Biella Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Biella Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to disaster relief, human services, education, and veterans causes.
IP TAKE: The foundation lacks transparency, which limits information available on its grantmaking priorities and activities. It’s not an accessible funder, which is common of small foundations that serve locally. To get on this funder’s radar, write to them, outlining your work, provided that it aligns closely with theirs, and how a realistic, rather than idealized, budget plan could help facilitate your organization’s work.
PROFILE: Established in 1982, the Biella Foundation was established by the late real estate developer Mart Bert, who emigrated to the U.S. from Italy when he was three years old and then grew up in Seattle. The foundation is named for the Italian village, Biella, where his parents married. The foundation does not maintain a website, which limits information available on its grantmaking priorities and activities. According to tax filings, the Biella Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to disaster relief, human services, education, and veterans causes.
In recent years, the Biella Foundation has keyed in on community colleges in its orbit. It gave a $340,000 donation to all 34 community colleges in Washington. Each college received $10,000 in the form of scholarships that can be granted to any student in any program.
Important Grant Details:
Grants range from $2,417 to $374,000. In a recent fiscal year, the foundation gave away around $3.17 million. Past grantees include South Seattle Community College, Compass Housing Alliance, Food Lifeline, Heartbeat Serving Wounded Warriors, Liberty Road Foundation, Queen Anne Presbyterian Church, Sound Generations, and Wellspring Family Services.
The foundation keeps a low profile and does not accept unsolicited proposals.
PEOPLE:
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CONTACT:
Biella Foundation
10829 NE 68th Street, Suite 200
Kirkland, WA 98033
