Names Family Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $7,020,410 (2024)
• Total Assets: $178,389,936
• Grant Range: $250 - $1,489,010
• Geographic Focus: Primarily Pierce County, WA; also Washington state, California, and Arizona
• Grants Awarded: 176 grants in 2024; 174 grants in 2023
• Median Grant: $10,000
• Application Deadline: Letters of Inquiry accepted until end of August annually

Contact Details

Address: 1019 Regents Blvd., Suite 201, Fircrest, WA 98466

Website: www.namesfoundation.org

Phone: 253-566-7000, Ext 11

Grants Manager: Lindsey Sauer

• Email: lsauer@namesfoundation.org
• Direct Phone: 253-236-7333

Overview

Established in 1996 by Scott and Evelyn "Sis" Names, the Names Family Foundation has become one of the Pacific Northwest's leading funders of sports, physical activity, and wellness initiatives. The foundation was created by the founders of Scott's Athletic Equipment store in Lakewood, Washington, who worked side-by-side with their family for more than 42 years serving Pierce County. With assets of $178 million, the foundation has awarded over $45 million to projects in and around Puget Sound. The foundation is now in its third generation of family leadership and hired its first outside-the-family Executive Director, Patricia Shults, to lead the organization. In 2023, the foundation partnered with the Aspen Institute Sports & Society Program to release the State of Play Tacoma-Pierce County report, recognizing COVID-19's significant impact on sports and physical activity and convening community partners to research local needs. The foundation is a founding partner with the Aspen Institute's Project Play Communities Council, championing the federal "63 X 30" initiative to help 63 percent of youth become more physically active by 2030.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) process with rolling consideration:

• LOI Period: Accepts Letters of Inquiry annually until the end of August
• Application Method: Online grant software platform (by invitation after LOI approval)
• Grant Range: $250 to approximately $1.5 million
• Typical Awards: Dozens of grants each year to organizations of every size
• Funding Approach: Rarely funds 100% of a project budget; expects applicants to demonstrate other funding sources

Priority Areas

The foundation focuses on health, wellness, and sports initiatives, specifically supporting:

Youth Sports and Recreation

• Youth sports programs and teams
• School physical education programs
• Summer and after-school recreation activities
• Youth golf access programs (e.g., Youth on Course)

Community Centers and Facilities

• Community centers with fitness and recreation spaces
• Public pools and aquatics facilities
• Gymnasiums and athletic facilities
• Parks and recreational public spaces

Inclusive and Accessible Programs

• Programs serving youth populations
• Disability sports and adaptive recreation (e.g., Amputee Blade Runners, Northwest Association for Blind Athletes)
• Organizations offering broad public access to activities
• Programs for children with life-altering medical conditions

Health and Wellness

• Physical activity and fitness initiatives
• Pediatric healthcare related to sports and movement
• Mental health programs connected to physical activity
• Community health initiatives

Parks and Green Spaces

• Community schoolyards and playgrounds
• Urban park development in underserved areas
• Trail systems and outdoor recreation access
• Green infrastructure supporting physical activity

Educational Institutions

• College and university athletic programs
• School-based sports and recreation initiatives
• Athletic facilities at educational institutions

Geographic Priorities

Primary Focus: Pierce County and Tacoma area, Washington

Secondary Focus: Washington state broadly, with selective support in California and Arizona for projects with direct links to the Names family

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the foundation's focus on sports, physical activity, and wellness suggests limited support for:

• Programs unrelated to physical activity or health
• Organizations outside their geographic focus without family connections
• Single-purpose funding without demonstrated additional support
• Projects lacking broad community access

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

President: Kim Hegardt - Third-generation family member, also serves on CHLA Foundation Board of Trustees

Board Structure: Now in its third generation of family leadership, with multiple generations of the Names family serving on the board

Executive Leadership

Executive Director: Patricia Shults - First outside-the-family Executive Director, full-time position with compensation of $170,000 (as reported). Shults has been instrumental in leading the foundation's strategic initiatives, including the State of Play Tacoma-Pierce County research project.

