Seattle Foundation is supported by a variety of community members. We work together with individuals, families, nonprofits, advisors, local officials, institutions, and companies of all types and sizes. Our staff provides you with expertise, relationships, and research to help you turn passions for solving economic, social, and environmental challenges into effective philanthropy. We offer a number of options to fit your needs.

Partnering with Seattle Foundation also supports Foundation-led community impact strategies and Core Programs. Together, we ignite powerful and rewarding philanthropy to make our region a healthy, more vibrant community for all.

How We Work With You

Philanthropic Advisors help you identify values and interests, assess your philanthropic budget, and — as applicable — consider your goals for involving successive generations. Using our expertise and deep knowledge of the community, we devise a giving plan that is personally rewarding, targeted and measurable.

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.

At each stage in our philanthropic journey there have been partners, friends and colleagues thinking the same thing: how do you go from direct service to systems change, how you focus your giving to have more impact.

— Janet Levinger, Seattle Foundation philanthropist and trustee