Seattle Foundation

What Seattle Foundation does

Seattle Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) community foundation founded in 1946 by Dr. Richard Fuller and 14 community leaders with a $289,000 endowment. Headquartered at 1601 Fifth Avenue in Seattle, the foundation stewards over $1 billion in net assets and awards more than $100 million annually to nonprofits working across Greater Seattle and Washington State. It serves high-net-worth individuals and families seeking donor advised funds and philanthropic advising, professional advisors (attorneys, wealth managers, accountants), nonprofit organizations, and cross-sector partners including King County, the City of Seattle, and the Washington State Housing Finance Commission.

The foundation operates a portfolio of philanthropic fund products — Donor Advised Funds, Designated Funds, Area of Interest Funds, Immediate Impact Funds (QCDs), Athlete & Entertainer Funds, and Nonprofit Agency Funds — supported by multiple investment pools (Balanced, Socially Responsible, Intermediate-Term, Short-Term, Index, Growth). Its underlying technology stack includes a donor and grants portal built on Microsoft Power Apps, Click&Pledge for donation processing, and YouTube for content distribution. Notable programmatic platforms include the Evergreen Impact Housing Fund (impact investing), Civic Commons (cross-sector initiative), Neighbor to Neighbor (grassroots grantmaking), Communities of Opportunity (place-based partnership with King County), the First Peoples Climate Fund, and the Black Home Initiative.

The business model is subscription/recurring: monthly administrative fees on average daily fund balances, investment management fees across pooled vehicles, and philanthropic services fees that fund operations and mission-related programs. Distribution is primarily regional (King County and Washington State), with global reach via the supporting organization Seattle International Foundation. The foundation is governed by a Board of Trustees and led by President & CEO Alesha Washington.

Name

Seattle Foundation

Legal name

Seattle Foundation

Website

https://seattlefoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Seattle Foundation is a 501(c)(3) community foundation founded in 1946 that manages over $1 billion in assets and awards $100M+ annually to nonprofits in Greater Seattle. It serves philanthropists, professional advisors, nonprofits, and government partners through donor advised funds, impact investing, and equity-focused grantmaking programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Foundation / Philanthropic Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Philanthropic & Charitable Trust Services (FSAAANAI)

Keywords

• Community foundation services
• Donor advised funds
• Philanthropic grantmaking
• Impact investing
• Charitable fund administration

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donor Advised Fund Administration: Seattle Foundation charges administrative fees on donor advised funds for day-to-day services including grant processing, personalized philanthropic advising, and portal access. Fees are assessed monthly based on average daily fund balance. A 2% transactional fee applies to funds distributing more than half their balance plus contributions annually.
2. Investment Management Fees: Professional management and oversight of fund assets across multiple investment pools (Balanced, Socially Responsible, Intermediate-Term, Short-Term, Index, Growth). Fees vary by pool and are proportionally deducted from fund returns.
3. Philanthropic Services: Fees support broader mission of connecting donors to community-led solutions and investing in long-term equity. Services include donor advising, event access, nonprofit network connections, and complex asset acceptance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Seattle Foundation is a community foundation that administers charitable giving vehicles (donor advised funds, designated funds, area of interest funds, immediate impact/QCD funds, athlete and entertainer funds, nonprofit agency funds) and makes grants to community-led nonprofits in Greater Seattle. It combines philanthropic advising, professional investment management across multiple pools, and grantmaking programs targeting racial and economic equity, affordable housing, climate justice, voter engagement, and BIPOC community-led organizations.

Product overview

Seattle Foundation is a community foundation that offers a portfolio of philanthropic fund products and grantmaking programs. The core fund products include Donor Advised Funds (DAF), Designated Funds, Area of Interest Funds, Immediate Impact Funds (QCDs), Athlete & Entertainer Funds, and Nonprofit Agency Funds. These funds are supported by investment pools (Balanced, Socially Responsible, Intermediate-Term, Short-Term, Index, and Growth) and serviced through a grants/donor portal built on Microsoft Power Apps. Seattle Foundation also administers multiple named grant programs including Neighbor to Neighbor, Communities of Opportunity, Voter Education Fund, Black-Led Joy and Wellness Fund, and First Peoples Climate Fund, alongside the Evergreen Impact Housing Fund for impact investing and the Civic Commons initiative platform. The organization manages over $1 billion in net assets and has mobilized over $5 billion in public investments over the past decade.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Civic Commons: An initiative of Seattle Foundation that brings cross-sector collaborators together to take action on Greater Seattle's biggest economic and social challenges. Includes Black Home Initiative, Scorecard for Shared Prosperity, We Belong Here, and Democracy Network.
• Black Home Initiative
• Journey to Joy

