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Current Grant Opportunities

Competitive grants for local community organizations

Seattle Foundation runs competitive grant cycles throughout the year that are open to eligible local nonprofits. This page is updated regularly with all our open grant cycles. Please email [email protected] or call 206.515.2109 with any questions.


Current Opportunities

Neighbor to Neighbor (N2N)

N2N awards grants quarterly. The deadlines to apply are January 30, April 30, July 30, and October 30.

Neighbor to Neighbor supports grassroots efforts that increase engagement, power and influence of community members affected by poverty and racial disparities. Priority is on efforts led by people from diverse and under-invested communities. Begun in 1991, the grant and technical assistance program is a key strategy of Seattle Foundation’s Core Programs. Serving community-based organizations in South Seattle, White Center and Kent and focused on organizations with small budget sizes, N2N plays a crucial role in supporting the Foundation’s mission: to ignite powerful and rewarding philanthropy to make Greater Seattle a stronger, more vibrant community for all.

N2N awards grants on a quarterly basis. The deadlines for submitting applications are January 30, April 30, July 30 and October 30. Organizations are eligible for funding once per calendar year.

Prior to starting your application, you can review the application questions in a downloadable PDF . Applications must be submitted on our grantmaking portal.

Read more about the application process


The Whitehorse Foundation

Letters of inquiry can be submitted on an ongoing basis to [email protected]

The mission of the Whitehorse Foundation is to improve the quality of life for residents of Snohomish County, Washington. Established in 1989 as a supporting organization of the Seattle Foundation, the Whitehorse Foundation supports nonprofit organizations operating in Snohomish County that work to ensure children, youth and families thrive.

The Foundation is interested in programs that:

  • Focus on addressing risk factors early and enabling the conditions that help children, youth, and families to thrive.
  • Serve children, youth, and families through accessible programming.
  • Have partnerships and collaborations with other providers to ensure children, youth and families receive comprehensive support.
  • Strengthen families’ capacity to support, guide, and nurture the emotional, economic, and social well-being of their children.
  • Enable youth and families to acquire the knowledge and skills needed for self-sufficiency and long-term stability.
  • Preference is also given to funding requests for programs and projects that include other sources of funding and have strong community support.

There is a two-step application process. The first step is to submit a concise two-page letter of inquiry describing your project and request. The second step is to be invited to submit a full application if your request meets the Foundation’s funding criteria.


Benjamin N Phillips Memorial Fund

Before applying, please contact Claire Bishop at [email protected] or 206.799.8563 to ensure that your organization is a strong fit for our funding strategies.

The Phillips Fund grant applications are due June 3 at 5pm (PDT)

The Benjamin N. Phillips Memorial Fund awards grants annually to a broad range of charitable organizations serving Clallam County. The fund is a legacy gift of Benjamin Phillips and was established following the death of Phillips’ second wife.

$375,000 is available for grants. Visit the online application for more information. Please choose Create a New Account. Once you get logged in, scroll down to The Benjamin N. Phillips Memorial Fund 2022 Grant Application and choose Apply.

Nonprofit Effectiveness Grant Program

Applications are due October 14, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. (PDT) via online application.

Seattle Foundation is committed to nonprofit effectiveness, and the overall health of the sector. Grants will be made to King County nonprofits, which have deep experience with providing programs that sustain the strength and stability of Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC)-led organizations, leaders, and communities. The resilience and capacity of BIPOC-led nonprofit organizations, leaders, and communities are crucial as they play essential roles in responding to long-standing and emerging community needs.

Visit the online application to apply. Applications are due October 14, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. (PDT).

The Medical Funds

The Medical Funds grant applications were due April 15, 2022 at 5pm (PDT).

Seattle Foundation administers the Medical Funds program to support medical research of potential benefit to the community and to address specific healthcare needs of low-income children. All applicant organizations must be located primarily in King County and qualify as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code.

