Seattle Foundation

Seattle Foundation

Seattle Foundation was established in 1946 as a community foundation serving the Greater Seattle region. Alesha Washington serves as President and CEO. The foundation focuses on equity and opportunity through grantmaking and impact investments. The foundation allocates 5.99 percent of assets to private equity and maintains commitments to HarbourVest Partners and Actis through its Balanced Pool. It operates the Evergreen Impact Housing Fund, a $150 million vehicle providing low-cost capital for affordable housing. Confirmed projects include the 590-unit Solera mixed-income development and the 260-unit Polaris at Totem Lake, both in the Greater Seattle area. Geographic focus remains Washington state with additional exposure through global private equity holdings. The foundation employs 50 professionals and maintains a supporting organization, TSF Properties, to manage real estate donations. It participates in Philanthropy Northwest and the Council on Foundations. In May 2024 it sponsored GiveBIG, the annual community-wide day of giving in Seattle. The foundation functions as a public grantmaking entity rather than a private family office, with governance through an independent board and investment committee. Its structure separates donor-advised funds from its own endowment and housing investment activities.