Products and services

• Donor Advised Fund (DAF) A charitable giving vehicle that allows donors to contribute assets, receive immediate tax benefits, and recommend grants to nonprofits over time. Seattle Foundation provides personalized philanthropic advising, professional investment management across multiple pools, and community insights alongside this fund. Targeted at high-net-worth individuals, families, and legacy planners.
• Designated Fund A fund that distributes to one or more predetermined nonprofits in specified amounts. These funds are often endowed to provide permanent, ongoing income to named charitable beneficiaries and are commonly used in legacy and estate planning.
• Area of Interest Fund A fund that allows donors to identify a charitable cause or geographical area to impact without specifying particular nonprofits. An assigned Philanthropic Advisor at Seattle Foundation determines grant recipients through the fund.
• Immediate Impact Fund (Qualified Charitable Distributions) A fund that allows donors to contribute qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) from IRAs to designated funds that make gifts to predetermined charities on a chosen timeline, providing a tax-advantaged short-term philanthropic giving option.
• Athlete & Entertainer Fund A specialized philanthropy service for athletes and entertainers, offering tailored fund structures ranging from individual Donor Advised Funds to teamwide giving strategies, designed to integrate with personal brands and long-term goals.
• Nonprofit Agency Fund A fund structured as an endowment or reserve that Seattle Foundation manages on behalf of nonprofit organizations. Can be used for permanent operating revenue (endowment) or drawn upon in times of need (reserve fund), supporting nonprofit stability and sustainability.
• Evergreen Impact Housing Fund A first-of-its-kind impact investing fund that closes critical gaps in affordable housing developments, increasing production for working families and promoting health, well-being, and equity throughout Washington State.
• Neighbor to Neighbor (N2N) A grassroots grant program supporting community-led organizations in South Seattle, White Center, Kent, and SeaTac/Tukwila. Provides flexible funding and technical assistance to organizations led by people from communities of color, Indigenous, immigrant/refugee, and low-income communities.
• Communities of Opportunity (COO) A partnership initiative between Seattle Foundation, King County, and community that invests in community-led partnerships in White Center, Rainier Valley, and SeaTac-Tukwila focusing on health, housing, and economic opportunities.
• Voter Education Fund A government, philanthropic, and community partnership between Seattle Foundation and King County Elections investing $950,000 every two years in community-based organizations for non-partisan voter outreach and civic engagement activities in historically excluded communities.
• Black-Led Joy and Wellness Fund A fund that supports staff well-being at Black-led organizations, providing grants to help address burnout and wellness needs among organizations serving Black communities.
• First Peoples Climate Fund A landmark $5.5 million partnership with the City of Seattle supporting projects that center Tribal sovereignty, traditional knowledge, and address climate change impacts on Indigenous communities in the Puget Sound region.
• Civic Commons A cross-sector initiative bringing collaborators together to address Greater Seattle's biggest economic and social challenges. Includes programs such as Black Home Initiative, Scorecard for Shared Prosperity, We Belong Here, and Democracy Network.
• Journey to Joy A campaign by Seattle Foundation to bring their vision of a joyful region of shared prosperity, belonging, and justice to life, focusing on families in homes they love, connected to vibrant communities with opportunity for fulfilling lives.
• Professional Advisor Services Services for professional advisors including premium Donor Advised Funds with complex asset acceptance, flexible foundation alternatives, custom charitable legacy plans, strategic philanthropy advising, and integrated financial-estate-philanthropic planning. Targeted at attorneys, wealth managers, accountants, and financial advisors.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $5 billion in public investments mobilized over the past decade for children, housing, transit, and climate justice
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• City of Seattle Office of Sustainability & EnvironmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 April 2026Partnership on First Peoples Climate Fund with $5.5 million investment to advance Tribal sovereignty and Indigenous leadership in climate action, supporting traditional knowledge and community resilience.
• King County ElectionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Partnership on Voter Education Fund investing $950,000 every two years in community-based organizations for non-partisan voter outreach and civic engagement in historically excluded communities.
