OVERVIEW: The Sujal and Meera Patel Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to education and health in the Seattle area.
IP TAKE: The Sujal and Meera Patel Foundation is a relatively small, selective funder that makes most of its grants to a handful of established nonprofits. Education is a particularly strong interest, with substantial ongoing support for University Prep School in Seattle. Although most grants are modest, the foundation occasionally makes awards in the six figures. The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals and provides little public information about its funding priorities. For prospective grantees, an existing relationship with the Patels or one of their regular grantees is likely the most promising way to get on this funder’s radar.
PROFILE: Established in 2011, the Sujal and Meera Patel Foundation was founded by technology entrepreneur Sujal Patel and his wife, Meera. Sujal earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science from the University of Maryland, College Park. He founded Isilon Systems, a data storage company, in 2001 and led the company through its acquisition by EMC in 2010. He is also a cofounder and CEO of Nautilus Biotechnology, a life sciences technology company, and a strategic director at Madrona. Sujal serves on the board of Rainier Scholars, a longtime foundation grantee.
Meera Patel earned an accounting degree from Rutgers University and previously worked in the biotechnology industry. She has described herself as managing the family’s foundation and serves on the advisory board of Optimist, a documentary filmmaking organization. Foundation tax records list Sujal as president and treasurer and Meera as vice president and secretary.
The foundation does not maintain a website or publish grantmaking guidelines. Giving primarily stays in the Seattle area, although the foundation has also supported organizations in California and Montana.
Grants for K-12 and Higher Education
Education is one of the Patel Foundation’s strongest grantmaking interests.
- The foundation provides substantial support to University Prep School, an independent middle and high school in Seattle. According to tax records, University Prep received $290,000 in 2023 and $280,000 in 2024, making it the foundation’s largest recent grantee.
- Another regular beneficiary is Rainier Scholars, which provides long-term academic enrichment, college preparation and career opportunities for students facing barriers to educational advancement. Sujal Patel serves on the organization’s board. Rainier Scholars received $25,000 from the foundation in 2024.
- The foundation also supports higher education through the University of Washington Foundation, which received $30,000 in 2024.
Grants for Health and Cancer Research
The Patel Foundation supports children’s healthcare and cancer research, with an emphasis on established medical and research institutions.
- Seattle Children’s Hospital Foundation is a recurring grantee and received two grants totaling $30,000 in 2024.
- The foundation also awarded $25,000 that year to Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, a Seattle-based institution focused on cancer research and treatment.
- Another health-related grantee is the California-based Canary Foundation, which supports research aimed at detecting cancer earlier. It received $20,000 in 2024.
Grants for Arts and Culture
Outside of education and health, the Patel Foundation has provided ongoing support to Creative Visions Foundation, a California nonprofit that uses art, media and storytelling to advance social change. Creative Visions supports filmmakers, artists and other creative professionals through programs that include fiscal sponsorship, impact media initiatives and a network of creative activists.
Meera Patel also serves on the advisory board of Optimist, a documentary filmmaking organization. This connection, along with repeated grants to Creative Visions, points to a personal interest in storytelling and socially engaged media.
Important Grant Details:
Grants range from $2,000 to $30,000. The foundation awards over $400,000 in grants each year.
- This funder typically makes fewer than ten grants per year and tends to provide ongoing support to its grantees.
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals for funding.
- This funder does not provide a direct way to get in touch. Its telephone number is listed as (425) 629-1990. A mailing address is provided below.
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CONTACT:
Sujal and Meera Patel Foundation
c/o Stetson Koenes PLLC
155 108th Avenue NE, No 320
Bellevue, WA 98004
(425) 629-1990
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