Foundations that fund environmental groups in Washington
These 25 foundations made grants to environmental groups in Washington in the most recent IRS filing I have for each. None of them ticked the box for giving only to preselected organizations, and each filing gives application instructions or a website. That doesn't prove a foundation takes applications, and some on this list may not. The text below is copied from the filings, most of them for tax year 2024, so check a foundation's website or call before you apply.
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The Russell Family Foundation
- $75,000 to Puget Sound Restoration Fund, Bainbridge Island: General operating support
- $70,000 to Kulshan Carbon Trust, Bellingham: Expanding farmer access to regenerative soil amendments through the community biochar...
- $60,000 to Washington Water Trust, Seattle: Farms and fish: climate-resilient and fish-friendly water for farming in the sammamish...
How to apply: Letters of inquiry are received through an online grant making program (foundant technologies) that is accessed through the trff website and may be invited to submit full proposals. The information and materials requested vary for each program but typically include project...
Deadlines: Grant cycle deadlines may be accessed on the trff website.
Restrictions: Employee matching gifts and discretionary grants must be given to a nonprofit 501(c)(3) or completed through expenditure responsibility if it is for a charitable purpose.
The Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation
- $15,000 to Washington Conservation Action Education Fund, Seattle: Environmental protection
- $10,000 to Conservation Nw, Seattle: Environmental protection
- $10,000 to Puget Soundkeeper Alliance, Seattle: Environmental protection
How to apply: The filing names a contact. Use the filings link above.
Deadlines: February 15, august 15
Weyerhaeuser Family Foundationinc
- $25,000 to Mt Adams Resource Stewards, Glenwood: Mt. Adams forest management monitoring capacity building
- $25,000 to Chelan-Douglas Land Trust, Wenatchee: Nason ridge community forest: building community and forest resilience
- $25,000 to Whatcom Land Trust, Bellingham: Stewart mountain community forest
How to apply: See wfamilyfoundation.org for details
Deadlines: See wfamilyfoundation.org for details
Restrictions: See wfamilyfoundation.org for details
Ridge Road Foundation C/O Scott Kim
- $35,000 to Fuse Innovation Fund, Seattle: Contribution to be used for charitable purposes
- $11,000 to Sightline Institute, Seattle: Contribution to be used for charitable purposes
- $10,000 to Clean and Prosperous America Education Fund, Seattle: Contribution to be used for charitable purposes
How to apply: Written request stating purpose for which the contribution will be used
The Schmidt Family Foundation
- $2,513,000 to Grist Magazine Inc, Seattle: Capacity building
- $200,000 to Spark Northwest, Seattle: Encouraging a just transition away from fossil fuels
- $175,000 to Washington Maritime Blue, Seattle: Ocean stewardship and research
How to apply: Online process, please see details at the websites: https://tsffoundation.org/ https://www.schmidtmarine.org/
Deadlines: Online process, please see details at: https://tsffoundation.org/. Https://www.schmidtmarine.org/
Restrictions: Online process, please see details at the websites: https://tsffoundation.org/ https://www.schmidtmarine.org/
Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation Trust
- $30,000 to Earthgen, Seattle: General operating (rose grant)
- $30,000 to Islandwood, Bainbridge Island: Unrestricted programming (rose grant)
- $20,000 to Arboretum Foundation, Seattle: Restricted programming (rose grant)
How to apply: Online form submission through our website.
Deadlines: No
Restrictions: Focus is oregon.
The Kresge Foundation
- $300,000 to Ecoadapt, Bainbridge Island: General operating support
- $250,000 to Earth Economics, Tacoma: Project support grant for the deployment of nature-based solutions to enhance climate...
- $100,000 to Ecoadapt, Bainbridge Island: Project support for 6th national adaptation forum.
