The Dawkins Charitable Trust appears to concentrate its philanthropy as a single, large unrestricted gift to a regional community foundation, indicating a preference for funding community-wide needs through an intermediary rather than funding individual nonprofits directly. The one recorded grant—nearly $4 million to the Community Foundation of Puget Sound—suggests the trustee prefers to leverage the foundation’s local grantmaking expertise to address a range of community priorities in the Puget Sound/Olympia region.
Highly concentrated: a single very large grant delivered through a regional community foundation (indicative of pass‑through or donor-directed funding rather than multiple direct grants).
A nearly $4 million 2025 grant to the Community Foundation of Puget Sound sets the tone for Dawkins Charitable Trust’s giving: large, local, and routed through community intermediaries. That grant stands out as the trust’s largest recent award and suggests a preference for community-wide support over highly specific project funding. The trust also made repeated six-figure grants to South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity, Hands on Children's Museum, and Nw Youth Corps, showing that it funds both community infrastructure and programs serving families, youth, and neighborhood residents. Across the recent grant list, the pattern is place-based and concentrated in the Olympia and greater Puget Sound area, with many awards clustered in Olympia itself and nearby Thurston County cities. The trust’s support reaches community foundations, youth development organizations, land trusts, food access groups, education-focused nonprofits, and social service providers. This mix indicates a grantmaker that uses community support funding to address a broad set of local needs while keeping the giving strategy closely tied to the same regional network of organizations.
Dawkins Charitable Trust funds a wide set of local priorities, but several cause areas appear repeatedly in the recent grants. In housing and community stability, it gave $125,000 to South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity in 2024 and another $100,000 in 2023. In youth and education, the trust awarded $100,000 to Hands on Children's Museum in both 2023 and 2024, and $100,000 to Nw Youth Corps in each of those years. Environmental and land-focused work also appears in the record: Capitol Land Trust received $120,000 in 2023 and $80,000 in 2024, while Nisqually Reach Nature Center received $70,000 in 2024 and $60,000 in 2023. Social support is present as well, including $60,000 each year to Thurston County Food Bank.
Typical grant size sits at $25,000 at the 25th percentile, $35,000 at the median, and $52,500 at the 75th percentile, which places most awards in a moderate local-grant range even though the trust also makes much larger community-support gifts. The recent record shows repeat funding across years for several recipients, including the Community Foundation of Puget Sound, South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity, Hands on Children's Museum, Nw Youth Corps, Capitol Land Trust, Thurston County Food Bank, Nisqually Reach Nature Center, Safeplace, North Thurston Education Foundation, Olympia School District Education Foundation, and Family Education & Support Services. That repeat pattern points to ongoing relationships rather than one-off support. The trust is a regular funder, does not fund individuals, and does not make program-related investments.
$4M
$0
$413K
$4M
Most grants fall between $25K and $53K, with a median of $35K.
25th Percentile
$25K
Median
$35K
75th Percentile
$53K
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Notable grantees: Community Foundation of Puget Sound
The trust’s giving is overwhelmingly local: 97% of grants go to recipients in Washington, and Washington is also its top state by grant count. In the recent grants list, Olympia appears most often, with additional recipients in Tumwater, Lacey, Tacoma, and Randle. The country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 76 grants to U.S. recipients. The geographic pattern shows a strong Thurston County and Puget Sound footprint rather than a multi-state or national grantmaking profile.
The trust’s grant-size distribution centers on mid-sized awards: the 25th percentile is $25,000, the median is $35,000, and the 75th percentile is $52,500. Recent grants also include a much larger outlier, but most awards cluster well below that level.
Yes. Several organizations appear in multiple years, including the Community Foundation of Puget Sound, South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity, Hands on Children's Museum, Nw Youth Corps, Capitol Land Trust, Thurston County Food Bank, Nisqually Reach Nature Center, Safeplace, North Thurston Education Foundation, Olympia School District Education Foundation, and Family Education & Support Services.
Recent grants show support for community foundations, housing organizations, museums, youth corps, land trusts, nature centers, food banks, education foundations, and social service providers. The trust’s recent awards are labeled community support and are directed to local public-serving organizations.
