Community Foundation of Snohomish County

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $10.3 million (2023)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: ~4 weeks
• Grant Range: $1,000 - $6,000
• Geographic Focus: Snohomish County, Washington

Contact Details

Website: https://www.cf-sc.org/ Phone: (425) 212-4056 Grant Inquiries: Musu Bakoto Sawo, Director of Fundraising and Grants (musu@cf-sc.org) Address: 2823 Rockefeller Avenue, Everett, WA

Overview

The Community Foundation of Snohomish County was established in 2001 to strengthen communities across Snohomish County through strategic grantmaking and donor partnerships. Since its founding, the foundation has grown from $275,000 to over $60 million in assets, now managing more than 150 funds. In 2023 alone, the foundation awarded $10.3 million in grants, with a remarkable $1.8 million directed to BIPOC-led organizations—up from $370,000 in 2022. This dramatic shift reflects the foundation's intentional positioning as a "disruptor" in pursuit of racial equity under CEO Karri Matau's leadership since 2019. The foundation has earned a perfect 4/4 star rating from Charity Navigator and has awarded $29.3 million across 806 grants since 2014.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Youth Initiative Grant: Up to $5,000 (Organizations serving intersectionally marginalized youth, mental health, leadership programs; rolling applications)

Human Services Endowment Fund: $2,500 - $5,000 (Basic needs, health services; biennial cycle; established 2003)

Rick Steves' Europe Fund - Capital Grants: $1,000 - $5,000 (Senior facility construction/renovation; volunteer involvement prioritized)

Rick Steves' Europe Fund - Capacity Grants: Up to $5,000 (Infrastructure improvements for grassroots/BIPOC organizations)

Rick Steves' Europe Fund - Racial Equity Grants: Up to $5,000 (Systems change addressing racial equity)

General Discretionary Grants: Up to $6,000 (Various community needs across multiple sectors)

Priority Areas

• Racial equity and systems change initiatives
• BIPOC, immigrant, and refugee-led organizations
• Organizations with budgets under $1-2 million
• Intersectionally marginalized populations
• Community-led solutions with lived experience leadership
• Education, arts, environment, health, and human services

What They Don't Fund

• Organizations with budgets exceeding $2 million (for most programs)
• Programs outside Snohomish County
• Multiple applications from same organization per cycle

Governance and Leadership

CEO Karri Matau (since 2019): "Sometimes folks really see us as a disruptor, and that's an intentional strategy that our board has chosen to advance... we're showing up in our communities of color, where our communities of color have asked to show up."

Board Chairs: Nashika Stanbro and Dr. Gloria Ngezaho lead a board that voted to become a disruptive organization advancing racial equity, shifting investment practices to prioritize community impact over maximum returns.

Key Staff: Musu Bakoto Sawo (Director of Fundraising and Grants), Olympia Edwards (Director of Community Coalitions), DanVo'nique Bletson-Reed (Nonprofit Program Coordinator)

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Applications submitted through online grant portal at cf-sc.org/non-profits/grant-opportunities/. Must be 501(c)(3) organizations, public agencies, or educational institutions serving Snohomish County. Budget limits vary by program ($1-2 million cap). One application per organization per cycle. Free pre-application workshops and over 3,000 hours of annual nonprofit consulting available.

Decision Timeline

Approximately 30 days from committee review for most programs. Grant opportunities typically posted in late March annually.

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed, though foundation has awarded 806 grants totaling $29.3 million since 2014.

Reapplication Policy

Contact Musu@cf-sc.org for guidance on reapplying after unsuccessful attempts.

Application Success Factors

The foundation's strategic positioning as an equity-focused disruptor requires applications to demonstrate deep understanding of systemic change. CEO Karri Matau emphasizes "community-led action" and programs designed with—not for—affected communities. Successful applications articulate how work addresses root causes rather than symptoms, using explicit systems change language. The dramatic funding increase to BIPOC-led organizations ($370K to $1.8M) signals genuine commitment to this approach.

Priority goes to organizations under $1 million budgets described as "grassroots organizations traditionally overlooked by grant opportunities." Applications serving intersectionally marginalized populations (e.g., "LGBTQ+ BIPOC youth," "immigrant and refugee youth with disabilities") align strongly with priorities. For capital grants, volunteer involvement strengthens applications.

Recent grantees include Cornerstone Medical Service Free Clinic, Girls on the Run Snohomish County, Project SeaWolf Coastal Protection, Sky Valley Food Bank, and Mountlake Terrace Community Senior Center. The CEO personally meets 100 new community members annually—relationship building through workshops and community events strengthens applications.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Lead with equity: Frame all work through racial equity and systems change lens—this is the foundation's core strategic commitment
• Embrace being small: Organizations under $1M budgets are prioritized; grassroots status is an advantage, not a limitation
• Center lived experience: Demonstrate authentic community leadership and design, particularly from BIPOC/immigrant/refugee communities
• Build relationships proactively: Utilize free workshops, consulting hours, and networking—CEO meets 100 new partners yearly
• Choose programs strategically: With multiple grant streams but one application allowed per cycle, select the best fit carefully
• Think intersectionally: Programs serving multiply-marginalized populations (LGBTQ+ BIPOC youth, etc.) strongly align with priorities
• Contact for support: Foundation explicitly welcomes questions to musu@cf-sc.org—use this resource

References

1. Community Foundation of Snohomish County Official Website - https://www.cf-sc.org/ (Accessed March 10, 2026)
2. Grant Opportunities Page - https://www.cf-sc.org/non-profits/grant-opportunities/ (Accessed March 10, 2026)
3. Charity Navigator Rating - https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/943188703 (Accessed March 10, 2026)
4. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/943188703 (Accessed March 10, 2026)
5. "It's about generosity, says Community Foundation's next leader" - HeraldNet.com (Accessed March 10, 2026)
6. Karri Matau and Matt Morton - Philanthropy Northwest Podcast (Accessed March 10, 2026)
7. "Four Practices Community Foundations are Taking to Advance Their Racial Equity Work" - Philanthropy Northwest (Accessed March 10, 2026)
8. Inside Philanthropy Profile - https://www.insidephilanthropy.com (Accessed March 10, 2026)
9. Foundation Directory - Candid (Accessed March 10, 2026)
10. 2023 Audited Financial Statements - https://www.cf-sc.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2023-CFSC-Audited-Financial-Statements_FINAL.pdf (Accessed March 10, 2026)