OVERVIEW: The William and Pamela Ayer Foundation supports health, education and STEM, mainly in the state of Washington.
IP TAKE: This is a small, selective funder that makes only a few grants annually, often to organizations with established connections to its founders. The foundation does not publicize grant guidelines or an application process, and available tax-filing research indicates that it selects its grantees in advance. Nonprofits without a connection to Bill or Pamela Ayer or their philanthropic networks will likely find this a difficult funder to approach.
PROFILE: Established in Bellevue in 2012, the William and Pamela Ayer Foundation is the philanthropic vehicle of airline mogul Bill Ayer and his wife, Pamela. Bill is the retired chairman and CEO of Alaska Air Group, the parent company of Alaska Airlines and its sister carrier, Horizon Air. The foundation does not maintain a website, which limits information available on its grantmaking priorities and activities. According to tax records, the William and Pamela Ayer Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to health, higher education and STEM in the state of Washington.
Grants for Youth Development and Higher Education
Youth development and outdoor recreation have emerged as significant recent funding interests.
- The foundation awarded $270,725 in 2024 and $300,000 in 2025 to Four Winds–Westward Ho, a nonprofit residential summer camp on Orcas Island in Washington’s San Juan Islands.
Higher education is another established funding interest.
- In 2023, the foundation awarded approximately $255,500 to the University of Washington Foundation.
- Bill Ayer served on the University of Washington Board of Regents from 2012 to 2022 and remains involved with the university through the board of its investment management company.
- Bill and Pamela Ayer also provided the founding endowment for the university’s Presidential Scholarship program in 2018.
Grants for Public Health and Diseases
Health is a longstanding interest, particularly kidney care.
- In 2022, the foundation awarded $250,000 in unrestricted support to Northwest Kidney Centers, a Seattle-based nonprofit providing kidney care, patient education and related services.
- Pamela Ayer has also been involved with Northwest Kidney Centers and the University of Washington’s Kidney Research Institute, including service on the institute’s Patient Advisory Committee. The Ayers have supported kidney care initiatives in the Bellevue area.
Important Grant Details:
Grants range from $25,000 to $250,000. The foundation awards around $250,000 in grants each year.
- This funder tends to make fewer than five grants per year.
- Grants tend to support organizations where the Ayers maintain involvement.
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals for funding.
- The foundation keeps a low profile and does not provide a way to get in touch. Its phone number is listed as (206) 295-4510. A mailing address is provided below.
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CONTACT:
William and Pamela Ayer Foundation
15829 SE 56th Place
Bellevue, WA 98006
(206) 295-4510
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