The Bernier McCaw Foundation concentrates on large, strategic investments that strengthen BIPOC and Indigenous-led organizations and the nonprofit sector itself. Their funding emphasizes capacity-building (including capital and organizational development), leadership and workforce supports for nonprofits, and programs serving Black, Indigenous, and 2SLGBTQ+ Native communities in the Seattle/Pacific Northwest region. Grants are few but sizable and often directed to mission-driven groups and intermediary organizations that can scale impact.
A defining feature of Bernier Mccaw Foundation’s giving is the size of its commitments to nonprofit infrastructure and BIPOC-led institutions. The foundation backed Independent Sector with $1,000,000 for nonprofit workforce initiatives and a center on excellence for the nonprofit workforce, signaling interest in sector-wide capacity rather than project-only support. It also made repeated large investments in Indigenous-led and community-rooted organizations, including Sacred Land Collective, which received $600,000 in 2024 and $475,000 in 2025 for capacity building, and Southwest Indigenous Women's Coalition, which received $600,000 in 2025 for capacity-building support tied to a 2Spirit center. The pattern extends to organizations working on education, health, and cultural infrastructure in the Seattle region and beyond. Grants have supported Byrd Barr Place’s BIPOC education coalition, Tubman Center for Health and Freedom’s capital campaign, and Arte Noir’s general operations. Other sizable awards have gone to university-based diversity initiatives, pooled investment funds, and health equity work. Taken together, the foundation appears to prioritize strategic, multi-year support for organizations that can build durable community capacity.
Capacity building is central to the foundation’s portfolio. Sacred Land Collective received $600,000 in 2024 and $475,000 in 2025 for capacity building, while Southwest Indigenous Women's Coalition received $600,000 in 2025 for capacity-building support for a 2Spirit center. The foundation also supports nonprofit sector development. Independent Sector received $1,000,000 in 2025 for nonprofit workforce initiatives and a center on excellence for the nonprofit workforce, and Tides Foundation received $109,000 in 2023 for emerging practitioners in philanthropy. Community education and coalition work appears in grants such as $440,000 to Byrd Barr Place in 2025 and $420,000 in 2024 for the BIPOC ED Coalition. In health equity, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center received $175,000 in 2025 for gynecologic research and cancer equity.
Bernier Mccaw Foundation’s grant sizes skew large: the typical grant size is $25,000 at the 25th percentile, $95,000 at the median, and $200,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent record shows repeated support to some recipients across multiple years, including Sacred Land Collective, Byrd Barr Place, YWCA of Seattle-king-snohomish County, President & Fellows of Harvard College, and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. The foundation is a regular funder rather than a DAF vehicle, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments.
$4.5M
$4.2M
$4.6M
$4.7M
Most grants fall between $25K and $200K, with a median of $95K.
25th Percentile
$25K
Median
$95K
75th Percentile
$200K
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Concentrated, high-dollar giving with a small number of large grants; repeat funding to select grantees and a mix of direct service organizations and national intermediaries focused on capacity and sector-strengthening.
Notable grantees: Sacred Land Collective, Independent Sector, Byrd Barr Place, Southwest Indigenous Women's Coalition, Tubman Center for Health and Freedom
Giving is heavily concentrated in Washington, with 69% of grants going to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state and Washington also ranking first by grant count. Seattle shows up often, including grants to Byrd Barr Place, Tubman Center for Health and Freedom, YWCA of Seattle-king-snohomish County, and Washington Bus Education Fund. Other Washington recipients include Auburn, Bainbridge Island, and Spokane-area partners are not listed in the recent grants provided. Outside Washington, the foundation has funded organizations in Washington, DC; Mesa, Arizona; Bolinas, California; Cambridge, Massachusetts; Davidson, North Carolina; Oakland, California; San Francisco, California; and New York, New York.
The foundation repeatedly funds BIPOC-led, Indigenous-led, and community-based organizations, along with nonprofit infrastructure groups. Recent grants include support for capacity building, nonprofit workforce initiatives, BIPOC education coalitions, capital campaigns, and health equity work.
Typical grant size is $25,000 at the 25th percentile, $95,000 at the median, and $200,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent grant list also includes awards at the $1,000,000 level and multiple awards in the $300,000 to $600,000 range.
Yes. Washington is the top state by grant count, and 69% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state of Washington. Seattle is a frequent recipient city, with additional grants going to Auburn and Bainbridge Island.
Yes. Several recipients appear in more than one year, including Sacred Land Collective, Byrd Barr Place, YWCA of Seattle-king-snohomish County, President & Fellows of Harvard College, and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. That suggests some multi-year relationships rather than only one-time awards.