A total amount of $200,000 is available for grants annually. Typically no more than $25,000 is disbursed to any one organization. For questions, please contact Ceil Erickson.

Fund for Inclusive Recovery

The final letters of inquiry were due on November 19, 2021. Stay tuned for any upcoming rounds of funding.

The Fund for Inclusive Recovery is a new pooled fund with the focus of meeting the critical needs and opportunities facing communities most impacted by the pandemic. The Fund will drive investments to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)- led and rooted nonprofit organizations, movements, and coalitions, creating a pathway for Greater Seattle’s inclusive recovery.

In this first phase of investment, we are looking to support Community Power and Base Building approaches that create the necessary foundation for meaningful systems and policy change. The Fund seeks to build on what we’ve learned from immediate pandemic response funding and ongoing advice from community leaders and groups who are leading community change approaches. With that in mind, we seek to support community-led approaches changing the racist and discriminatory systems that perpetuate inequities. We trust organizations in community to focus on areas of greatest importance and relevance in their approach. We will be providing flexible resources to support the necessary time, organizing, and staffing to support base building efforts and recognize the success of this work requires assessing the landscape, building partnerships, and engaging community and systems decision makers. The Fund anticipates a high volume of applications and is hosting a two-part LOI and full application process in order to support emerging ideas and decrease the burden on interested applicants.

Resilience Fund

The most recent application cycle closed on October 8, 2021. Seattle Foundation has paused the Resilience Fund for 2022. We will inform our nonprofit community if Resilience Fund resumes in the future.

Partnership Mobilization Grants

The most recent application cycle closed on August 20, 2021. Seattle Foundation has paused Partnership Mobilization for 2022. We will inform our nonprofit community if Partnership Mobilization resumes in the future.

Through the Partnership Mobilization program, nonprofit partnerships can apply for a total of up to $30,000 to fund partnerships that strengthen the civic voice and participation of underrepresented communities to increase racial and economic equity. Grants range from $2,000 – $10,000 per partner organization. These grants are flexible, one-time investments to existing and emerging partnerships and coalitions to develop or strengthen organizational relationships and collaboration and to reduce the barriers in building partnerships and relationships. Groups may self-define the nature of their partnerships (e.g., ethnicity, geography, service area, issue, etc.). Grant dollars will support planning, coordination, staff time, facilitation and other costs associated with building partnerships. 

Please contact Sally Gillis with questions.

Creative Equity Fund

The most recent application cycle closed on May 3, 2021. Stay tuned for any upcoming rounds of funding.

Creative Equity Fund supports arts and culture-based strategies that address the structural racism impacting our communities and build racial justice. For 2021/2022, the Creative Equity Fund aims to direct a total of $600,000 to support arts and cultural groups and other community-based organizations located within King County which are actively using arts and culture-based strategies to 3work toward racial justice. This current round of funding will focus on making grants to organizations most directly impacted by structural racism and colonization, those that are led by and serve Black and Indigenous people.

Creative Equity Fund is administered by Seattle Foundation and made possible thanks to the generous support from a collection of funders, including ArtsFund, 4Culture, Macklemore, Microsoft, Satterberg Foundation, Seattle Office of Arts & Culture, Seattle Foundation, The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation and individual philanthropists. 

For questions about the Creative Equity Fund, please contact Jonathan Cunningham.

Voter Education Fund

The most recent Request for Proposal (RFP) closed on April 2, 2021.

Seattle Foundation and King County elections are partnering to increase engagement and voter participation through the Voter Education Fund. The partners have committed $950,000 in grants over the next two years to organizations working to address low voter turnout within historically excluded communities. Selected organizations will be funded for two years to do voter outreach and activities for the 2021 and 2022 election cycles.

The Voter Education Fund will provide grants to organizations that work to reduce inequities in voting access in historically excluded communities including, but not limited to, Black, Indigenous, people of color, people experiencing homelessness, people with disabilities, limited English speaking (LES), LGBTQ residents, formerly incarcerated individuals and residents in South King County. Applicants can apply for up to $40,000 to develop and implement a robust campaign to engage voters or potential voters, or up to $15,000 to provide a series of targeted events.

