Cuyamaca Foundation is a Seattle-area funder that prioritizes community-led environmental stewardship, Indigenous-led services and cultural organizations, and local economic/community development. Grants are typically mid-sized awards to nonprofit organizations rooted in the Puget Sound region, with a strong emphasis on Indigenous, tribal, and Pacific Islander health and cultural groups as well as neighborhood parks, river restoration, and shared community spaces. The foundation funds both service providers and advocacy/organizing groups that advance community resilience and place-based stewardship.
Cuyamaca Foundation’s recent giving is shaped by place-based work in the Puget Sound region, with grants that support Indigenous-led services, neighborhood stewardship, and local community development. The foundation’s largest recent award in the data is $42,000 to Peoples Economy Lab, followed by $35,000 to Seattle Parks Foundation, both in Seattle. That pattern points to a funder that backs organizations working on the ground in Washington rather than broad national programs. Its recent grants also show sustained support for tribal, cultural, and environmental organizations. Recipients include Duwamish Tribal Services, Chief Seattle Club, Northwest Indian College, and the Duwamish River Comm Coalition, alongside groups focused on parks, shared spaces, and community vitality. The grant descriptions are consistent: awards were made “to further charitable goals of the organization” or, in a few cases, to “further charitable goals of the organization.” Across the list, Cuyamaca Foundation appears to favor recurring support for nonprofit partners rooted in Seattle and nearby communities, especially those connected to Indigenous services, river and park stewardship, and local organizing.
One clear theme is parks and environmental stewardship. Cuyamaca Foundation gave $35,000 to Seattle Parks Foundation in 2023 and another $2,000 to the same organization in 2024, showing attention to urban green space over multiple years. It also supported Duwamish River Comm Coalition with $24,000 in 2025 and Rainier Beach Link2lake with $21,000 in 2023. Indigenous education, culture, and services form another core area. The foundation awarded $24,000 to Seattle Indian Svc Commission in 2024, $24,000 to Duwamish Tribal Services in 2025, and $23,000 to Columbia River Institute for Indigenous Development in 2023. In the same broad area, it also funded Mother Nation and Red Eagle Soaring, both Seattle-based. Community development and organizing appear as a third thread. Examples include $42,000 to Peoples Economy Lab in 2023, $24,000 to Utopia WA in 2025, and $21,000 to Skyway Coalition in 2023.
Typical grants cluster tightly around the mid-$20,000 range: the 25th percentile is $23,000, the median is $24,000, and the 75th percentile is $24,000. That distribution suggests a fairly standardized grant size, with a few larger awards at the top end. The recent record also shows repeat support to some organizations across years, including Seattle Parks Foundation and Utopia WA. Cuyamaca Foundation funds nonprofits rather than individuals, and the profile indicates it does not make program-related investments. The giving is local in scope.
$182K
$2M
$647K
$184K
Most grants fall between $23K and $24K, with a median of $24K.
25th Percentile
$23K
Median
$24K
75th Percentile
$24K
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeSign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Concentrated regional giving of many similarly-sized mid-level grants (~$23k–$24k) across 19 awards, with a few larger multi-grant relationships (Seattle Parks Foundation, Utopia WA). The foundation favors repeat funding to local organizations and a cluster of Indigenous, environmental, and community-economy grantees rather than broad national funding.
Notable grantees: Seattle Parks Foundation, Utopia WA, Peoples Economy Lab, Duwamish River Community Coalition, Northwest Indian College
Cuyamaca Foundation gives almost entirely in Washington, with 96% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Seattle is the dominant recipient city, appearing repeatedly across the recent grants list, with additional awards in Tukwila, Kent, Bellingham, and Fife. A smaller share reaches outside Washington: one recent grant went to Warm Springs, Oregon. The recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 25 grants in the United States.
Its recent grants point to nonprofit organizations working in Indigenous services, environmental stewardship, parks, shared community spaces, and local economic or community development. Examples in the data include Seattle Indian Svc Commission, Duwamish Tribal Services, Seattle Parks Foundation, and Peoples Economy Lab.
The grant-size distribution is tightly clustered: the 25th percentile is $23,000, the median is $24,000, and the 75th percentile is $24,000. Most recent awards fall near that $24,000 level.
Yes. Seattle Parks Foundation appears in both 2023 and 2024, and Utopia WA appears in both 2023 and 2025. The repeated grants suggest ongoing relationships with some recipients.
It gives primarily in Washington, where 96% of grants in the data go to recipients. Seattle is the most common recipient city, with additional Washington grants in Tukwila, Kent, Bellingham, and Fife.
