April 06, 2023 How the Ballmers Aim to Build and Diversify the Early Ed Workforce in Washington State April 06, 2023/ Connie Matthiessen The foundation of this billionaire donor couple has made early childhood education a priority, most recently in an effort to strengthen the struggling early educator workforce through a mix of strategies. Read More
March 31, 2023 The AGC Education Foundation Is Exclusively Focused on Washington’s Construction Industry March 31, 2023/ Alyssa Ochs The AGC Education Foundation, which has been operating since 1980 and prioritizes construction-related funding in Washington, aims to support the next generation of construction industry professionals.Read More
June 09, 2022 Funder Spotlight: How Washington’s Satterberg Foundation Evolved to Focus on Racial Justice June 09, 2022/ Ade Adeniji In our latest funder spotlight, we look at the Washington-based Satterberg Foundation and its unique approach to promoting a just society and a sustainable environment. Read More
September 10, 2021 The ArtsFund in Seattle: How Does It Make Grants? And Who Gets Support? September 10, 2021/ Alyssa Ochs ArtsFund, an important backer of the arts in Seattle, has a history dating back to 1969. Here are a few key things to know about how this local grantmaker operates. Read More
September 10, 2021 Who Runs the Aven Foundation and How it Gives in the Pacific Northwest September 10, 2021/ Alyssa Ochs Tech leaders John Stanton and Theresa Gillespie created the Aven Foundation to channel their philanthropic pursuits. Here are details about the Aven Foundation’s interests in youth sports and other Washington State causes. Read More
September 07, 2021 How the Aldarra Foundation Builds from Boeing’s Success to Support Seattle Nonprofits September 07, 2021/ Alyssa Ochs June Boeing, the wife of the late Bill Boeing Jr., runs this foundation, which has been on the local funding scene since 2002. We take a look at where grants have been flowing lately before the foundation closes its doors in 2025.Read More
August 17, 2021 Where the NBCUniversal Foundation Is Focusing Its Local Giving in the U.S. August 17, 2021/ Alyssa Ochs This media giant’s corporate funding arm awards millions of dollars to various regions to address community challenges. We take a closer look.Read More
June 08, 2021 The Pandemic Within the Pandemic: 3 Things to Know About a Big Investment in Behavioral Health June 08, 2021/ Paul Karon The Ballmer Group's landmark $38 million commitment aims to expand the pipeline of training for behavioral health practitioners in Washington State. We take a look at how giving seeks to address growing mental health concerns.Read More
October 06, 2020 Here’s How One Grantmaker Supports Native-Led Nonprofits October 06, 2020/ Alyssa Ochs While Native American communities are barely on the radars of funders in many parts of the country, the Northwest Area Foundation devotes 40 percent of grant dollars to Native-led organizations. What does that look like in practice?Read More
April 27, 2020 First Responders: Philanthropy Battles COVID-19 in the Pacific Northwest April 27, 2020/ Alyssa Ochs After COVID-19 first exploded in Washington state, the philanthropic sector there moved quickly to respond—creating a template for collaborative action that’s now been emulated across the nation.Read More
February 18, 2020 Three Things to Know About Washington’s William and Pamela Ayer Foundation February 18, 2020/ Alyssa Ochs Here are the top three things Washington grantseekers should know about the William and Pamela Ayer Foundation, a low-key funder with ties to the local aviation industry.Read More
November 18, 2019 In the Pacific Northwest, a Funder That's Been Ahead of the Curve November 18, 2019/ Diana Hembree As he ends a 20-year stint leading the Russell Family Foundation, Richard Woo leaves behind an institution that learned to listen closely to front-line communities and fully embrace impact investing. What does that look like in practice? Read More
July 27, 2019 A Closer Look at the Partners Working Together for a Fair 2020 Census in Seattle July 27, 2019/ Alyssa Ochs Seattle groups are banding together in unprecedented ways to ensure that every person counts in the 2020 census. Here are the major players who are making—and receiving—2020 census grants in Washington.Read More
July 25, 2019 A Northwest Funder Takes a Local Focus to Protect Threatened Ecosystems July 25, 2019/ Julia Travers Regional grantmakers are working to hold the line on environmental issues as the Trump administration undercuts protections for the natural world. A case in point is the Russell Family Foundation in Washington State. Read More
May 25, 2019 How a Health Legacy Funder is Addressing the Addiction Crisis in Spokane May 25, 2019/ Alyssa Ochs The Empire Health Foundation (EHF), a health legacy funder in Spokane, Washington, has made health equity a centerpiece of its strategy. Two areas it’s prioritizing as part of this focus are obesity and addiction.Read More
December 21, 2018 The Environment and More: Where a Natural Gas Company in the Northwest Sends its Grants December 21, 2018/ Alyssa Ochs There’s plenty in the philanthropy of energy companies to inspire cynicism. But given the expanding grantmaking of firms like NW Natural, it’s important for nonprofits—including green groups—to pay attention to who’s making grants and how to get in on the action. Read More
December 17, 2018 The (Affordable) House Next Door: Local Philanthropy's Expanding Role in the Housing Crisis December 17, 2018/ Julia Travers With the housing crisis accelerating and federal support shrinking, the Orcas Island Community Foundation in Washington State is the latest local funder undertaking new work in this space—including an advocacy role. Read More
November 01, 2018 A Family Foundation Bridges Old and New with a Gift for Children’s Mental Health November 01, 2018/ Caitlin Reilly After undergoing a strategy shift several years ago, a once sleepy family foundation in Washington, D.C. has emerged as a force in the region’s funding scene. We look at its latest move. Read More
July 26, 2018 Individual Mandate: How Artist Trust in Washington State Provides Support July 26, 2018/ Alyssa Ochs We write often about the handful of national funders that support individual artists. But there are also some local and regional funders who operate in this space, including Artist Trust, which is based in Seattle. Read More
July 01, 2018 The Innovia Foundation: A Northwest Funder Adopts a New Name and Looks to Up Its Game July 01, 2018/ Alyssa Ochs The Inland Northwest Community Foundation changed its name after 44 years, to the Innovia Foundation, and is looking to be a more powerful catalyst of change in its region. Read More