Our Services
Together, we ignite powerful and rewarding philanthropy
Ways We Support Your Philanthropy
At Seattle Foundation, we meet you where you are in your giving journey, whether you’re focused on giving during your lifetime, through your estate, or both. As your partner in philanthropy, we’re here to help you make a lasting difference in the communities and causes you care about.
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world: indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” — Margaret Mead
We believe your philanthropy can be a force for transformative change. That’s why we offer flexible giving options, expert advising, and a deep commitment to equity.
Giving That Goes Further
Every fund at Seattle Foundation is more than a financial tool—it’s a catalyst for impact. We pair personalized advising with deep community insights, helping you give strategically and with confidence. You’ll gain access to curated events, nonprofit networks, and opportunities to support community-led change.
We also specialize in accepting complex assets, including closely held business interests and real estate, options not always available through commercial DAFs.
When you partner with us, you’re not just giving through us—you’re giving with us. Your fees directly support our mission to advance racial and economic equity across the region.
Our services reflect this ethos, supporting donors and nonprofits alike to build a more just, thriving region.
Flexible Giving Options
We offer a variety of fund types to match your philanthropic goals, whether you want to give now, leave a legacy, support a specific cause, or sustain a nonprofit.
Donor Advised Fund
A Donor Advised Fund (DAF) 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. DAF services can be tailored to your needs.
Designated Fund
A Designated Fund is designed to distribute to one or more nonprofits of your choosing, in predetermined, specified amounts. They are often endowed (they provide a permanent, ongoing source of income to the charities named as beneficiaries of the fund). Designated Funds are a commonly used tool in legacy planning because they can continue to give in the distributions you specify to the nonprofits you care about in perpetuity.
Area of Interest Fund
An Area of Interest Fund allows you to identify the charitable cause or geographical area you wish to impact, rather than identifying specific nonprofits to receive funding. Your fund will provide ongoing support to effective organizations and strategies within your predefined areas of interest. Area of Interest Funds are commonly included in legacy plans to provide flexibility to support a broader cause or geographical area without being tied to specific nonprofit beneficiaries. An assigned Seattle Foundation Philanthropic advisor will determine organizations to grant through the fund.
Immediate Impact Fund (Qualified Charitable Distributions)
An Immediate Impact Fund allows you to donate your qualified charitable distribution (QCD) to a designated fund that makes gifts to specific, predetermined charities on the timeline of your choosing. QCDs may not be donated to a DAF, so opening an Immediate Impact Fund is a powerful way to use this asset for short-term investments in the causes you care about.
Athlete & Entertainer Fund
Seattle Foundation partners with athletes, entertainers, and their management and PR teams to support values-aligned, high-impact philanthropy. Our tailored services, from Donor Advised funds to teamwide strategies, are designed to integrate seamlessly with personal brands and long-term goals. Whether launching a new fund or building a multiyear giving plan, we work closely with you and your team to create meaningful, effective giving experiences. Connect with us to learn how our customized approach can support your philanthropic vision.
Nonprofit Agency Fund
A Nonprofit Agency Fund can be structured as an endowment (invested and pays out a percentage to your organization’s operating revenue in perpetuity) or as a reserve fund (invested and drawn upon in times of need) that is managed on behalf of your organization. Some nonprofits choose to utilize both tools on their path to achieving stability and sustainability.
Funds, Fees, and Support
Your Donor Advised Fund is supported by two types of fees that help ensure a high-quality experience while advancing our mission for a more equitable region. Download and view our full overview of fund types and fees here.
Administrative Fees
These cover day-to-day services such as grant processing, personalized philanthropic advising, and access to your secure donor portal. They also help sustain Seattle Foundation’s broader work connecting donors to community-led solutions and investing in long-term equity. Fees are assessed monthly based on your fund’s average daily balance and appear on your quarterly statement.
Investment Fees
These fees cover the professional management and oversight of your fund’s assets. Costs vary depending on the investment pool you select and are proportionally deducted from your fund’s returns.
Variance Power
All donor funds established at Seattle Foundation are subject to the Foundation’s “variance power,” as set forth in Article VII(a)(i) of its Articles of Incorporation, as amended from time to time. The variance power gives the Foundation the authority to modify any donor recommendation or condition on distributions from a fund for any specified charitable purpose or to any specified charitable organization if, in the sole judgment of the Foundation, such recommendation or condition becomes unnecessary, incapable of fulfillment or inconsistent with the charitable needs of the community.
Trust-based philanthropy is about redistributing power systemically, organizationally, and interpersonally, in service of a healthier and more equitable nonprofit ecosystem.” — Stanford Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society