How to apply: See www.kresge.org or email grantsmanagement@kresge.org
Deadlines: See www.kresge.org or email grantsmanagement@kresge.org
Restrictions: See www.kresge.org or email grantsmanagement@kresge.org
Gary E Milgard Family Foundation - Mark
- $75,000 to Communities for A Healthy Bay, Tacoma: Commencement bay program
- $25,000 to Harbor Wildwatch, Gig Harbor: Marine life center operations / upgrades
- $20,000 to Re Sources, Bellingham: Pollution free salish sea
How to apply: A letter of inquiry is the first step in the grant application process. The letter of inquiry is reviewed, and if approved, the applicant will be requested to provide a full application.
Deadlines: There is no deadline for submitting a letter of inquiry.
Restrictions: All applicant organizations must qualify as tax-exempt organizations under the internal revenue code. Certain proposals are ineligible for funding, such as: annual funds, galas, or other special event fundraising activities; sectarian...
Forest Foundation
- $20,000 to Foothills Rails-To-Trails Coalition, Puyallup: Buckley foothills trailhead
- $10,000 to Forevergreen Trails, Tacoma: General operating support
- $5,000 to Foothills Rails-To-Trails Coalition, Puyallup: General operating support and capacity building
How to apply: Go to www.forestfound.org website, click "begin application", click "apply", and submit a "letter of inquiry" through the online application process.
Deadlines: Go to website, click "guidelines" link, then click "application timeline" link
Restrictions: See attached "forest foundation mission & other foundation details"
First Fed Foundation
- $25,000 to Re Sources, Bellingham: Economic development
- $5,000 to Feiro Marine Life Center, Port Angeles: Community support
- $5,000 to North Cascades Institute, Sedrowoolley: Community support
How to apply: See: firstfedcf.org/grants.
Deadlines: See: firstfedcf.org/grants.
Restrictions: See: firstfedcf.org/grants.
Wilburforce Foundation C/O Lisa Weinstein
- $180,000 to Ecoadapt, Bainbridge Island: Environmental - general operations and climate adaptation implementation support
- $75,000 to Cascade Forest Conservancy, Vancouver: Environmental - general support 2024
How to apply: See foundation's website at wilburforce.org for grant guidelines
Deadlines: See foundation's website at wilburforce.org for grant guidelines
Restrictions: See foundation's website at wilburforce.org for grant guidelines
Lucky Seven Foundation
- $65,100 to Hanford Challenge, Seattle: General & Unrestricted
- $10,000 to Re Sources, Bellingham: General & Unrestricted
How to apply: Www.fsrequests.com/luckyseven
Deadlines: Www.fsrequests.com/luckyseven
Restrictions: Www.fsrequests.com/luckyseven
The Jacob and Hilda Blaustein Foundation Inc
- $35,000 to Toxic Free Future, Seattle: general support for Safer States
- $35,000 to Toxic Free Future, Seattle: support for the Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families campaign
How to apply: Letter
Restrictions: This organization does not make gifts or contributions to individuals.
Park Foundation Inc
- $45,000 to Toxic Free Future, Seattle: Project support
- $25,000 to Grist Magazine Inc, Seattle: General operating support
How to apply: Written request identifying organzation and purpose of funds
Deadlines: Quarterly deadlines - vary year to year date is first friday of every quarter
Ben B Cheney Foundation Inc
- $25,000 to Harbor Wildwatch, Gig Harbor: Harbor wildwatch marine life center: increasing stem interest & aptitude for pierce...
- $20,000 to Foothills Rails-To-Trails Coalition, Puyallup: Buckley foothills trailhead and pavilion project
Restrictions: Washington, oregon, and selected areas of northern california
Millsdavis Foundation
- $25,000 to Cascade Forest Conservancy, Vancouver: Protecting mature forests through collaboration
- $10,000 to Columbia Land Trust, Vancouver: Large-scale forestland protection in the gorge phase 1
How to apply: All applications must be submitted through the foundations online application portal to be considered for funding.
Deadlines: The application process is open from september 1 through january 1 annually.
