Ways to Give

Simplify your giving. Amplify your impact.

Seattle Foundation makes available many ways to give. Working with skilled and compassionate Philanthropic Advisors who have deep community knowledge and the ability to judiciously steward your assets, we help guide your giving to organizations and initiatives to create powerful and lasting impact.

Supporting a cause you believe in brings tremendous satisfaction and the reward of knowing you are making an impact in meeting critical community need. Start “giving while you are living” and demonstrate a personal commitment to issues of personal interest. You can also begin creating a strategic plan for the future for yourself or with your family. Read about our funds below and find the electronic form or document you need.


Community Philanthropy Fund (Donor Advised)

A Community Philanthropy Fund offers an effective way to support your interests with the further advantage of our decades of community knowledge and efficient management. With the guidance of an experienced Philanthropic Advisor, you identify the nonprofit organizations you wish to support and Seattle Foundation handles the administration. You receive immediate tax benefits upon opening your fund and your dollars will be invested, creating the potential for you to give more over time.

Family Foundation (Donor Advised)

A Family Foundation is a powerful way to bring members together around the shared values of generosity and community. Our skilled Philanthropic Advisors, deep local knowledge and back-office involvement enable your family philanthropy to be a powerful and effective way to build ties across generations and make meaningful community impact. This option provides many of the desirable features of a private foundation while utilizing the more streamlined, tax-efficient donor advised fund structure.


Designated Fund

Distributions from a Designated Fund are made to one or more nonprofit organizations, in the percentages that you specify, providing support to the organizations that you value.

Area of Interest Fund

An Area of Interest Fund allows you to identify the charitable cause or geographical area you wish to impact. You may select one or more of Seattle Foundation’s initiatives or define your own area of interest. Your fund will provide ongoing support to effective organizations and strategies within your specified areas of interest.

Community Fund

Seattle Foundation’s Community Fund is an unrestricted gift to the Foundation which allows you to invest in meeting the changing needs of the Greater Seattle region, including supporting the Foundation’s operations.


Corporate Foundation (Donor Advised)

A Corporate Foundation is guided by a Philanthropic Advisor to create a more strategic philanthropic program that aligns with your company’s business goals and provides the opportunity to engage employees and owners collectively.

Nonprofit Agency Fund

A Nonprofit Agency Fund can be structured as an Endowment or as a Reserve Fund that is managed on behalf of your organization and provides annual distributions from the fund’s earnings in support of the organization’s mission.

Forms and Documents

Tools to evaluate your philanthropic interests, plan budgets, or send grant recommendations.

Impact Stories

Your philanthropic journey is part of a larger story about community partnership and impact.

Special Services

Tailored services can streamline value and create alignment from complex circumstances.