The Seattle Foundation
Manages targeted funds and awards grants to support historically underinvested communities and address critical needs throughout the greater Seattle area. For fiscal year 2024 it reported $314.7M in revenue, $244.5M in expenses, and $1.3B in net assets.Pt I
- Founded
- 1946
- Type
- Public foundation / grantmaker · Foundations & Grantmakers
- Location
- Seattle, WA
- Website
- www.seattlefoundation.org
- Filings
- 5 on file (2020–2024)
More identity details & actions ⌄
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Summary of the Filing
Where the work happens
Donor-Recommended Grantmaking
Seattle foundation's mission is to ignite powerful, rewarding philanthropy to make greater seattle a more vibrant, stronger community for all. With approximately 600 individual, family, and corporate funds, this area of investment reflects the grantmaking recommended by our donors to support a broad range of community needs and…
Community Leadership
Seattle foundation draws on our deep community insight and long history as a civic leader to launch and participate in cross-sector initiatives that amplify our reach and impact. Led by our vision of a joyful community of shared prosperity, belonging, and justice, our role as a civic leader is to align key stakeholders around strategies…
Foundation-Directed Grantmaking
Seattle foundation manages targeted funds, called area of interest funds, on behalf of the community and in partnership with community advisory groups, to support defined interest areas. This includes various programs designed to enhance community well-being and support geographies that have been historically underinvested in.
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Identity & Classification
Governance & Policies
Officers, Directors & Key Employees
Alesha Washington’s $481K as President & CEO is at the 50th percentile of top reported officer pay among 129 $100M+ philanthropy & grantmaking nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.
Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII
| Name | FY2024 | FY2023 | FY2022 | FY2021 | FY2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alesha Washington | $481,225 | $448,701 | $312,969 | — | — |
| Tony Mestes | — | — | — | — | $474,514 |
| David Bley | — | — | $243,793 | $357,188 | — |
| Kirstin Sandaas | — | — | — | $92,548 | $288,852 |
| Kristine Hermanns | $287,236 | $225,686 | $251,250 | $242,990 | $223,750 |
| Larry Buycks | $280,708 | — | — | — | — |
| Michele Frix Dassell | $274,059 | $217,048 | $214,756 | — | — |
| Josephine Wong | — | — | $270,050 | $164,700 | — |
Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.
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Statement of Revenue
Statement of Functional Expenses
Balance Sheet
Financial Metrics
Same NTEE category, revenue band, and state where available. Descriptive — not a grade.
| Metric | This org | Peer median | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Program ratio | 95% | — | — |
| Overhead ratio | 4% | — | — |
| Fundraising cost ratio | 0.5% | — | — |
| Revenue growth | 69% | — | — |
| Investment management fee ratio | 0.5% | — | — |
| Legal fee ratio | 0.1% | — | — |
| Accounting fee ratio | 0.1% | — | — |
Straight from the Form 990 — descriptive, not an evaluation. A ratio is hidden when its base is zero or too small to be meaningful; the dollars are always shown.
Grants
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Filings & Schedule Manifest
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Sources
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