Sequoia Foundation
Tacoma, WA · EIN 91-1178052. Reported 280 grants totalling $6,624,420 to 109 organizations across tax years 2020-2023. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.
Does this foundation accept applications?
Yes -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation whether it makes grants only to organizations it selects itself. Of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered, 78% said yes -- and applying to those is wasted effort. Sequoia Foundation did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.
How big are its grants?
The median grant is $10,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $10,000 and $30,000; the smallest was $2,500 and the largest $150,000. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which the organization received money -- more than one means a real relationship rather than a one-off.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| America's Automotive Trust | Tacoma, WA | $700,000 | 5 | 4 | 2023 |
| University of Washington Foundation | Seattle, WA | $445,000 | 7 | 4 | 2023 |
| Tacoma Arts Live | Tacoma, WA | $430,000 | 10 | 4 | 2023 |
| Tacoma Art Museum | Tacoma, WA | $340,000 | 8 | 4 | 2023 |
| United Way of Pierce County | Tacoma, WA | $235,000 | 8 | 4 | 2023 |
| Tacoma Housing Authority | Tacoma, WA | $221,920 | 4 | 3 | 2023 |
| Museum of Glass | Tacoma, WA | $210,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Foundation for Tacoma Students | Tacoma, WA | $200,000 | 3 | 3 | 2022 |
| University of Puget Sound | Tacoma, WA | $200,000 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Boys and Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound | Tacoma, WA | $180,000 | 7 | 4 | 2023 |
| College Success Foundation | Tacoma, WA | $150,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| College Success Foundation - Tacoma | Tacoma, WA | $150,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Fuller Theological Seminary | Pasadena, CA | $150,000 | 3 | 3 | 2022 |
| Multicare Health Foundation | Tacoma, WA | $120,000 | 6 | 4 | 2023 |
| Northwest Immigrant Rights Project | Seattle, WA | $120,000 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Symphony Tacoma | Tacoma, WA | $120,000 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Virginia Mason Foundation | Seattle, WA | $100,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| American Leadership Forum Tacomapierce County | Tacoma, WA | $90,000 | 5 | 4 | 2023 |
| Palmer Scholars | Tacoma, WA | $80,000 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Comprehensive Life Resources | Tacoma, WA | $75,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Washington State Boys & Girls Clubs Association | Olympia, WA | $75,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Museum of Glass | Tacoma, AL | $70,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Multicultural Child and Family Hope Center | Tacoma, WA | $65,000 | 3 | 3 | 2022 |
| Forterra | Seattle, WA | $60,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Hilltop Artists | Tacoma, WA | $60,000 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Tacoma Opera Association | Tacoma, WA | $60,000 | 3 | 3 | 2022 |
| Tacoma Pierce County Chamber of Commerce | Tacoma, WA | $60,000 | 3 | 3 | 2022 |
| Tacoma Youth Symphony | Tacoma, WA | $60,000 | 3 | 3 | 2022 |
| YWCA Pierce County | Tacoma, WA | $60,000 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Degrees of Change | Tacoma, WA | $55,000 | 5 | 4 | 2023 |
| Emergency Food Network | Lakewood, WA | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Japanese American Citizens League | Kent, WA | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Northwest Cooperative Development Center | Olympia, WA | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Opera America Inc | New York, NY | $50,000 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Youth Marine Foundation | Tacoma, WA | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Greentrike | Tacoma, WA | $46,000 | 5 | 4 | 2023 |
| Greater Metro Parks Foundation | Tacoma, WA | $41,500 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Habitat for Humanity Tacoma Pierce County | Tacoma, WA | $40,000 | 4 | 3 | 2023 |
| Phillips Exeter Academy | Exeter, NH | $40,000 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Seattle Symphony | Seattle, WA | $40,000 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Carol Milgard Breast Center | Tacoma, WA | $37,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Olive Crest | Bellevue, WA | $35,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Safe Streets Campaign | Tacoma, WA | $35,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Key Peninsula Partnership for a Healthy Community | Vaughn, WA | $33,100 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Amara Parenting & Adoption Services | Tacoma, WA | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2022 |
| Edge Foundation | Seattle, WA | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Foss Waterway Seaport | Tacoma, WA | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Friends of the Children Tacoma | Tacoma, WA | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Greater Tacoma Community Foundation | Tacoma, WA | $30,000 | 5 | 4 | 2023 |
| International Center for Religion and Diplomacy | Washington, DC | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| New Phoebe House Association | Tacoma, WA | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Peace Community Center | Tacoma, WA | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2022 |
| Sound Outreach | Tacoma, WA | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| The Center for Dialog & Resolution | Tacoma, WA | $30,000 | 3 | 2 | 2023 |
| YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties | Tacoma, WA | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| The Mockingbird Society | Seattle, WA | $27,000 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Artsfund | Seattle, WA | $25,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Nw Furniture Bank | Tacoma, WA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| The Mustard Seed Project | Vaughn, WA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Women Make Movies | New York, NY | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Puget Sound Revels | Tacoma, WA | $23,000 | 4 | 3 | 2023 |
| Associated Ministries of Tacoma Pierce County | Tacoma, WA | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Brightspark Early Learning Services | Tacoma, WA | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Building Youth Through Music | Tacoma, WA | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Exodus Housing | Puyallup, WA | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Franciscan Foundation Washington | Tacoma, WA | $20,000 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Helping Hand House | Puyallup, WA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Humane Society for Tacoma and Pierce County | Tacoma, WA | $20,000 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Pediatric Interim Care Center | Kent, WA | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Rainier Scholars | Seattle, WA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Sabala International Center | Tacoma, WA | $20,000 | 2 | 1 | 2022 |
| Tacoma Opera | Tacoma, WA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Tacoma Parks Foundation | Tacoma, WA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Tacoma Pierce County Chamber of Commerce Foundation | Tacoma, WA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Tacoma Pierce County Chaplaincy | Puyallup, WA | $20,000 | 3 | 3 | 2022 |
