James D and Sherry Raisbeck Foundation Trust
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation makes contributions only to organisations it has preselected and does not accept unsolicited requests, so a cold application is unlikely to be considered, and your time may be better spent on funders that do accept them.
- Its grants fall mainly in education, the arts and medical research, and nearly all of its grant dollars went to organisations in Washington, though its record includes recipients in other states.
- The median grant was $50,000, and about 8 in 10 of its grants fall between $2,000 and $1,200,000, so that band is typical rather than a ceiling, given a largest grant of about $2,200,000; a request near the median is the most realistic starting point.
- Repeat recipients received 97% of its grant dollars, so this is a relationship-led funder, and any approach should be judged against that.
Overview
James D and Sherry Raisbeck Foundation Trust is a US private foundation based in Seattle, WA.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and web pages about the foundation (raisbeck.com), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
Through their Foundation, James and Sherry Raisbeck have made significant grants in support of education, the arts and medical research. The filings show grants to educational institutions and arts organisations, including colleges, symphonies, opera and ballet companies, as well as cancer-research and health organisations. Grant purposes commonly describe general operating support rather than a narrowly defined project. Nearly all reported grant dollars went to organisations in Washington, although the grant record also includes recipients in other states. The evidence identifies these broad fields and recipient types, but does not describe a public application route beyond contributions to preselected charitable organisations.
Themes
- Education
- Arts
- Medical research
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in 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, 97% 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 64 grants to organisations were $50,000 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 27% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 97% of grant dollars went to organisations James D and Sherry Raisbeck Foundation Trust had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- <1% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 15 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $50,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Cornish College of the Arts · General operating funds - education in the arts$1,215,0002024 tax year
- University of Washington · General operating funds - education$1,000,0002024 tax year
- Seattle Symphony · General operating funds - the arts$472,6692024 tax year
- Pacific Northwest Ballet · General operating funds - the arts$100,0002024 tax year
- Music of Remembrance · General operating funds - the arts$67,5002024 tax year
- Seattle Opera · General operating funds - the arts$60,0002024 tax year
- Friends of Seattle Waterfront · General operating funds - general$55,0002024 tax year
- Spectrum Dance Theater · General operating funds - the arts$50,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Eric Valpey — Trustee
- Bill Grinstein — Trustee
- Sherry L Raisbeck — Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $11,049,824 | $10,516,732 | $13,440,151 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $5,531,546 | $5,384,812 | $10,340,417 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $3,241,403 | $3,127,469 | $8,403,757 | 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
🎯 You've done the research. Now write an application they can't refuse.
Hinchilla combines funder's specific priorities with your organisation's past successful grants and AI analysis of what reviewers want to see.
Data privacy and security by default
Your organisation's past successful grants and experience
AI analysis of what reviewers want to see
A compelling draft application in 10 minutes instead of 10 hours
Spotted something that needs correcting? Let us know
At a glance
Applying to James D and Sherry Raisbeck Foundation Trust?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Seattle, WA
Applying to James D and Sherry Raisbeck Foundation Trust?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Seattle, WA