Bullitt Foundation
The Bullitt Foundation is a Seattle-based private nonprofit foundation, founded in 1952, that grants funds to environmental organizations across the Pacific Northwest. In 2019 it announced the sunset of grantmaking by April 2024, transferring its Bullitt Prize to Washington Conservation Action for perpetual administration.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1952
- HeadquartersSeattle, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Bullitt Foundation does
The Bullitt Foundation is a Seattle-based private nonprofit foundation founded in 1952 by Dorothy Bullitt, the Seattle media pioneer. The Foundation originally operated as a general-purpose family charitable vehicle and pivoted in 1992 under President Denis Hayes to focus on safeguarding the natural environment by promoting responsible human activities and sustainable communities in the Pacific Northwest.
Since 2016, the Foundation has concentrated its grantmaking exclusively on the Emerald Corridor, the region spanning Vancouver, BC to Portland, OR, treating it as a model for urban sustainability. Its programmatic portfolio comprises six areas: Regional Ecosystem Health, Energy/Climate/Materials, Deep Green Buildings, Resilient Cities/Healthy Communities, Environmental Fellowship, and the Bullitt Environmental Prize, an annual $100,000 award disbursed over two years to emerging environmental leaders from disadvantaged backgrounds. Grants are awarded directly to environmental nonprofits and government entities operating in the Pacific Northwest.
In 2019 the Foundation announced it would sunset its grantmaking activities by April 2024, spend down its endowment, and cease accepting new applications in 2023. To preserve its flagship program, it transferred administration of the Bullitt Prize to the Washington Conservation Action Education Fund along with an endowment intended to sustain the Prize in perpetuity. The Foundation is housed in the Bullitt Center, branded as the greenest commercial office building in the world, which also functions as a programmatic demonstration project for the Deep Green Buildings agenda.
Bullitt Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Bullitt Foundation
- Legal name
- The Bullitt Foundation
- Website
- https://bullitt.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1952
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Bullitt Foundation is a Seattle-based private nonprofit foundation, founded in 1952, that grants funds to environmental organizations across the Pacific Northwest. In 2019 it announced the sunset of grantmaking by April 2024, transferring its Bullitt Prize to Washington Conservation Action for perpetual administration.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Bullitt Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Environmental Grantmaking Foundation
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors) (BPADAOAB), Foundation/NGO & Philanthropic Scholarships (EDAIAOAH)
Keywords
Where Bullitt Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Seattle
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Bullitt Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Grants and program funding, Operations, Others
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels2 records
Bullitt Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Bullitt Foundation is a private nonprofit foundation that makes grants to environmental organizations and leaders in the Pacific Northwest (the Emerald Corridor spanning Vancouver, BC to Portland, OR). It funds programs in regional ecosystem health, energy and climate, green buildings, and resilient cities, and awards the annual Bullitt Environmental Prize ($100,000 over two years) to emerging environmental leaders from disadvantaged backgrounds. The Foundation sunset its grantmaking by April 2024 and transferred administration of the Bullitt Prize to the Washington Conservation Action Education Fund for perpetuity.
Product overview
The Bullitt Foundation operates as a grantmaking foundation offering multiple environmental grant programs, including the Bullitt Environmental Prize ($100,000 over two years), Regional Ecosystem Health, Energy Climate and Materials, Deep Green Buildings, Resilient Cities Healthy Communities, and Environmental Fellowship programs. The foundation sunset its grantmaking at the end of 2024 but continues funding the Bullitt Prize in perpetuity through an endowment with Washington Conservation Action. These programs collectively support environmental sustainability, climate action, and conservation in the Pacific Northwest (Emerald Corridor between Vancouver BC and Portland OR).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Bullitt Environmental Prize Annual $100,000 award given over two years to promising environmental leaders from disadvantaged backgrounds, aimed at broadening and diversifying leadership in the Pacific Northwest environmental movement. Now administered by Washington Conservation Action Education Fund under a perpetuity endowment from the Foundation.
