OVERVIEW: The Ridge Road Foundation funds grantmaking related to democracy and climate change. Giving is national in scope but prioritizes the Seattle area.
IP TAKE: The Ridge Road Foundation is a low-profile funder that supports progressive civic and environmental causes in Washington and elsewhere in the U.S. Recent grants suggest particular interest in rural organizing, democratic participation, climate policy and organizations that strengthen advocacy and community infrastructure.
The foundation does not appear to maintain a public grantmaking website, but its tax filings provide instructions for submitting written funding requests. There are no published application deadlines or detailed eligibility requirements. Grantseekers working in Washington’s civic engagement and environmental networks, or with organizations that have received funding from Ridge Road, may have the strongest prospects for making a connection.
PROFILE: Established in 1998, the Ridge Road Foundation (formerly the S.B. Schaar and P.K. Whelpton Foundation) is steered by Jabe Blumenthal, Microsoft’s first program manager, and his wife, Julie Edsforth, a nonprofit management consultant. Blumenthal graduated from Yale University in 1982 and joined Microsoft, where he helped design the original version of Excel and became the company’s first program manager. He subsequently taught mathematics and physics at Seattle’s Lakeside School, where he led the science department. Blumenthal has served in leadership roles with several environmental and public policy organizations, including Climate Solutions, the Washington Environmental Council and the Washington State Budget and Policy Center. He also co-founded the Progress Alliance of Washington, a donor network supporting progressive organizing and advocacy in the state
The foundation does not maintain a website, which limits information available on its grantmaking priorities and activities. According to tax records, the foundation prioritizes democracy and environmental causes.
Grants for Civic Engagement and Democracy
Ridge Road grants support progressive organizations involved in voter engagement and grassroots organizing in Washington and elsewhere in the U.S.
- Jabe is a cofounder of the Progress Alliance of Washington, whose mission is to “build a permanent and powerful social change movement in Washington state supported by a network of committed donors.” The organization receives ongoing support from the foundation.
- Other Washington grants have gone to Seattle’s Futurewise and the Washington State Budget and Policy Center.
- In other parts of the the U.S., grants have supported NEO Philanthropy’s Democracy Capacity Project, the Organizing Empowerment Fund in Wisconsin, the New Hampshire Democracy Fund and the Black Male Voter Project in Atlanta.
- In 2025, the foundation awarded $125,000 to the Rural Democracy Initiative/Heartland Fund, a funding collaborative that invests in rural civic engagement, organizing and leadership development. The foundation also awarded $25,000 to Washington’s Rural People’s Platform and $10,000 to the RuralOrganizing.org Education Fund.
Grants for Environment and Climate Change
Environmental conservation, climate advocacy and clean energy are longstanding interests of the foundation.
- Jabe is an active environmentalist. He has been involved with Conservation Northwest, helping to protect Washington’s Loomis Forest. He has also served on the board of Washington’s Climate Solutions. Both organizations have received ongoing support.
- Recent giving supports organizations engaged in climate and energy policy, research, environmental advocacy and conservation, particularly in Washington and the Pacific Northwest.
- In 2025, the foundation awarded $42,500 to the Seattle-based Clean Energy Transition Institute, which conducts research and analysis to support the transition to cleaner energy systems.
- Other recent environmental grants included $35,000 to Climate Solutions and $11,000 to the Sightline Institute in 2024. Both organizations work on environmental and public policy issues affecting the Pacific Northwest.
- Past recipients have also included Environmental Defense Fund, Toxic-Free Future, and Futurewise.
Important Grant Details:
Grants range from $200 to $50,000.
- This progressive funder supports initiatives for civic engagement, democracy, conservation and climate change, prioritizing the state of Washington.
- The foundation tends to give to large- and medium-sized organizations with strong reputations.
- The Schaar and Whelpton Foundation indicates that it will accept written requests for funding that state “the purpose for which the contribution will be used.” A mailing address is provided below.
- This funder’s phone number is listed as (425) 213-1550. Proposals should be mailed to the foundation at the address below.
PEOPLE:
Search for staff contact info and bios in PeopleFinder (paid subscribers only).
CONTACT:
Ridge Road Foundation
(Formerly S.B. Schaar and P.K. Whelpton Foundation)
Attn: Scott Kim
3055 112th Avenue NE, Suite 100
Bellevue, WA 98004
(425) 213-1550
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