What Philanthropy Northwest does

Philanthropy Northwest is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization founded in 1976 and headquartered in Seattle, Washington, that serves as the regional infrastructure for philanthropic institutions across Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming. It operates a network of 150+ member organizations spanning public and private foundations, corporate grantmakers, government funders, family foundations, and identity-based funds, delivering value through peer cohorts, skill-building programs (Philanthropy 101, Grantmaking with an Equity Lens, Grantmakers in Action), responsive programming (Network Calls, Rising Together), a biennial conference (PNW26), a Job Bank platform, and policy and advocacy services. Annual membership dues are tiered by organizational type and grants paid, and members receive access to free job postings, discounted event rates, and complimentary advocacy consultation.

The organization's wholly-owned subsidiaries are The Giving Practice (TGP), a national consultancy offering strategy, leadership development, facilitation, trust-based philanthropy, and impact investing services, and the Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program, through which it serves as a pass-through grantmaker distributing more than $48 million in U.S. EPA funding across Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Underlying technology is conventional and web-based: a membership portal, a job bank, the Fluxx grantmaking portal for subgrantee management, an event registration system, and the recently launched Power of Practice data experience built on member survey data. Revenue streams include recurring membership dues, biennial conference registration ($1,300 member / $1,900 non-member), transaction fees from Job Bank postings, TGP consulting engagements, corporate sponsorships, and a $7.5M Visionaries Campaign. The organization's mission, revised in 2023, centers on redistributing resources and power to historically underinvested communities.

Name

Philanthropy Northwest

Legal name

Philanthropy Northwest

Website

https://philanthropynw.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Philanthropy Northwest is a 501(c)(3) regional membership network serving 150+ philanthropic institutions across Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming through peer convening, skill-building programs, policy advocacy, and a national trust-based philanthropy consultancy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Philanthropy Network and Foundation Advisory Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Grantmaking Foundations (813211)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Federated Giving Organizations (e.g., United Way-type) (BPAGAKAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE), Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

Keywords

• Philanthropy network membership
• Foundation consulting services
• Grantmaking advisory services
• Community foundation support
• Peer learning networks

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues based on organizational type (public/private foundation, corporate grantmaker, family foundation, etc.) and annual grants paid. Membership provides access to all staff and board members of the member organization.
2. Conference Revenue: Revenue from biennial PNW conference registration fees. Member rate is $1,300 and non-member rate is $1,900 per attendee.
3. Job Bank Postings: Revenue from job postings on the organization's job bank platform. 30-day posting costs $120 and 60-day posting costs $190.
4. The Giving Practice Consulting: The Giving Practice (TGP), the national consultancy of Philanthropy Northwest, generates revenue through consulting engagements for foundations and philanthropic organizations seeking strategy, leadership, governance, facilitation, trust-based philanthropy, and impact investing services.
5. Sponsorships and Visionary Partners: Corporate sponsorships for programs and events, plus Visionary Partners campaign inviting members to make above-and-beyond gifts to support organizational work.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Philanthropy Northwest is a membership-based philanthropy-serving organization that connects and supports 150+ philanthropic institutions across six Northwestern U.S. states through annual memberships, peer networks, skill-building programs, a biennial conference, policy and advocacy support, and grantmaking program administration. It also operates The Giving Practice, a national consultancy providing strategy, leadership, facilitation, trust-based philanthropy, and impact investing services to foundations.

Product overview

Philanthropy Northwest is a regional network of philanthropic organizations operating across Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming. The organization functions as both a membership network and a service provider, offering skill-building programs (Philanthropy 101, Grantmaking with an Equity Lens, Grantmakers in Action), peer networks and cohorts (including FutureMakers Senior Leaders Cohort), responsive programs (Network Calls, Rising Together Series), and policy and advocacy services. The organization houses The Giving Practice, a national consultancy providing strategy, leadership, facilitation, trust-based philanthropy, and impact investing services. Major grantmaking initiatives include the Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program (distributing $48M+ in EPA funding) and the WA Food Fund. The organization also operates a Job Bank platform and Power of Practice data platform for member insights. The PNW26 Conference is their biennial flagship convening.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Giving Practice: National consultancy of Philanthropy Northwest offering strategy, leadership development, facilitation, trust-based philanthropy, and impact investing services to foundations and philanthropy organizations.

