OVERVIEW: The Grousemont Foundation makes grants for racial justice, environmental causes, health, human services, education and more in the greater Seattle area.
IP TAKE: The Grousemont Foundation is a significant regional grantmaker that emphasizes long-term relationships, community-led solutions and flexible funding, including multiyear unrestricted grants. However, this funder does not accept unsolicited applications, proposals or letters of interest. Organizations working on racial equity, environmental justice, housing and other community priorities in the Seattle area are strong prospective fits. Building meaningful connections through existing grantees, local coalitions and relevant issue networks may help organizations become known to the foundation, although no formal referral process is advertised.
PROFILE: The Grousemont Foundation was established in 1984 by Howard S. Wright. Wright’s family company, the Howard S. Wright Construction Company, built Seattle’s landmark Space Needle. The Grousemont Foundation’s mission involves “resourcing communities to build a healthy and equitable Cascadia region.”
The foundation currently organizes its grantmaking into four programs:
- Community Partners provides three-year grants to organizations working in the arts, education, environment, health and human services. The program supports nonprofits addressing community needs, particularly those affecting historically underserved populations.
- Social Impact makes multiyear grants to organizations rooted in Black, Indigenous and other communities of color. Its current priorities include affordable housing and community capacity building. The portfolio also includes an Emergent Needs strategy that makes one-time grants in response to urgent challenges arising from broader social or systemic disruptions.
- Climate & Environmental Justice supports organizations addressing climate change and environmental harms that disproportionately affect marginalized communities. Priorities include air and water quality, toxic exposures, climate mitigation and adaptation, and Indigenous land stewardship.
- Civic Impact supports capital projects and other civic initiatives that strengthen community institutions, public spaces and shared resources. The portfolio focuses on projects in Cascadia led by existing partners and other organizations with established relationships of trust.
All four programs operate without an open application process. Grousemont identifies potential recipients through its relationships and knowledge of communities in the region.
Grants for Environment, Climate Change, and Environmental Justice
Grousemont’s Climate & Environmental Justice grantmaking focuses on the relationship between environmental conditions, climate change and social inequities. The foundation supports organizations addressing pollution, environmental health, climate adaptation, and the disproportionate environmental burdens facing marginalized communities. Indigenous stewardship of land and cultural resources is another stated priority.
- The foundation made a $1.5 million multiyear unrestricted commitment to the Duwamish River Community Coalition, formerly the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition, which advocates for communities affected by pollution in Seattle’s Duwamish Valley through environmental policy work, community organizing and youth engagement.
- Recent grants have also supported Washington Conservation Action Education Fund and Toxic-Free Future. Both organizations work on environmental issues affecting Washington communities.
- Other supported organizations include The Nature Conservancy’s Washington program and the University of Washington’s EarthLab, which connects research, environmental challenges and community-based solutions.
Grants for Racial Justice and Indigenous Rights
Racial equity is a central theme across Grousemont’s grantmaking, particularly through its Social Impact and Climate & Environmental Justice programs. The foundation emphasizes organizations rooted in communities affected by longstanding systemic inequities, with multiyear support intended to help these groups pursue community-directed change.
- Grousemont made a $1 million multiyear unrestricted grant to Community Passageways, a Seattle nonprofit working with young people affected by the criminal legal system. The organization develops community-based alternatives to incarceration and supports youth and young adults through mentoring and other services.
- In 2023, Grousemont made a $2.5 million grant to Seattle Foundation designated for the Black Future Co-op Fund, which supports Black-led community philanthropy in Washington.
- Other recent recipients include the Tubman Center for Health & Freedom, which received $250,000 for a capital campaign in 2024, and Young Women Empowered, which received $150,000 in unrestricted support that year.
Grants for Immigrants and Refugees
Although Grousemont does not identify immigration and refugee services as a separate grantmaking area, its recent giving includes substantial support for organizations assisting immigrant and refugee communities in Washington.