• King CountycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Partnership launched Communities of Opportunity (COO) in 2014 with $2.5 million initial investment to improve health, social, racial, and economic outcomes through places, policies, and systems changes. Work focuses on White Center, Rainier Valley, SeaTac-Tukwila.
• Washington State Housing Finance CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-created Evergreen Impact Housing Fund, first-of-its-kind financing closing critical gaps in affordable housing development, earning 2024 Secretary's Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships.
• Seattle International FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting organization of Seattle Foundation, co-founded by Bill and Paula Clapp in 2008, enabling global philanthropy with access to 700+ community foundations worldwide.
• VertueLabminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit accelerator partner in Seattle Climate Innovation Hub, supporting climate tech ecosystem and Battery Scale-Up Program for early-stage energy storage companies.
• University of Washington CoMotion LabsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation hub partner providing research and development infrastructure for climate tech startups in the Pacific Northwest.
• 9ZerominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClimate network partner in Seattle Climate Innovation Hub, contributing to cross-sector collaboration in green economy development.
• HomeSightcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Black Home Initiative, working on Field Order 15 to address Black homeownership gap through community development programs.
• Converge MediaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedia partner for collaborative storytelling initiatives including The Power of Us documentary showcasing grantees and fundholders.
• ArtsFund, 4Culture, Seattle Office of Arts & CulturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunder collective for Creative Equity Fund directing $600,000 to arts and culture groups using strategies to address structural racism in King County.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Silicon Valley Community Foundation: One of the largest community foundations in the U.S. with multi-billion AUM, serving a tech-driven Pacific Coast region. Direct peer given similar high-net-worth donor base, complex-asset DAF offerings, and focus on regional equity initiatives.
• The San Francisco Foundation: Bay Area community foundation focused on racial and economic equity with substantial DAF and grantmaking programs. Closely comparable mission, product mix, and urban West Coast operating context.
• The Boston Foundation: Major urban community foundation with $1B+ AUM, donor advised funds, civic leadership programs, and a strong equity lens. Comparable in scale, product breadth, and cross-sector convening role.
• Chicago Community Trust: Large metropolitan community foundation serving the Chicago region with comprehensive DAF, designated, and agency fund offerings plus impact investing. Comparable regional grantmaking scale and civic infrastructure.
• The New York Community Trust: One of the oldest and largest community foundations, offering a full suite of philanthropic funds and competitive grantmaking for a major metro region. Direct peer in fund products, scale, and urban equity focus.
• Greater Houston Community Foundation: Texas-based community foundation managing multi-billion in charitable assets across DAFs, endowments, and impact investing. Comparable in asset scale, fund products, and regional systems-change grantmaking.
• Greater Kansas City Community Foundation: Mid-size metro community foundation with a robust DAF platform, donor advised funds, and community grant programs. Comparable in core community-foundation product set and regional convening role.
• Cleveland Foundation: First U.S. community foundation, similar long-tenured nonprofit structure with DAFs, competitive grantmaking, and civic leadership initiatives. Comparable age, fund product mix, and community leadership positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Fidelity Charitable: Largest U.S. commercial donor-advised fund sponsor and direct competitor for DAF assets nationally. Relevant as the primary alternative donors compare Seattle Foundation against, though it is a national sponsor rather than a community-focused foundation.
• Schwab Charitable: Large national DAF sponsor affiliated with Charles Schwab, competing for philanthropic dollars with lower-fee, brand-name service. Relevant competitor for donor advised fund balances, especially tech-sector wealth in the Pacific Northwest.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC4gVfilTnROJCkidQoSI6Vw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-seattle-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/seattlefoundation/?hl=en
• Xx.com/seattlefdn

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Seattle Foundation