No. The foundation’s profile identifies it as not funding individuals, and its recent giving is directed to organizations such as Independent Sector, Sacred Land Collective, and Byrd Barr Place.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| INDEPENDENT SECTOR | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,000,000 | 2026 | NONPROFIT WORKFORCE INITIATIVES & CENTER ON EXCELLENCE FOR THE NONPROFIT WORKFORCE |
| TUBMAN CENTER FOR HEALTH & FREEDOM | SEATTLE, WA | $666,666 | 2026 | ASHAY |
| SOUTHWEST INDIGENOUS WOMEN'S COALITION | MESA, AZ | $600,000 | 2026 | CAPACITY-BUILDING GRANT FOR 2SPIRIT CENTER |
| NORTHWEST FILM FORUM | SEATTLE, WA | $503,500 | 2026 | WA NA WARI GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| INDEPENDENT SECTOR | WASHINGTON, DC | $500,000 | 2026 | CENTER ON EXCELLENCE FOR THE NONPROFIT WORKFORCE |
| SACRED LAND COLLECTIVE | AUBURN, WA | $475,000 | 2026 | CAPACITY BUILDING GRANT |
| BYRD BARR PLACE | SEATTLE, WA | $440,000 | 2026 | BIPOC ED COALITION |
| TUBMAN CENTER FOR HEALTH AND FREEDOM | SEATTLE, WA | $416,666 | 2026 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| 350 SEATTLE | SEATTLE, WA | $400,000 | 2026 | SEATTLE KING COUNTY AFRICAN AMERICAN REPARATIONS COMMITTEE |
| THE WHO WE ARE PROJECT | SEATTLE, WA | $400,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| SACRED LAND COLLECTIVE | AUBURN, WA | $400,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| YWCA OF SEATTLE-KING-SNOHOMISH COUNTY | SEATTLE, WA | $333,333 | 2026 | STRATEGIC DIRECTION INITIATIVES |
| YWCA OF SEATTLEKINGSNOHOMISH COUNTY | SEATTLE, WA | $333,333 | 2026 | STRATEGIC DIRECTION INITIATIVES |
| WASHINGTON BUS EDUCATION FUND | SEATTLE, WA | $215,000 | 2026 | WASHINGTON POWER BUILDING TABLE |
| DAVIDSON COLLEGE ANNUAL FUND | DAVIDSON, NC | $200,000 | 2026 | THELMA ADAIR PAVILION AT THE GEORGE LAWRENCE ABERNETHY LIBRARY |
| COMMONWEAL | BOLINAS, CA | $200,000 | 2026 | CENTER FOR HEALING & LIBERATION AND THE THREE BLACK MEN PROJECT |
| DAVIDSON COLLEGE | DAVIDSON, NC | $200,000 | 2026 | WILDCAT WOMEN FUND |
| PRESIDENT & FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $200,000 | 2026 | SEAS DEAN'S INNOVATIVE FUND FOR DIVERSITY, INCLUSION & BELONGING |
| RENTON REGIONAL COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | RENTON, WA | $200,000 | 2026 | CAPACITY BUILDING |
| BYRD BARR PLACE | SEATTLE, WA | $200,000 | 2026 | BIPOC ED COALITION NOW KNOWN AS ILE KIMOYO |
| FRED HUTCHINSON CANCER RESEARCH CENTER | SEATTLE, WA | $175,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT OF GYNECOLOGIC RESEARCH AND CANCER EQUITY |
| FRED HUTCHINSON CANCER CENTER | SEATTLE, WA | $175,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT OF GYNECOLOGIC RESEARCH AND CANCER EQUITY |
| CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT DOCUMENTARY INC | NEWTON, MA | $150,000 | 2026 | THE THREE BLACK MEN PROJECT |
| AFRICATOWN COMMUNITY LAND TRUST | SEATTLE, WA | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| SEATTLE CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION | SEATTLE, WA | $100,000 | 2026 | INVEST @ SC FUND |
| WASHINGTON COMMUNITY ALLIANCE | BELLINGHAM, WA | $100,000 | 2026 | BUILDING TO LAST CAMPAIGN |
| THE SEATTLE TIMES COMMUNITY IMPACT FUND | SEATTLE, WA | $50,000 | 2026 | INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM FUND |
| NATIVE ACTION NETWORK | SEATTLE, WA | $50,000 | 2026 | NATIVE WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP FORUM |
| SEATTLE GIRLS' SCHOOL | SEATTLE, WA | $50,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT OF THE SGS GET IN THE GAME CAMPAIGN |
| LIBERATION VENTURES INC | WILMINGTON, DE | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NA'AH ILLAHEE FUND | SEATTLE, WA | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CIERRA SISTERS | RENTON, WA | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| RENTON REGIONAL COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | RENTON, WA | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| KING COUNTY SEXUAL ASSAULT RESOURCE CENTER | RENTON, WA | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| KING COUNTY SEXUAL ASSAULT RESOURCE CENTER | RENTON, WA | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| URBAN LEAGUE OF METROPOLITAN SEATTLE | SEATTLE, WA | $25,000 | 2026 | ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND RECONCILIATION ALLIANCE WITH RESPECT CAMPAIGN |