Foundation Philosophy

Kim Hegardt has emphasized the foundation's commitment to pediatric health and sports access, stating in reference to their support of Children's Hospital Los Angeles: "We are so grateful for the life-saving care Chris received at CHLA and for the ongoing partnership with Dr. Mascarenhas and his team." This personal connection to the causes they support reflects the foundation's approach of investing in areas with direct meaning to the family while maintaining broad community impact.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Step 1: Letter of Inquiry (LOI)

• Complete the LOI form through the foundation's online grant software platform
• LOI should include information about the project, timeline, and type of request
• LOIs accepted annually until the end of August
• The LOI can be saved and submitted at any time before the August closure
• The Board of Directors uses the LOI to determine interest in requesting a full proposal

Step 2: Full Proposal (By Invitation Only)

• Only applicants invited after LOI review submit full proposals
• Submitted through the same online platform

Step 3: Post-Award Requirements

• Recipients must complete and sign a grant agreement
• Submit a completion report to the foundation at project end
• Some recipients may have additional reporting requirements

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly stated, though the foundation reviews LOIs after the August deadline and invites full proposals on a selective basis. With 176 grants awarded in 2024, the foundation demonstrates consistent and active grantmaking throughout the year.

Success Rates

While specific success rates are not published, the foundation awards dozens of grants annually (176 in 2024, 174 in 2023) from an unstated number of applications, suggesting a competitive but accessible process for well-aligned organizations.

Reapplication Policy

The foundation does not publish a specific reapplication policy. Organizations are encouraged to contact Grants Manager Lindsey Sauer with questions about reapplication eligibility.

Application Success Factors

Strong Alignment Indicators

Geographic Connection: Projects in Pierce County and Tacoma have the strongest alignment. The foundation states: "We invest primarily in the Pierce County region, and in areas that have a direct link to the Names Family."

Broad Community Access: The foundation prioritizes "organizations that are inclusive and offer broad access to activities and programs." Grantees tend to be organizations that offer public or broad access rather than exclusive or limited-membership programs.

Youth and Disability Focus: Projects "working with youth and disabled populations" receive priority consideration. Past funding includes adaptive sports equipment, disability athletics organizations, and camps for children with medical conditions.

Physical Activity Integration: The foundation's giving "focuses on programs and initiatives that are broadly accessible to communities and youth participants" in sports, physical activity, and fitness.

Successful Grant Examples

Large Capital Projects:

• Trust for Public Land: $1.3M for Community Schoolyards Tacoma Phase 2 Schools
• MultiCare Health Foundation: $1.0M for Mary Bridge Capital Campaign: Inpatient Gym/Therapy Facility
• YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties: $766K for Morgan Family YMCA Rebuild
• City of Fircrest: $3M for Fircrest Pool and Community Center (2019)

Equipment and Program Support:

• Washington Golf Foundation: $30,000 total for Youth on Course program providing affordable golf access to youth aged 6-18
• Friends of American Lake Veterans Golf Course: $270K for Golf Course Driving Range Net Replacement and adaptive equipment

Diverse Organizational Support: Past grantees include community centers (Greater Metroparks Eastside Community Center, Firecrest Community Center, Mountainview Community Center), sports organizations (Gig Harbor Canoe Kayak Racing Team, Washington Youth Soccer Foundation, Tacoma Athletic Commission), health organizations (South Sound Care Foundation, Seattle Children's Hospital), disability sports (Amputee Blade Runners, Northwest Association for Blind Athletes, Camp Korey), educational institutions (University of Puget Sound, Wenatchee Valley College Foundation, University of Washington), and parks organizations (Trust for Public Land, Tacoma Parks Foundation, Washington Trails Association).

Application Best Practices

Demonstrate Funding Diversity: "Ask for what you need from Names Family Foundation as part of your overall funding. We rarely fund 100% of a project or organization budget. You should be able to show that you are seeking or have received other sources of funding."