- Regional Ecosystem Health Program
Quantifiable outcome
- 17th annual Bullitt Environmental Prize awarded in 2023
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Bullitt Foundation
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Bullitt Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Bullitt Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Washington Conservation Action Education FundcoreThe Bullitt Foundation transferred responsibility for administering the Bullitt Prize to the Washington Conservation Action (WCA) Education Fund. The Foundation awarded WCA a substantial endowment to assure that the Prize will continue in perpetuity. WCA's involvement ensures the Prize continues to support prospective environmental leaders from disadvantaged backgrounds. WCA is located at 1402 Third Avenue, #1400, Seattle, WA 98101.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights2 records
Bullitt Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Wilburforce Foundation: Seattle-based foundation focused on protecting old-growth forests and conserving biological diversity in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Directly comparable environmental grantmaking mission with regional Pacific NW emphasis.
- Resources Legacy Fund: Sacramento-based foundation funding environmental conservation, natural resource protection, and climate resilience, with significant Pacific Northwest grantmaking. Comparable environmental grantmaking scope and scale.
- Libra Foundation: Portland, ME-based family foundation funding environmental conservation, sustainable agriculture, and climate work. Comparable mid-sized environmental grantmaker with multi-decadal program history.
- Russell Family Foundation: Pierce County, WA-based foundation supporting environmental sustainability and equitable community development in the Puget Sound region. Comparable regional environmental grantmaking focus and similar program structure.
- Meyer Memorial Trust: Oregon-based private foundation funding equity, climate, and community work in the Pacific Northwest. Highly comparable as a regional PNW foundation with overlapping environmental, climate, and built-environment program areas.
Broad incumbents
- Seattle Foundation: Community foundation serving the Seattle/King County region with environmental, climate, and equity grantmaking. Comparable Pacific Northwest geography and base of operations, though with broader community rather than strictly environmental remit.
- ClimateWorks Foundation: Global climate-focused grantmaking foundation funding policy, innovation, and equitable decarbonization. Comparable environmental/climate grantmaking mission with broader, international scope.
- Schmidt Family Foundation: Family foundation funding climate, ocean health, and other environmental initiatives. Comparable environmental/climate grantmaking focus at larger scale, including Pacific Northwest activity.
- The Nature Conservancy: Largest global environmental nonprofit with extensive Pacific Northwest operations and grantmaking. Significantly larger and operationally broader but a recognized benchmark for environmental grantmaking in the same geography.
Emerging players
- Patagonia (corporate giving): Outdoor apparel company directing 1% of sales to environmental nonprofits through grants, primarily grassroots environmental activism. Comparable environmental grantmaking activity, though smaller-scale and tied to a commercial entity.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat2 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Bullitt Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceBullitt Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Bullitt Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Bullitt Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Bullitt Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Bullitt Foundation
What does Bullitt Foundation do?
The Bullitt Foundation is a private nonprofit foundation that makes grants to environmental organizations and leaders in the Pacific Northwest (the Emerald Corridor spanning Vancouver, BC to Portland, OR). It funds programs in regional ecosystem health, energy and climate, green buildings, and resilient cities, and awards the annual Bullitt Environmental Prize ($100,000 over two years) to emerging environmental leaders from disadvantaged backgrounds. The Foundation sunset its grantmaking by April 2024 and transferred administration of the Bullitt Prize to the Washington Conservation Action Education Fund for perpetuity.
Is Bullitt Foundation a public or private company?
Bullitt Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Bullitt Foundation founded?
Bullitt Foundation was founded in 1952. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Bullitt Foundation based?
Bullitt Foundation is headquartered in Seattle, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Bullitt Foundation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Wilburforce Foundation, Resources Legacy Fund, Libra Foundation, Russell Family Foundation and Meyer Memorial Trust. Broad incumbents are Seattle Foundation, ClimateWorks Foundation, Schmidt Family Foundation and The Nature Conservancy. Patagonia (corporate giving) is listed as an emerging player.
Does Bullitt Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Bullitt Foundation.
What industry is Bullitt Foundation in?
Bullitt Foundation's product category is Environmental Grantmaking Foundation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAM, Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations, with a secondary code of BPADAOAB, Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors). Its NAICS code is 813211.