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The Seattle Foundation

EIN 91-6013536 · Seattle, WA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEATTLE FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS TO IGNITE POWERFUL AND REWARDING PHILANTHROPY TO MAKE GREATER SEATTLE A STRONGER, MORE VIBRANT COMMUNITY FOR ALL.

Income
$314.7 million
Spending
$244.5 million
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
54.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 47%
Employees
68
Volunteers
25
Highest pay
$512,167, president & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 54.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 69% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (6)
  1. $162.6 million spent. DONOR-RECOMMENDED GRANTMAKING: SEATTLE FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS TO IGNITE POWERFUL, REWARDING PHILANTHROPY TO MAKE GREATER SEATTLE A MORE VIBRANT, STRONGER COMMUNITY FOR ALL. WITH APPROXIMATELY 600 INDIVIDUAL, FAMILY, AND CORPORATE FUNDS, THIS AREA OF INVESTMENT REFLECTS THE GRANTMAKING RECOMMENDED BY OUR DONORS TO SUPPORT A BROAD RANGE OF COMMUNITY NEEDS AND SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS. THIS GRANTMAKING ACTIVITY PRIMARILY SERVES THE GREATER SEATTLE REGION AND WASHINGTON STATE, WHILE ALSO EXTENDING NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY.
  2. $28.5 million spent. COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP: SEATTLE FOUNDATION DRAWS ON OUR DEEP COMMUNITY INSIGHT AND LONG HISTORY AS A CIVIC LEADER TO LAUNCH AND PARTICIPATE IN CROSS-SECTOR INITIATIVES THAT AMPLIFY OUR REACH AND IMPACT. LED BY OUR VISION OF A JOYFUL COMMUNITY OF SHARED PROSPERITY, BELONGING, AND JUSTICE, OUR ROLE AS A CIVIC LEADER IS TO ALIGN KEY STAKEHOLDERS AROUND STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS OUR REGION'S GREATEST COLLECTIVE CHALLENGES.
  3. $22.1 million spent. FOUNDATION-DIRECTED GRANTMAKING: SEATTLE FOUNDATION MANAGES TARGETED FUNDS, CALLED AREA OF INTEREST FUNDS, ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY AND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY ADVISORY GROUPS, TO SUPPORT DEFINED INTEREST AREAS. THIS INCLUDES VARIOUS PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO ENHANCE COMMUNITY WELL-BEING AND SUPPORT GEOGRAPHIES THAT HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY UNDERINVESTED IN. SEATTLE FOUNDATION EVALUATES ORGANIZATIONS AND THEN MAKES GRANTS THAT BEST REFLECT THE INTENDED PURPOSE OF THE FUNDS. SEATTLE FOUNDATION FREQUENTLY LEADS SPECIAL INITIATIVES DESIGNED TO ADDRESS SPECIFIC COMMUNITY NEEDS ACROSS THE GREATER SEATTLE REGION, INCLUDING EMERGENCY RESPONSE FUNDS.
  4. $6.5 million spent. ENGAGED PHILANTHROPY: AS PART OF OUR PERSONALIZED SERVICES TO PHILANTROPISTS, WE ASSIGN A PHILANTROPIC ADVISOR TO PROVIDE STRATEGIC GUIDANCE AND DEEP COMMUNITY KNOWLEDGE. OUR PHILANTHROPIC ADVISORS WORK WITH PHILANTHROPISTS TO CREATE STRATEGIC, IMPACTFUL GIVING PLANS AND ENGAGE FAMILY MEMBERS ACROSS GENERATIONS. WE ALSO OFFER REGULAR EVENTS AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES ON VARIOUS PHILANTHROPY-RELATED TOPICS.
  5. $3.0 million spent. TRUEBLOOD: SEATTLE FOUNDATION IS THE FINANCIAL STEWARD TO PARTNERS ACLU OF WASHINGTON AND DISABILITY RIGHTS WASHINGTON (DRW), SERVING AS THE FISCAL SPONSOR ON THE 2015 SETTLEMENT OF TRUEBLOOD V. WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES (DSHS). THIS FISCAL SPONSORSHIP SUPPORTS THE FOUNDATION'S MISSION OF EQUITY AND OPPORTUNITY BY SUPPORTING THE PROVISION OF NEEDED MENTAL HEALTH COMPETENCY EVALUATION AND SERVICES TO VULNERABLE POPULATIONS WHO ARE IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
  6. $10.2 million spent. HEALTHIERHERE: HEALTHIERHERE IS A NON-PROFIT LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY (LLC) UNDER THE FISCAL SPONSORSHIP OF SEATTLE FOUNDATION. IT IS A REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP COMMITTED TO WORKING IN NEW WAYS TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF KING COUNTY RESIDENTS. HEALTHIERHERE ADVOCATES FOR A MORE INTEGRATED AND PERSON-CENTERED SYSTEM OF CARE, REWARDING VALUE OVER VOLUME, PARTNERING WITH COMMUNITIES IN NEW WAYS TO ADDRESS THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH, AND ELIMINATING HEALTH INEQUITIES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since October 1947.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.