| BELLEVUE LIFESPRING | BELLEVUE, WA | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| YOUTH SERVICES AMERICA | WASHINGTON, DC | $20,000 | 2026 | GUIDES.VOTE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| BELLEVUE LIFESPRING | BELLEVUE, WA | $20,000 | 2026 | UNCORK THE NIGHT SPONSORSHIP |
| BUSINESS IMPACT NW | TUKWILA, WA | $15,000 | 2026 | INTENTIONALIST BUY BLACK CARD |
| SEATTLE ARTS AND LECTURES | SEATTLE, WA | $15,000 | 2026 | WRITE A NEW FUTURE CAMPAIGN |
| PHILANOS | ELLICOTT CITY, MD | $10,000 | 2026 | NATIONAL CONFERENCE SPONSORSHIP |
| ESTELITA'S LIBRARY | SEATTLE, WA | $10,000 | 2026 | FOOD PANTRY |
| YAKIMA VALLEY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | YAKIMA, WA | $7,500 | 2026 | 2025 CENTRAL WASHINGTON CONFERENCE FOR THE GREATER GOOD |
| SOCIAL VENTURE PARTNERS | SEATTLE, WA | $7,500 | 2026 | STATEWIDE CAPACITY COLLABORATIVE MEMBERSHIP |
| YAKIMA VALLEY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | YAKIMA, WA | $6,000 | 2026 | SPONSORSHIP OF 2024 CENTRAL WA NONPROFIT NETWORK CONFERENCE FOR THE GREATER GOOD |
| NORTHWEST CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION | SEATTLE, WA | $5,000 | 2026 | 2026 FORUM SPONSORSHIP |
| NORTHWEST CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION | SEATTLE, WA | $5,000 | 2026 | 2025 FORUM SPONSORSHIP |
| INDEPENDENT SECTOR | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,000,000 | 2025 | NONPROFIT WORKFORCE INITIATIVES & CENTER ON EXCELLENCE FOR THE NONPROFIT WORKFORCE |
| SOUTHWEST INDIGENOUS WOMEN'S COALITION | MESA, AZ | $600,000 | 2025 | CAPACITY-BUILDING GRANT FOR 2SPIRIT CENTER |
INDEPENDENT SECTOR
$1,000,000NONPROFIT WORKFORCE INITIATIVES & CENTER ON EXCELLENCE FOR THE NONPROFIT WORKFORCE
SOUTHWEST INDIGENOUS WOMEN'S COALITION
$600,000CAPACITY-BUILDING GRANT FOR 2SPIRIT CENTER
INDEPENDENT SECTOR
$500,000CENTER ON EXCELLENCE FOR THE NONPROFIT WORKFORCE
SACRED LAND COLLECTIVE
CAPACITY BUILDING GRANT
THE WHO WE ARE PROJECT
$400,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
SACRED LAND COLLECTIVE
$400,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
YWCA OF SEATTLEKINGSNOHOMISH COUNTY
$333,333STRATEGIC DIRECTION INITIATIVES
DAVIDSON COLLEGE ANNUAL FUND
$200,000THELMA ADAIR PAVILION AT THE GEORGE LAWRENCE ABERNETHY LIBRARY
DAVIDSON COLLEGE
$200,000WILDCAT WOMEN FUND
SEAS DEAN'S INNOVATIVE FUND FOR DIVERSITY, INCLUSION & BELONGING
SUPPORT OF GYNECOLOGIC RESEARCH AND CANCER EQUITY
SUPPORT OF GYNECOLOGIC RESEARCH AND CANCER EQUITY
LIBERATION VENTURES INC
$50,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
NA'AH ILLAHEE FUND
$50,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
CIERRA SISTERS
$50,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND RECONCILIATION ALLIANCE WITH RESPECT CAMPAIGN
BELLEVUE LIFESPRING
$20,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
YOUTH SERVICES AMERICA
$20,000GUIDES.VOTE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
BELLEVUE LIFESPRING
$20,000UNCORK THE NIGHT SPONSORSHIP
PHILANOS
$10,000NATIONAL CONFERENCE SPONSORSHIP
ESTELITA'S LIBRARY
$10,000FOOD PANTRY
2025 CENTRAL WASHINGTON CONFERENCE FOR THE GREATER GOOD
SPONSORSHIP OF 2024 CENTRAL WA NONPROFIT NETWORK CONFERENCE FOR THE GREATER GOOD
NORTHWEST CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION
$5,0002026 FORUM SPONSORSHIP
NORTHWEST CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION
$5,0002025 FORUM SPONSORSHIP
INDEPENDENT SECTOR
$1,000,000NONPROFIT WORKFORCE INITIATIVES & CENTER ON EXCELLENCE FOR THE NONPROFIT WORKFORCE
SOUTHWEST INDIGENOUS WOMEN'S COALITION
$600,000CAPACITY-BUILDING GRANT FOR 2SPIRIT CENTER