Washington is the top state by grant count, and 97% of grants go to recipients in Washington. Within the recent grants list, Olympia is the most frequent recipient city, with additional awards in Tumwater, Lacey, Tacoma, and Randle.
No. The trust does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. Its recent record shows grantmaking to organizations rather than direct support to people.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF PUGET SOUND | OLYMPIA, WA | $3,950,209 | 2025 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| SOUTH PUGET SOUND HABITAT FOR HUMANITY | OLYMPIA, WA | $125,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| NW YOUTH CORPS | TACOMA, WA | $100,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF PUGET SOUND | OLYMPIA, WA | $100,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| HANDS ON CHILDREN'S MUSEUM | OLYMPIA, WA | $100,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| CAPITOL LAND TRUST | TUMWATER, WA | $80,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF THURSTON COUNTY | OLYMPIA, WA | $75,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| CISPUS LEARNING CENTERAWSP | RANDLE, WA | $70,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| NISQUALLY REACH NATURE CENTER | OLYMPIA, WA | $70,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| SOUTH SOUND ESTUARY ASSOCIATION | OLYMPIA, WA | $65,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| THURSTON COUNTY FOOD BANK | OLYMPIA, WA | $60,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| OLYMPIA ECOSYSTEMS | OLYMPIA, WA | $50,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| HEARTSTRIDES THERAPEUTIC RIDING | OLYMPIA, WA | $50,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| OLYMPIA SCHOOL DISTRICT EDUCATION FOUNDATION | OLYMPIA, WA | $50,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| SAFEPLACE | OLYMPIA, WA | $50,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| FAMILY EDUCATION & SUPPORT SERVICES | TUMWATER, WA | $50,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| CONCERN FOR ANIMALS | OLYMPIA, WA | $50,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| NORTH THURSTON EDUCATION FOUNDATION | LACEY, WA | $50,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| NISQUALLY LAND TRUST | LACEY, WA | $40,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| COVENANT CREATURES | TUMWATER, WA | $36,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY SUPOORT |
| 5TH AVENUE THEATRE | SEATTLE, WA | $35,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| OLYMPIA FREE CLINIC | OLYMPIA, WA | $35,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| ALL KIDS WIN | LACEY, WA | $30,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| PACIFIC EDUCATION INSTITUTE | OLYMPIA, WA | $30,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| ORCA NETWORK | FREELAND, WA | $30,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| PACIFIC SHELLFISH INSTITUTE | OLYMPIA, WA | $30,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| UW FOUNDATION ON BEHALF OF UW FOUNDATION GIFT SERVICES | SEATTLE, WA | $30,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| WILD ORCA | SEATTLE, WA | $27,500 | 2024 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| GARDEN RAISED BOUNTY | OLYMPIA, WA | $25,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| NORTH COAST LAND CONSERVANCY | SEASIDE, OR | $25,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| THURSTON COUNTY INCLUSION | TUMWATER, WA | $21,500 | 2024 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| THE CONSERVATION CONNECTION | TUMWATER, WA | $20,750 | 2024 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| MAYDAY FOUNDATION | OLYMPIA, WA | $20,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| SOUTH SOUND READING FOUNDATION | LACEY, WA | $20,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| SOUTH PUGET SOUND SALMON ENHANCEMENT GROUP | OLYMPIA, WA | $20,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| SR3 | DES MOINES, WA | $17,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| FIRE MOUNTAIN ARTS COUNCIL | MORTON, WA | $10,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| PARC FOUNDATION OF THURSTON | OLYMPIA, WA | $5,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| CAPITOL LAND TRUST | OLYMPIA, WA | $120,000 | 2023 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF PUGET SOUND | OLYMPIA, WA | $100,000 | 2023 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| NW YOUTH CORPS | TACOMA, WA | $100,000 | 2023 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| SOUTH PUGET SOUND HABITAT FOR HUMANITY | OLYMPIA, WA | $100,000 | 2023 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| HANDS ON CHILDREN'S MUSEUM | OLYMPIA, WA | $100,000 | 2023 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF TH | OLYMPIA, WA | $70,000 | 2023 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| NISQUALLY REACH NATURE CENTER | OLYMPIA, WA | $60,000 | 2023 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| THURSTON COUNTY FOOD BANK | OLYMPIA, WA | $60,000 | 2023 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| NORTH THURSTON EDUCATION FOUNDATION | LACEY, WA | $50,000 | 2023 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| OLYMPIA SCHOOL DISTRICT EDUCATION FOUNDATION | OLYMPIA, WA | $50,000 | 2023 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| SOUTH SOUND ESTUARY ASSOCIATION | OLYMPIA, WA | $50,000 | 2023 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| OLYMPIA COALITION FOR ECOSYSTEMS PRESERVATION | OLYMPIA, WA | $50,000 | 2023 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF PUGET SOUND
$3,950,209COMMUNITY SUPPORT
SOUTH PUGET SOUND HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
$125,000COMMUNITY SUPPORT
NW YOUTH CORPS
$100,000COMMUNITY SUPPORT
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
CISPUS LEARNING CENTERAWSP
$70,000COMMUNITY SUPPORT
NISQUALLY REACH NATURE CENTER
$70,000COMMUNITY SUPPORT
SOUTH SOUND ESTUARY ASSOCIATION
$65,000COMMUNITY SUPPORT
OLYMPIA ECOSYSTEMS
$50,000COMMUNITY SUPPORT
HEARTSTRIDES THERAPEUTIC RIDING
$50,000COMMUNITY SUPPORT
OLYMPIA SCHOOL DISTRICT EDUCATION FOUNDATION
$50,000COMMUNITY SUPPORT
FAMILY EDUCATION & SUPPORT SERVICES
$50,000COMMUNITY SUPPORT
NORTH THURSTON EDUCATION FOUNDATION
$50,000COMMUNITY SUPPORT
NISQUALLY LAND TRUST
$40,000COMMUNITY SUPPORT
COVENANT CREATURES
$36,000COMMUNITY SUPOORT
5TH AVENUE THEATRE
$35,000COMMUNITY SUPPORT
OLYMPIA FREE CLINIC
$35,000COMMUNITY SUPPORT
ALL KIDS WIN
$30,000COMMUNITY SUPPORT
PACIFIC EDUCATION INSTITUTE
$30,000COMMUNITY SUPPORT
PACIFIC SHELLFISH INSTITUTE
$30,000COMMUNITY SUPPORT
UW FOUNDATION ON BEHALF OF UW FOUNDATION GIFT SERVICES
$30,000COMMUNITY SUPPORT
WILD ORCA
$27,500COMMUNITY SUPPORT
THURSTON COUNTY INCLUSION
$21,500COMMUNITY SUPPORT
THE CONSERVATION CONNECTION
$20,750COMMUNITY SUPPORT
MAYDAY FOUNDATION
$20,000COMMUNITY SUPPORT
SOUTH SOUND READING FOUNDATION
$20,000COMMUNITY SUPPORT
SOUTH PUGET SOUND SALMON ENHANCEMENT GROUP
$20,000COMMUNITY SUPPORT
SR3
$17,000COMMUNITY SUPPORT
FIRE MOUNTAIN ARTS COUNCIL
$10,000COMMUNITY SUPPORT
PARC FOUNDATION OF THURSTON
$5,000COMMUNITY SUPPORT
NW YOUTH CORPS
$100,000COMMUNITY SUPPORT
SOUTH PUGET SOUND HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
$100,000COMMUNITY SUPPORT
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF TH
$70,000COMMUNITY SUPPORT
NISQUALLY REACH NATURE CENTER
$60,000COMMUNITY SUPPORT
NORTH THURSTON EDUCATION FOUNDATION
$50,000COMMUNITY SUPPORT
OLYMPIA SCHOOL DISTRICT EDUCATION FOUNDATION
$50,000COMMUNITY SUPPORT
SOUTH SOUND ESTUARY ASSOCIATION
$50,000COMMUNITY SUPPORT
OLYMPIA COALITION FOR ECOSYSTEMS PRESERVATION
$50,000COMMUNITY SUPPORT