Show Community Need: The foundation's State of Play Tacoma-Pierce County report found that "Pierce County youth are less physically active than the nation and state" and that "Tacoma has the largest park access gap of any major city in Washington." Applications that address documented community needs and gaps in physical activity access align well with the foundation's research-informed approach.

Emphasize Accessibility and Inclusion: Use language that demonstrates how your program offers "broad access" and serves diverse populations, particularly youth and people with disabilities.

Connect to Foundation Values: The foundation's history stems from Scott and Sis Names' "passion" for athletics and their 42 years serving Pierce County through their athletic equipment business. Applications that honor community service, grassroots sports access, and the transformative power of physical activity resonate with the foundation's origins.

Contact for Questions

The foundation explicitly encourages pre-application contact: "Applicants are invited to reach out to the grants manager directly with questions" about submitting LOIs. Contact Lindsey Sauer at lsauer@namesfoundation.org or 253-236-7333.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Geographic focus is critical: Pierce County and Tacoma organizations have the strongest alignment, though the foundation will consider Washington state and selective out-of-state projects with family connections
• Demonstrate broad community access: The foundation consistently prioritizes programs that serve public and diverse populations over exclusive or limited-access programs
• Youth and disability populations are priorities: Explicitly highlight how your program serves young people and/or people with disabilities to strengthen alignment
• Show diverse funding sources: Never request 100% funding; demonstrate that you have or are actively seeking other revenue sources
• Capital and programming both funded: The foundation supports both large capital projects (facilities, equipment) and ongoing programming, with grants ranging from $250 to over $1 million
• Engage before applying: Contact Grants Manager Lindsey Sauer with questions before the August LOI deadline to ensure your project aligns with current priorities
• Connect to research and data: The foundation values evidence-based approaches, as demonstrated by their State of Play research partnership; applications that cite community needs data and outcomes measurement will resonate

References

1. Names Family Foundation official website - www.namesfoundation.org (Accessed February 2026)
2. Names Family Foundation Apply page - https://www.namesfoundation.org/apply/ (Accessed February 2026)
3. Names Family Foundation About page - https://www.namesfoundation.org/aboutnames (Accessed February 2026)
4. Names Family Foundation State of Play Tacoma Partnership page - https://www.namesfoundation.org/state-of-play-foundation-project (Accessed February 2026)
5. Inside Philanthropy - Names Family Foundation profile - https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant-places/washington-grants/names-family-foundation (Accessed February 2026)
6. Cause IQ - Names Family Foundation profile - https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/names-family-foundation,943250195/ (Accessed February 2026)
7. Instrumentl - Names Family Foundation 990 Report - https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/names-family-foundation (Accessed February 2026)
8. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Names Family Foundation - https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/943250195 (Accessed February 2026)
9. Children's Hospital Los Angeles - "A Winning Assist in Fighting Pediatric Cancer" - https://www.chla.org/blog/winning-assist-fighting-pediatric-cancer (Accessed February 2026)
10. University of Puget Sound - "Tom and Meg Names Family Foundation Commits $10 Million to Puget Sound Athletics" - https://loggerathletics.com/news/2022/10/18/baseball-tom-and-meg-names-family-foundation-commits-10-million-to-puget-sound-athletics.aspx (Accessed February 2026)
11. City of Fircrest - "Names Family Foundation pledges $3 million to new Fircrest Community Center" - https://www.cityoffircrest.net/names-family-foundation-pledges-3-million-new-fircrest-community-center/ (Accessed February 2026)
12. Washington Golf - "Names Family Foundation lends its support to WA Golf Foundation" - https://wagolf.org/news/names-family-foundation-lends-its-support-to-wa-golf-foundation/ (Accessed February 2026)
13. Parks Tacoma - "Parks Champion honored for supporting youth recreation and sports" - https://www.parkstacoma.gov/january-2025-parks-champion/ (Accessed February 2026)
14. Trust for Public Land - "Helen B. Stafford & Jennie Reed Elementary Schools Open New Tree-Filled Community Parks" - https://www.tpl.org/media-room/helen-b-stafford-jennie-reed-elementary-schools-open-new-tree-filled-community-parks (Accessed February 2026)