- In 2024, the foundation made a $200,000 capital campaign grant to Refugee Artisan Initiative, which supports refugee and immigrant women through employment and economic opportunities.
- The foundation also awarded $150,000 in unrestricted support to Refugee Women’s Alliance and $210,000 to Riverton Park United Methodist Church for a migrant arrival program in 2024.
Grants for Public Health
Grousemont supports health and healthcare through its Community Partners, Social Impact, and Civic Impact programs. Its giving includes community health services, healthcare access, mental health and facilities intended to strengthen the region’s healthcare infrastructure.
- Recent grantees include Neighborcare Health, which received $80,000 for staff wellness support in 2024, and Seattle Children’s Foundation, which received $100,000 in unrestricted support that year.
- The Tubman Center for Health & Freedom received $250,000 for its capital campaign in 2024. The organization is developing a community-designed model of healthcare intended to address both clinical needs and broader health inequities.
- Other recent recipients include Sound, a behavioral health services provider serving the Seattle area.
Grants for Housing, Homelessness, Work and Opportunity
Affordable housing and housing stability are explicit priorities of Grousemont’s Social Impact program.
- The foundation identifies three areas of interest: homelessness and housing stability, affordable housing development, and first-time homeownership.
- Funding in this area includes multiyear capacity-building support intended to help organizations strengthen their operations and address structural barriers to stable housing and economic security.
- Previous grantees include Plymouth Housing Group, which develops and operates supportive housing, and Byrd Barr Place, which helps Seattle residents meet basic needs and improve financial stability.
- The foundation has also supported FareStart, which provides food services and employment training.
- Other past recipients include YouthCare, which works with young people experiencing homelessness and housing instability.
- Grousemont’s Social Impact focus area also includes an Emergent Needs strategy that makes one-time grants in response to urgent external or systemic challenges.
Grants for K-12 and Higher Education
Education funding is primarily associated with Grousemont’s Community Partners and Civic Impact portfolios. Giving supports schools, youth development, educational access and initiatives intended to improve opportunities for students.
- Grantees include the Ballard High School Foundation, which received $75,000 in unrestricted support in 2024, and the Hamlin Robinson School, which received support in 2023.
- Grousemont has also supported the Vashon Island Public Schools Foundation and Young Women Empowered, which provides leadership and mentorship opportunities for young people.
- The foundation has made significant investments in the University of Washington’s Brotherhood and Sisterhood Initiatives, which support the academic, personal and professional development of students of color.
Grants for Arts, Culture and Community Development
Arts, culture, and civic infrastructure remain important components of Grousemont’s giving. The foundation supports cultural institutions, community arts organizations and projects that improve public gathering spaces and shared community resources.
- Arts and culture grantees include Seattle JazzED, Seattle Opera and Seattle Repertory Theatre.
- Additional recipients include the Seattle Aquarium, Woodland Park Zoo and other institutions serving the Seattle region. The Woodland Park Zoological Society received $250,000 in unrestricted support in 2024.
Large capital commitments are a feature of Grousemont’s Civic Impact program.
- The foundation highlights a $2.5 million, one-year unrestricted grant for Seattle’s Memorial Stadium redevelopment, a project intended to modernize a major educational, recreational and community gathering space.
- The foundation also lists Neighborcare Health, the Seattle Aquarium, the University of Washington’s Brotherhood and Sisterhood Initiatives, and the Seattle Center Foundation as examples of past Civic Impact recipients.
Important Grant Details:
With very few exceptions, grants range from $500 to $725,000. The foundation awards around $2.5 million to $10 million in grants annually.
This funder makes dozens of grants each year, and small and newly-established nonprofits receive many of its more modest grants.
Grants only occasionally serve national organizations or organizations in other states. Giving clusters around Seattle and King County.
The Grousemont Foundation recently ended its practice of accepting grant applications.
Submit general inquiries to the Grousemont Foundation via email at info@grousemontfoundation.org.
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