Restrictions: Program goal: the goal of the millsdavis foundation is to promote a sustainable future through the amelioration of social and environmental challenges. Program funding: the millsdavis foundation's areas of interest are programs that...
The Cynthia & George Mitchell Foundation
- $26,000 to Whidbey Environmental Action Network, Langley: For the restoration and preservation of Whidbey Island and Pacific Northwest
- $5,000 to Hanford Challenge, Seattle: To create a future for the Hanford Nuclear site which secures human health and safety,...
How to apply: Grant inquiries and grant funding requests are made through the Foundation's website, www.cgmf.org.
Restrictions: The Foundation accepts grant requests that focus on the following initiatives: water, clean energy, sustainability science, shale sustainability, and land conservation.
Wells Fargo Foundation
- $10,000 to Puget Soundkeeper Alliance, Seattle: General operating support
- $10,000 to Master Gardener Foundation of Kitsap County, Silverdale: New wsu master gardener demonstration garden in south sound
How to apply: https://www.wellsfargo.com/about/corporate-responsibility/community-giving/grant-process/
Deadlines: Applications are accepted from february 1 through october 1.
Restrictions: https://www.wellsfargo.com/about/corporate-responsibility/community-giving/grant-process/
The Bamford Foundation
- $12,500 to Foothills Rails-To-Trails Coalition, Puyallup: General support
- $5,000 to Communities for Healthy Bay, Tacoma: Program support environmental justice camp
How to apply: The bamford foundation has now adopted an online grants portal through which organizations may submit a letter of inquiry. Www.grantinterface.com. See www.bamfordfoundation.org for more information.
Deadlines: For 2024, grant cycles will occur during the winter, spring, and summer quarters.
Restrictions: For 2024, the foundation will focus on leveraging the impact of small (less than 15,000) size grants with both new and existing grant partners. The foundation continues to make grants aligned with four priority giving areas, primarily...
Kind Heart Free Spirit Foundation
- $10,000 to Columbia Land Trust, Vancouver: Grant - general purposes
- $5,000 to Futurewise, Seattle: Grant - general purposes
How to apply: Letter with pertinent information
The Honorable Frank L & Arlene G Price Foundation
- $10,000 to Lower Columbia School Gardens, Longview: Education
- $5,000 to Columbia Springs, Vancouver: Historic preservation
How to apply: Information about the charity, its status and contacts. Details as to the amount and use of the grant requested.
Deadlines: By april 30th of each year.
Restrictions: Restricted to use in the health, education or historic preservation by 501(c)(3) organizations for the benefit of clark and cowlitz counties in washington state.
The Fine Fund C/O Ffc Capital Corporation
- $10,000 to Toxic-Free Future, Seattle: Safer states
- $1,500 to Toxic-Free Future, Seattle: General operations
How to apply: Letter of inquiry
Restrictions: Geographical area: boston charitable fields: environmental, visual arts
Robert & Elizabeth Fergus Foundation C/O Catharine Fergus Garber
- $2,500 to Skagit Land Trust, Mount Vernon: Unrestricted
- $1,500 to North Cascades Institute, Sedro Woolley: Unrestricted
How to apply: Written request required - no special format
Wyman Youth Trust
- $1,750 to Arboretum Foundation, Seattle: Civic
- $1,000 to Toxic Free Future, Seattle: Civic
How to apply: Letter of proposal with description and history of the organization description of project and financial need information on board of trustees and directors annual operating budget applications accepted by mail only
Deadlines: June 15 arts and culture, december 1 social health service, sept 15 civic education
Restrictions: Not for profit organization with proof of 501(c)3 status
Deupree Family Foundation
- $1,500 to Bainbridge Island Land Trust, Bainbridge Island: General & Unrestricted
- $1,000 to Bainbridge Conservation Coalition, Bainbridge Island: General & Unrestricted
How to apply: Online application at www.deupreefamilyfoundation.org
Deadlines: September 1 - January 31
Restrictions: $5,000 or less
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