No. The profile indicates that it funds nonprofit organizations rather than individuals, and that it does not make program-related investments.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NA'AH ILLAHEE | SEATTLE, WA | $35,000 | 2026 | TO FURTHER CHARITABLE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| YEEHAW INDIGENOUS ARTIST COLLECTIVE | SEATTLE, WA | $35,000 | 2026 | TO FURTHER CHARITABLE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| CHILDREN OF THE SETTING SUN | BELLINGHAM, WA | $35,000 | 2026 | TO FURTHER CHARITABLE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| BLACK FARMERS COLLECTIVE | SEATTLE, WA | $35,000 | 2026 | TO FURTHER CHARITABLE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| LARRY CAMPBELL MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND (SEADOC SOCIETY UC DAVIS FNDN) | EIGHTY FOUR, PA | $35,000 | 2026 | TO FURTHER CHARITABLE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| SEATTLE PARKS FOUNDATION | SEATTLE, WA | $5,000 | 2026 | TO FURTHER CHARITABLE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| YMCA | SEATTLE, WA | $1,500 | 2026 | TO FURTHER CHARITABLE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| NORTHWEST INDIAN COLLEGE | BELLINGHAM, WA | $24,000 | 2025 | TO FURTHER CHARITABLE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| UTOPIA WA | KENT, WA | $24,000 | 2025 | TO FURTHER CHARITABLE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| INSTITUTE FOR WASHINGTON'S FUTURE | BELLINGHAM, WA | $24,000 | 2025 | TO FURTHER CHARITABLE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| SEATTLE PARKS FOUNDATION | SEATTLE, WA | $24,000 | 2025 | TO FURTHER CHARITABLE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| DUWAMISH TRIBAL SERVICES | SEATTLE, WA | $24,000 | 2025 | TO FURTHER CHARITABLE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| WAKULIMA USA | KENT, WA | $24,000 | 2025 | TO FURTHER CHARITABLE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| DUWAMISH RIVER COMM COALITION | SEATTLE, WA | $24,000 | 2025 | TO FURTHER CHARITABLE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| CHIEF SEATTLE CLUB | SEATTLE, WA | $24,000 | 2024 | TO FURTHER CHARITABLE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| PACIFIC ISLANDER HEALTH BOARD | FIFE, WA | $24,000 | 2024 | TO FURTHER CHARITABLE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| SUSTAINABLE SEATTLE | SEATTLE, WA | $24,000 | 2024 | TO FURTHER CHARITABLE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| SHARED SPACES FDN | TUKWILA, WA | $24,000 | 2024 | TO FURTHER CHARITABLE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| SEATTLE INDIAN SVC COMMISSION | SEATTLE, WA | $24,000 | 2024 | TO FURTHER CHARITABLE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| YMCA | SEATTLE, WA | $4,000 | 2024 | TO FURTHER CHARITABLE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| SEATTLE PARKS FOUNDATION | SEATTLE, WA | $2,000 | 2024 | TO FURTHER CHARITABLE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| PEOPLES ECONOMY LAB | SEATTLE, WA | $42,000 | 2023 | TO FURTHER CHARITABLE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| SEATTLE PARKS FOUNDATION | SEATTLE, WA | $35,000 | 2023 | TO FURTHER CHARITABLE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| MOTHER NATION | SEATTLE, WA | $23,000 | 2023 | FURTHER CHARITABLE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| WHITE SWAN ENVIROMENTAL | BELLINGHAM, WA | $23,000 | 2023 | FURTHER CHARITABLE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| COLUMBIA RIVER INSTITUTE FOR INDIGENOUS DEVELOPMENT | WARM SPRINGS, OR | $23,000 | 2023 | FURTHER CHARITABLE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| RED EAGLE SOARING | SEATTLE, WA | $23,000 | 2023 | TO FURTHER CHARITABLE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| UTOPIA WA | KENT, WA | $23,000 | 2023 | TO FURTHER CHARITABLE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| SEA POTENIAL | SEATTLE, WA | $21,000 | 2023 | TO FURTHER CHARITABLE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| DETECTIVE COOKIE CHESS PARK | SEATTLE, WA | $21,000 | 2023 | TO FURTHER CHARITABLE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| RAINIER BEACH LINK2LAKE | SEATTLE, WA | $21,000 | 2023 | TO FURTHER CHARITABLE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| SKYWAY COALITION | SEATTLE, WA | $21,000 | 2023 | TO FURTHER CHARITABLE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION |
NA'AH ILLAHEE
$35,000TO FURTHER CHARITABLE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION
YEEHAW INDIGENOUS ARTIST COLLECTIVE
$35,000TO FURTHER CHARITABLE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION
LARRY CAMPBELL MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND (SEADOC SOCIETY UC DAVIS FNDN)
$35,000TO FURTHER CHARITABLE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION
TO FURTHER CHARITABLE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION
YMCA
$1,500TO FURTHER CHARITABLE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION
NORTHWEST INDIAN COLLEGE
$24,000TO FURTHER CHARITABLE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION
TO FURTHER CHARITABLE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION
DUWAMISH TRIBAL SERVICES
$24,000TO FURTHER CHARITABLE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION
WAKULIMA USA
$24,000TO FURTHER CHARITABLE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION
DUWAMISH RIVER COMM COALITION
$24,000TO FURTHER CHARITABLE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION
CHIEF SEATTLE CLUB
$24,000TO FURTHER CHARITABLE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION
PACIFIC ISLANDER HEALTH BOARD
$24,000TO FURTHER CHARITABLE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION
SUSTAINABLE SEATTLE
$24,000TO FURTHER CHARITABLE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION
SHARED SPACES FDN
$24,000TO FURTHER CHARITABLE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION
SEATTLE INDIAN SVC COMMISSION
$24,000TO FURTHER CHARITABLE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION
YMCA
$4,000TO FURTHER CHARITABLE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION
PEOPLES ECONOMY LAB
$42,000TO FURTHER CHARITABLE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION
WHITE SWAN ENVIROMENTAL
$23,000FURTHER CHARITABLE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION
COLUMBIA RIVER INSTITUTE FOR INDIGENOUS DEVELOPMENT
$23,000FURTHER CHARITABLE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION
SEA POTENIAL
$21,000TO FURTHER CHARITABLE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION
DETECTIVE COOKIE CHESS PARK
$21,000TO FURTHER CHARITABLE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION
RAINIER BEACH LINK2LAKE
$21,000TO FURTHER CHARITABLE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION
SKYWAY COALITION
$21,000TO FURTHER CHARITABLE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION