Connecting philanthropists with community organizations and opportunities, Seattle Foundation channels resources to nonprofits that are creating positive change and addressing challenges in our region. The Foundation catalyzes public, private, community and philanthropic investment — of funding, knowledge and people — to support promising long-term initiatives aimed at advancing social change and creating real impact for the people of Greater Seattle.

One of the greatest challenges in the region is the rising economic inequality and continued racial inequities that are creating two Seattles. These two Seattles have vastly different experiences of the region, with large gaps in well-being, education, quality of life, health and more. Through philanthropy, Seattle Foundation is working to address that widening disparity so that everyone shares in the community’s collective prosperity. The Foundation’s approach is to focus on systems change, with people at the center of the work, to reduce these disparities. It aims to change policies and practices that are root causes of chronic community challenges, in partnership with the private, public and social sectors. A few of the Foundation’s efforts to increase opportunities and equity for all in Greater Seattle include:

  • Seattle Schools Arts Plan. Working in a public-private partnership, Seattle Foundation supports The Creative Advantage, the arts plan of Seattle Public Schools, to ensure that all students in the district have the opportunity to learn through the arts, helping them achieve success in school and in life.
  • The Voter Education Fund. Working with King County Elections, the fund is providing $400,000 to local nonprofits that execute strategies to increase voting participation in historically underserved or low voting populations. The grants will be distributed through a competitive process and evaluation.
  • Assistance for refugees and immigrants. In partnership with the City of Seattle, the Foundation is committing funds to assist immigrant and refugee children in Seattle Public Schools and their families with counseling, legal services and community education forums that share information about immigrant rights and resources.

As a civic leader, Seattle Foundation brings together philanthropists, community leaders, academics, practitioners and, most importantly, residents, to explore new ways of thinking about community needs and pathways to greater opportunity. This leadership has launched numerous high impact programs and nonprofits, including The Roadmap Project, SkillUp Washington, Parent-Child Home Program and, most recently, Seattle Region Partnership.

The Foundation began in 1946 when Seattle business leader Dr. Richard Fuller, who founded the Seattle Art Museum and helped start the Pacific Science Center, worked with other community leaders to enrich life here. In that first year, the Foundation raised $289,000 for an endowment and distributed $8,000 in grants. Now, the Foundation oversees nearly $1 billion in charitable assets and committed bequests, and invests more than $100 million in grants annually to nonprofit organizations that are working to make Greater Seattle a more vibrant and equitable place, with opportunity for all.

Learn about ways to invest in the community with Seattle Foundation.