| Tacoma Youth Symphony Association | Tacoma, WA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Making a Difference Foundation | Tacoma, WA | $17,500 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| AIDS Housing Association of Tacoma | Tacoma, WA | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Catherine Place | Tacoma, WA | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2022 |
| Children's Home Society of Washington | Seattle, WA | $15,000 | 3 | 2 | 2021 |
| Forest History Society Inc | Durham, NC | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Trinity Presbyterian Church | Tacoma, WA | $12,500 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Barbara Jean Brown Foundation | Tacoma, WA | $11,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Amara | Tacoma, WA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Child Care Resources | Tacoma, WA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Gig Harbor Now | Gig Harbor, WA | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Harbor Hope Center | Gig Harbor, WA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Hearing Speech & Deaf Center | Seattle, WA | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Key Peninsula Historical Society and Museum | Vaughn, WA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Koinonia Community Development Council | Tacoma, WA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Neighborhood Clinic | Tacoma, WA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Next Chapter Foundation | Tacoma, WA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Northwest Education Access | Seattle, WA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Third Sector New England Inc | Boston, MA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Treehouse | Seattle, WA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Zeno | Seattle, WA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Philanthropy Northwest | Seattle, WA | $8,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Raising Girls | Tacoma, WA | $7,900 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Wishing Well Foundation | Puyallup, WA | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| WRITE253 | Tacoma, WA | $5,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Akin | Seattle, WA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Alchemy Skateboarding & Education Center | Tacoma, WA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Cjk Community Homes | Tacoma, WA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Communities in Schools of Peninsula | Vaughn, WA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Grand Tacoma Cine Club | Tacoma, WA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Pierce County AIDS Foundation | Tacoma, WA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Rainbow Center | Tacoma, WA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Tacoma Historical Society | Tacoma, WA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Tacoma Tool Library | Tacoma, WA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
70 of 109 (64%) received money in more than one year over the 4 years we hold.
Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 65%, across 3 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is about typical. A high number means its list is close to settled and a newcomer has to displace someone; a low one means it is still moving money around, which is where an opening is.
What the money was for
Taken verbatim from the purpose field of its filings. This is the closest thing to a statement of what this foundation cares about, in its own words.
- America's Automotive Trust
CY 2024 GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT - University of Washington Foundation
FYE 8/2023-2027 DIABETES ADOLESCENT AND - Tacoma Arts Live
FYE 6/2024 GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT - Tacoma Housing Authority
OPERATING - THA CHILDREN'S SAVINGS ACCOUNT PROGRAM - Tacoma Art Museum
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT (ANNUAL) - Museum of Glass
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT- CULTURE AND THE ARTS
What kind of organizations it funds
By the recipient's own IRS classification, for the 218 grants where we could identify the organization. These are assigned categories, not our guesses.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 61 | $1,644,920 | $15,000 |
| 2021 | 77 | $1,756,000 | $10,000 |
| 2022 | 68 | $1,670,500 | $10,000 |
| 2023 | 74 | $1,553,000 | $10,000 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.
Already committed for future years
Form 990-PF has a separate schedule for grants approved but not yet paid. Sequoia Foundation has 38 of them, worth $1,222,000. This is the one part of the filing that looks forward rather than back -- and it also tells you how much of the next year's budget is already spoken for.
| Organization | Location | Approved |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle Opera | Seattle, WA | $100,000 |
| Seattle Opera | Seattle, WA | $100,000 |
| Tacoma Housing Authority | Tacoma, WA | $80,000 |
| Museum of Glass | Tacoma, AL | $70,000 |
| University of Washington Foundation | Seattle, WA | $62,500 |
| Asia Pacific Cultural Center | Tacoma, WA | $50,000 |
| Fuller Theological Seminary | Pasadena, CA | $50,000 |
| Virginia Mason Foundation | Seattle, WA | $50,000 |
| University of Puget Sound | Tacoma, WA | $50,000 |
| Fuller Theological Seminary | Pasadena, CA | $50,000 |
| Multicare Health Foundation | Tacoma, WA | $50,000 |
| Virginia Mason Foundation | Seattle, WA | $50,000 |
| University of Washington Foundation | Seattle, WA | $50,000 |
| Tacoma Arts Live | Tacoma, WA | $50,000 |
| Fuller Theological Seminary | Pasadena, CA | $50,000 |
Where its money goes
Foundations concentrate geographically far more than their mission statements suggest. 94% of this one's giving went to organizations in Washington. If you are outside its footprint, that matters more than how well your programme fits.
Find more foundations like Sequoia Foundation
We email you newly filed foundations whose giving matches your state and cause, as the IRS publishes them. Free.
No spam, unsubscribe in one click. We never sell or share your address.
Funders that support the same organizations
These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are the strongest available signal that two funders have overlapping priorities, and a funder already backing your peers is a far warmer prospect than one that merely lists your cause.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $10,000. Asking for ten times that is the most common way small organizations waste a submission.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in Washington.
- Read the recipient list above for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer, and a cheap one to get.
- Look up the current filing before writing. The 990-PF names the foundation's officers and, where one exists, its application procedure. We link it below.
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from Sequoia Foundation's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 4 returns (tax years 2020-2023). Nothing here is scraped, inferred, or estimated.
Address of record on the latest return: P O Box 1278, Tacoma, WA, 98401. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS; many small foundations file through an accountant or a bank trust department, so it may not be where post to a programme officer should go.
EIN 91-1178052 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
Is something here wrong about your foundation? Email hello@funderscope.com and we will correct it.