OVERVIEW: This progressive funder supports education, climate policy and civic engagement in Washington. Some of its climate funding extends to Michigan and national organizations involved in climate technology.
IP TAKE: The Stolte Family Foundation is an established, invitation-only grantmaker supporting climate solutions and civic engagement, principally in Washington, with climate investments in Michigan and nationally. Its grantmaking combines public policy and advocacy with community organizing, research, clean-energy implementation, movement infrastructure and selected program-related investments. The foundation is winding down its education program in 2027 and is not taking on new education grantees. It does not accept unsolicited funding proposals. Prospective partners are most likely to come to its attention through trusted grantees, issue coalitions and philanthropic networks aligned with its priorities. Rural climate organizations may also consider the separately administered Rural Climate Partnership, which currently accepts rolling inquiries.
PROFILE: Established in 2015, the Stolte Family Foundation is the philanthropic vehicle of its cofounders, Chris and Heidi Stolte. Chris Stolte graduated from Simon Fraser University in British Columbia with a B.S. in computer science in 1996 from and Stanford University with a Ph.D. in computer science in 2004. He cofounded BeeLine Systems, a digital mapping startup that was acquired by Vicinity Corporation. Chris Stolte went on to cofound Tableau Software in Seattle, which was acquired by Salesforce in 2019 for $15.7 billion. Heidi Stotle is a former elementary school educator. The foundation “champion[s] an equitable and thriving future by partnering with organizations who are advancing solutions in education, climate, and civic engagement. Giving mainly serves the state of Washington.
Grants for Early Childhood and K-12 Education
The Stolte Family Foundation’ s education grantmaking works to close “opportunity gaps by engaging families and communities in King, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties.” The foundation names three priorities for this giving area.
- Grants for home visiting provide funding for programs that “bring learning and engagement opportunities into homes” of children between the ages of one and four. Fostering secure attachment, language development and providing referrals for intervention services are priorities.
- Family engagement grants aim to “make families an active, sustained part of their kids’ learning.” Programs that empower families to advocate for students and partner with schools and other community organizations are main areas of interest.
- Strong Systems grants invest in advocacy and policy for increased access to affordable childcare and preschool.
- Education grants have supported organizations including BELONG Partners, which runs workshops to support social and emotional development in young children, and Child Care Aware of Washington, which conducts research and advocacy for expanded access to quality childcare and early education.
Stolte is winding down its education grantmaking and will conclude the program in 2027. The foundation is not accepting new education funding applications or establishing new education funding partnerships.
Grants for Climate Change
The foundation’s climate giving area focuses on “[p]rotecting people and our planet by advancing a carbon-free economy.” The foundation pursues three main goals in this area.
- In Washington, Stolte works to engage stakeholders including communities, Indigenous groups, businesses, advocates and others to “chart a way to a carbon-free future” for the state. Grantees include the Center for Sustainable Infrastructure, the Clean and Prosperous Institute and Earthgen, which collaborates with schools and educators to increase climate awareness among students.
- The foundation also makes climate grants for the state of Michigan, which, according to the foundation, “is poised to lead the way toward clean-energy transportation.” Here, grants aim to engage “rural communities and communities of color” in policy for clean energy, water and air. Grantees include the Citizens Utility Board of Michigan, the Institute for Energy Innovation and the Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition.
- Stolte also makes grants for energy and climate policy on the national level, focusing on technology innovation to “unlock[…] the technologies that will power a rapid transition to a clean-energy economy.” National grantees include the Carbon Leadership Forum, the League of Conservation Voters Education Fund and the media organization Grist.
Grants for Civic Engagement and Democracy
The foundation’s civic engagement grantmaking focus area aims to “encourage[…] widespread participation in leadership, policy, and funding decisions that have big impacts in Washington communities.”
- A portion of the foundation’s civic engagement funding supports the development of an infrastructure to “help groups coordinate with each other, communicate with voters, and empower great candidates.”
- Funding is also earmarked for grassroots organizing and leadership development to address specific community needs.
- Grantmaking also prioritizes the needs and interests of Washington’s rural communities, including access to healthcare, affordable housing, connectivity and economic development.
Civic engagement grants have supported Washington organizations including the Washington Budget and Policy Center, the Washington Progress Alliance, Community to Community Development and the Fair Work Center.
Important Grant Details:
Stolte’s grants range from $156 to $700,000. The foundation awards around $8 million in grants each year.
- This funder has made close to a hundred grants a year recently, with most grants supporting policy and advocacy organizations in the state of Washington.
- The foundation’s climate program earmarks funds for efforts in Michigan and national organizations supporting climate technology innovation.
- This funder does not accept letters of inquiry. It works with “community partners and advisors to identify organizations who are aligned with our funding priorities.”
- For information about past grants, see the foundation’s searchable Grantee Partners database.
- Submit general inquiries to the Stolte Family Foundation by selecting the connect tab at the top of the website and entering your message in the form.
- The foundation’s phone number is listed as (206) 453-0444.
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