Funder Collaboratives
Partnering with other funders and foundations to increase our collective impact.
We recognize that we can achieve more by working in partnership with our philanthropic peers to catalyze and drive deeper impact in the community. Rooted in our Healthy Community Framework, Seattle Foundation leads and participates in a small number of funder collaboratives aimed at increasing resources, learning collectively and amplifying impact through collaboration.
Funder collaboratives are formalized partnerships with at least three institutional partners who make joint decisions to advance shared long-term goals. We support funder collaboratives through our leadership role, financial commitment, staff time and grantmaking.
Our Funder Collaboratives include:
Sustainable Communities Funders (SCF)
This collaborative effort invests, aligns and pools resources across the region to address issues where environment environmental sustainability intersects with equitable inclusion and economic opportunity. Established in 2013, this collaborative brings together Bullitt Foundation, Loom Foundation, Russell Family Foundation and Social Venture Partners Seattle to influence areas of policy and grantmaking. Examples of grants made by SCF include investments in the Transit for All Partnership and the Puget Sound Cohort on Equity, Infrastructure and Environment.
Rapid Resource Pooled Fund
This effort supports emerging needs of nonprofits working to advance the Road Map Project, an ambitious initiative to improve educational outcomes and graduation rates for students of color or low-income households in South Seattle and South King County. Philanthropic partners came together in 2013 to establish the Fund to invest together in timely efforts identified by Road Map work group members and partners aimed at systems level changes and increased equity in the Road Map region. Fund partners include The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, The Boeing Company, College Spark, Medina Foundation, Satterberg Foundation, Social Venture Partners and Stolte Family Foundation.
Statewide Capacity Collaborative (SCC)
This core group of grantmakers in Washington collaborates to strengthen and support the capacity of nonprofits and the statewide nonprofit ecosystem. The SCC prioritizes collective investments that elevate the profile of the sector through advocacy and policy, effectively delivering capacity-building knowledge. It also supports leadership development at the local, regional and statewide level. Fund partners include: Ballmer Group, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Campion Foundation, Cedarmere Foundation, Group Health Foundation, Medina Foundation, Satterberg Foundation, Sherwood Trust and Social Venture Partners Seattle.
Creative Equity Fund
This fund, announced in 2018, is a collaborative effort by Seattle Foundation and funders including Macklemore, Arts Fund, the Seattle Office of Arts and Culture and The Boeing Company. The Fund will make grants to community organizations led by people of color to support arts and culture-based strategies that build racial justice and address the structural racism impacting our communities.