For questions about the Voter Education Fund, contact Vanesa Gutierrez.

C. Keith Birkenfeld Charitable Area of Interest Fund

The C. Keith Birkenfeld Fund is in the process of concluding its grantmaking activity. However, if former grantees have questions or are seeking information concerning signage, please contact Claire Bishop at [email protected] or 206.799.8563.

Youth Grantmaking Board RFP

The most recent application cycle completed on March 25, 2020.

Supported by Foundation staff and community experts, the Youth Grantmaking Board (YGB) helps young people learn how philanthropy can create positive change in their community by giving them the opportunity to take the lead on all phases of grantmaking.

The 2020 Youth Grantmaking Board invited proposals from established 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, or those under the fiscal sponsorship of 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, focused on focused on two complimentary Seattle Foundation priorities, Climate Justice and Catalyzing Community.

Communities of Opportunity Systems and Policy Change

COO Systems & Policy Change RFP invites proposals from community-led and community-engaged efforts to transform systems and policies for stronger community connections, economic opportunity, better health, and/or housing that will decrease and/or prevent continued inequity in communities of color in King County.  This is a two year grant cycle, organizations can apply for up to $100,000 annually, coalitions may apply for up to $200,000 annually. 

The most recent application cycle closed on September 16, 2019.

If you have questions, please contact Vanesa Gutierrez at for additional information.

Engagement Pipeline

The most recent application cycle closed on February 1, 2019. Seattle Foundation has paused the Engagement Pipeline program and we will inform our nonprofit community if the program resumes in the future.

To help evaluate and measure how Seattle Foundation’s support helped your organization, please complete and return the Grant Status Report within a year of receiving funding. 

If you have any questions about the application process, please contact us at [email protected] or call 206.515.2109.

Norman Archibald Charitable Foundation

Proposals are accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed at quarterly board meetings.

The Norman Archibald Charitable Foundation was established in 1976 directed by the Will of Norman S. Archibald to benefit nonprofit organizations serving the needs of Northwest Washington. After 40 years of operating as a private foundation, we have transitioned to a donor advised fund at Seattle Foundation. 

The priority is to provide funding for capital and equipment projects to organizations working to improve the quality of life and benefit residents in Northwest Washington.  Applications are accepted from nonprofit organizations with tax exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code that operates within the Northwest Washington region.

If you are an arts or a youth arts related organization in King and Pierce counties, please contact ArtsFund, as Norman Archibald Charitable Foundation provided support for their grantmaking. Norman Archibald Charitable Foundation does not fund school foundations.

Please visit the Norman Archibald Charitable Foundation website for guidelines and to apply.

Benjamin N. Phillips Memorial Fund

The Phillips Fund letters of inquiry are due June 30, 2023 at 5:00 pm PT

The Benjamin N. Phillips Memorial Fund awards grants annually to a broad range of charitable organizations serving Clallam County. The fund is a legacy gift of Benjamin Phillips and was established following the death of Phillips’ second wife.

Requests follow a two-step application process. The first step in seeking support is to submit a letter of inquiry (LOI) describing your project and request. The second step is a formal application process for those requests that are determined to meet the Fund’s funding criteria. To discuss whether your organization is a good fit before submitting an LOI, please contact Claire Bishop or Leslie Lauren.  

If invited to apply, you will be notified by July 16 and the deadline for the full application is August 21. Submit your LOI for this year’s grantmaking cycle through our grants portal.

  • If you have previously applied for a grant with Seattle Foundation, proceed to log in. Otherwise please create an account.
  • Once you are logged in, click on the Apply icon at the top of the page and select Benjamin N. Phillips Memorial Fund 2023 LOI. 

Please reach out to our support team by sending an email to [email protected] if you have any questions or troubles accessing or creating your account.