Products and services

• The Giving Practice (TGP) A national consultancy embedded within Philanthropy Northwest offering strategy, leadership and governance, facilitation, trust-based philanthropy, and impact investing services to foundations and philanthropic organizations.
• Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program In partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), distributes over $48 million in environmental and public health grants across Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, including tribal nations.
• WA Food Fund A relief fund supporting food banks and pantries across Washington state, raising over $4 million to distribute food through Food Lifeline, Northwest Harvest, and Second Harvest.
• Job Bank A job board connecting mission-driven professionals with opportunities in the Northwest nonprofit and philanthropic sectors, featuring filters by function, level, employment type, and location. Free for members; paid postings for non-members.
• Philanthropy 101 An interactive four-part virtual series introducing new philanthropy practitioners to the history, governance, grantmaking, and current topics in the sector.
• Grantmaking with an Equity Lens A 3-hour training for mid- to senior-level foundation staff and trustees to embed equity into grantmaking processes, tailored to organizational needs.
• Grantmakers in Action A three-session series deepening knowledge of grantmaking practices, trust-based approaches, and peer learning for grantmakers across the Northwest.
• Power of Practice A data experience offering insights into collective progress of the Philanthropy Northwest network, powered by the Vibe Check Survey of active members.
• FutureMakers: Senior Leaders Cohort A structured long-term leadership development experience for senior philanthropy leaders facing complex challenges around equity, justice, and sector transformation.
• Philanthropy Northwest Network Calls Conversations featuring experts on key issues and emerging topics critical to the philanthropic sector, open to members and non-members.
• Rising Together Series A program series strengthening philanthropy's role in building a healthy democracy through promising approaches and advocacy actions.
• PNW26 Conference The largest gathering of philanthropy practitioners in the Northwest, held every two years. The 2026 conference marks the 50th anniversary and will be held in Anchorage, Alaska.

Quantifiable outcome

• Distributed over $48 million in EPA Thriving Communities grants to communities and tribal nations across the region
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhilanthropy Northwest partners with the EPA to distribute over $48 million in Thriving Communities grants across Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, including tribal nations. This is the largest federal grantmaking initiative managed by the organization.
• Food LifelinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWA Food Fund partner that distributes food to hundreds of food banks across Washington state, from cities to rural communities.
• Northwest HarvestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWA Food Fund partner working to end hunger in Washington state through food distribution.
• Second HarvestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWA Food Fund partner supporting food banks across Washington state.
• Alaska Community FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading coordinated crisis response for Alaska nonprofits facing federal funding disruptions. Partnership includes convening funders statewide.
• Foraker GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlaska nonprofit support organization partnering in crisis response to support nonprofits facing federal grant cancellations.
• Rasmuson FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlaska philanthropy organization partnering in statewide crisis response for nonprofits.
• Trust-Based Philanthropy ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTGP senior advisors are trained Trust-Based Philanthropy Project facilitators, providing trust-based philanthropy consulting services to foundations.
• Washington Census Equity Fund PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPooled fund bringing funders together to support equitable Census count, distributing funding to 450+ community-based organizations.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• United Philanthropy Forum: National membership association for philanthropic infrastructure organizations and regional funders' associations. Most direct functional peer as a membership network serving philanthropy-serving organizations.
• Southern California Grantmakers: Regional philanthropic network serving Southern California foundations and grantmakers. Closest structural analog to Philanthropy Northwest with regional membership, advocacy, and convening.
• Minnesota Council on Foundations: Regional philanthropy-serving organization serving Minnesota, the Dakotas, and Wisconsin with membership, advocacy, and grantmaker support. Direct regional-network peer.

Broad incumbents

• Council on Foundations: The largest national membership association for foundations and corporate giving programs. Operates at broader national scale than Philanthropy Northwest and overlaps on policy, advocacy, and member services.
• National Center for Family Philanthropy: National nonprofit focused on family foundation practice and governance. Overlaps with Philanthropy Northwest's work supporting family foundation members, including equity and multi-generational transitions.

Emerging players

• Trust-Based Philanthropy Project: Peer initiative advancing trust-based philanthropic practice; TGP senior advisors are trained Trust-Based Philanthropy Project facilitators. A close ecosystem partner and partial capability overlap.
• Hispanics in Philanthropy: National network mobilizing Hispanic/Latino philanthropy. Overlaps on identity-fund work and pooled fund administration for underinvested communities.
• ABFE (Association of Black Foundation Executives): Membership organization for Black foundation executives and allies advancing racial equity in philanthropy. Overlaps on equity practice, identity-affinity peer networks, and advocacy.
• Confluence Philanthropy: National network of private and public foundations practicing mission-aligned and impact investing. Overlaps with TGP's impact investing practice.

Others

• Candid (Foundation Center + GuideStar): Primary data, research, and transparency infrastructure for the philanthropic sector. Adjacent rather than directly competitive; overlaps on data products (Power of Practice is a Candid-adjacent offering).

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/philanthropynw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/2304873
• Xx.com/philanthropynw

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Philanthropy Northwest