: Not applicable (no public application process)
• Grant Range: $10,000 - $410,000
• Number of Grants: 31 awards (2024)
• Geographic Focus: Western U.S., Alaska, and Canada (particularly Northwestern North America)

Contact Details

Address: P.O. Box 1128, Bellevue, WA 98009

Phone: (425) 454-4441

Email: 444s@kamutlake.net

Important Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited letters of inquiry or proposals for funding.

Overview

The 444 S Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1998 in Bellevue, Washington, with total assets of approximately $45.7 million. The foundation is steered in part by the children of the late conservationists Edgar and Peggy Wayburn, continuing their environmental legacy. Edgar Wayburn served as president of the Sierra Club for five terms and was instrumental in protecting wilderness areas, particularly in Alaska. The foundation exclusively funds environmental preservation efforts, with particular emphasis on wilderness, parks, wildlife conservation, and organizations working to prevent development of lands. In 2024, the foundation awarded $2,510,625 across 31 grants, supporting established environmental organizations primarily in the Western United States, Alaska, and Canada.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through a single discretionary grantmaking program focused on environmental conservation. Grants typically range from $10,000 to $410,000, with most awards supporting established conservation organizations working on land and wildlife protection.

Priority Areas

• Wilderness preservation and protection
• Parks and public lands conservation
• Wildlife protection and habitat conservation
• Northern wildlands and forests
• Prevention of land development in ecologically sensitive areas
• Environmental advocacy and policy work
• Climate action and advocacy

What They Don't Fund

The foundation focuses exclusively on environmental conservation. Organizations outside this sector should not expect funding consideration. They do not fund individual projects outside established organizational structures or organizations without proven track records in environmental conservation.

Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

• Cynthia Ann Wayburn - Trustee; environmental activist and member of the Wayburn family of conservationists
• William Morgan Roush (Will Roush) - Trustee; Conservation Director for Wilderness Workshop; trustee of Earthjustice
• James N. Sheldon - Trustee
• Corrie Yackulic - Trustee

The foundation's leadership demonstrates deep connections to the environmental conservation movement, with trustees holding positions in multiple major environmental organizations.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The 444 S Foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and explicitly does not accept unsolicited letters of inquiry or proposals for funding. Grants are awarded at trustee discretion based on their knowledge of organizations and conservation priorities.

Getting on Their Radar

• Trustee Networks: Trustees hold leadership positions at Earthjustice, Ecojustice, Wilderness Workshop, and the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies. Organizations working in coalition with these groups may come to the foundation's attention through these professional networks.
• Regional Conservation Community: Active participation in conservation coalitions in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and Western Canada may increase visibility with trustees deeply embedded in these communities.
• Wayburn Family Legacy: Organizations working on issues aligned with Edgar and Peggy Wayburn's conservation work—particularly Alaska wilderness and national parks expansion—may align with the foundation's interests.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - the foundation operates on trustee discretion rather than formal application cycles.

Success Rates

Not applicable given the lack of a formal application process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the lack of a formal application process.

Application Success Factors

• Established Track Record: The foundation's grantees are established organizations with significant operational history and proven effectiveness
• Geographic Alignment: Strong focus on Northwestern North America (Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Western Canada)
• Issue Alignment with Wayburn Legacy: Projects aligning with wilderness preservation, national parks, and Alaska conservation
• Policy and Advocacy Capacity: Support for organizations like Earthjustice and WildEarth Guardians suggests value placed on advocacy capabilities
• Prevention of Development: Particular interest in organizations working to prevent development of ecologically sensitive lands

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Public Application Process: This foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals
• Family Foundation with Strong Conservation Legacy: Understanding the Wayburn family's conservation history provides insight into foundation values
• Trustee-Driven Grantmaking: Decisions flow from trustees' professional relationships and networks in environmental conservation
• Regional Focus is Critical: Concentration on Northwestern North America is not flexible
• Substantial Grant Sizes: Average grant size approximately $80,000 provides meaningful support to established organizations
• Network Strategy Over Application Strategy: Focus on building visibility in Northwestern conservation networks where trustees are active

References

1. Instrumentl - 444 S Foundation 990 Report. Available at: https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/444-s-foundation
2. Cause IQ - 444S Foundation Profile. Available at: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/444s-foundation,916468421/
3. InfluenceWatch - 444S Foundation Profile. Available at: https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/444s-foundation/
4. Inside Philanthropy - 444S Foundation. Available at: https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant/grants-misc/444s-foundation
5. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - 444 S Foundation. Available at: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/916468421
6. Grantmakers.io - 444 S Foundation Profile. Available at: https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/916468421-444-s-foundation/
7. Candid Foundation Directory - 444s Foundation. Available at: https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile?key=444S001
8. Access Philanthropy - 444S Foundation. Available at: https://accessphilanthropy.com/funder/444s-foundation/