First Fed Foundation concentrates its giving locally in Port Angeles and surrounding Northwest communities, prioritizing practical community development projects. Recent grants show a strong emphasis on affordable housing and place-based economic development tied to maritime skills and regional revitalization. The foundation appears to fund large, one-off investments in established nonprofit partners that deliver tangible community infrastructure and services.
Focus Areas
Affordable and supportive housing development in Northwest WashingtonMaritime-focused workforce development and economic revitalization (local maritime center programming)Community economic development and place-based infrastructure in Port Angeles region
Who They Fund
people experiencing homelessnesslow-income households/ rentersneighborhoods/communities in needresidents facing housing instability
Giving Approach
Highly concentrated giving: very few, relatively large grants to local, established nonprofits rather than many small awards; appears to favor capital or program investments with clear community impact.
About First Fed Foundation
First Fed Foundation’s recent grantmaking shows a clear preference for large, project-based investments in housing and place-based community development across Northwest Washington. A $100,000 grant to Mercy Housing Northwest for homelessness and affordable housing sits alongside an $80,000 award to Northwest Maritime Center for economic development, signaling two of the foundation’s strongest priorities: housing stability and local economic opportunity. The foundation also backs institutions that anchor community life in Port Angeles and nearby communities, including a $50,000 grant to Port Angeles Waterfront Center for economic development and a $45,000 grant to Volunteers in Medicine of the Olympics dba Olympic Peninsula Community Clinic for housing and homelessness-related work. Other recent awards support capital projects, community services, and workforce-linked efforts tied to the region’s economy. Across the recent grants list, the pattern is consistent: First Fed Foundation favors established nonprofit partners and public-serving organizations that can deliver tangible benefits in the communities it serves. Its giving is concentrated in Washington, with most grants landing in the state and a strong emphasis on the Olympic Peninsula and surrounding Northwest communities.
What First Fed Foundation Funds
In housing work, First Fed Foundation has supported both development and stabilization. Recent examples include $50,000 to Habitat for Humanity in Whatcom County for housing and homelessness and $33,000 to Lydia Place a Nonprofit Corporation dba Lydia Place for housing and homelessness. The foundation also funds community-based housing access efforts, such as $25,000 to Housing Connector for housing and homelessness. Economic development is another core theme. It gave $30,000 to Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding for economic development and $30,000 to Olympic College Foundation for economic development, showing interest in skills-linked pathways. Community development grants also include basic-needs infrastructure and local services, such as $35,000 to Olympic Medical Center Foundation for community development and $25,000 to Port Angeles Food Bank for community development. These awards point to a funder that connects workforce, housing, and neighborhood support within the same regional landscape.
How First Fed Foundation Gives
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$643K
Total Assets
$3.8M
Total Revenue
$35K
Total Expenses
$790K
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $5K and $25K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$25K
Geographic Reach
Local2 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Deep Analysis
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community development grantsproject-based support for housing/economic initiativescapital funding for affordable housing developmentintegrated service + development funding
Notable grantees: Mercy Housing Northwest, Northwest Maritime Center
Topics
affordable housing developmenthomelessness prevention and serviceshousing stability and tenant supportlocal economic development and job creationneighborhood revitalization and community infrastructurecommunity support services (wraparound services)
First Fed Foundation’s typical grant size centers on $5,000 to $25,000, with a p25 of $5,000, median of $10,000, and p75 of $25,000. Recent awards also show a higher-capital tier, including multiple grants in the $50,000 to $100,000 range. The foundation appears to make repeated, one-off project grants rather than naming the same recipients across many years in the data provided. Its primary grantmaking program accepts applications in spring and fall cycles, and the foundation states that it accepts unsolicited applications. It allocates up to $400,000 per cycle across its priority areas.
Where First Fed Foundation Makes Grants
First Fed Foundation’s giving is overwhelmingly local: 99% of grants go to recipients in Washington, and the recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based. The recent grants list shows a strong cluster in Port Angeles, with additional awards in Port Townsend, Bellingham, Bremerton, Sequim, Forks, Joyce, Indianola, Bainbridge Island, Bellevue, and Olympia. Grants also extend across the Olympic Peninsula and nearby Northwest Washington counties, consistent with the foundation’s local scope.
Frequently Asked Questions About First Fed Foundation
What areas does First Fed Foundation fund most often?
Its main areas are affordable and supportive housing development, maritime-focused workforce development and economic revitalization, and community economic development tied to place-based infrastructure. Recent grants also show support for community support services and basic-needs projects.
Does First Fed Foundation accept unsolicited applications?
Yes. The foundation’s grant programs state that they accept unsolicited applications, including through spring and fall grant cycles.
What is a typical grant size?
Typical grants fall between $5,000 and $25,000, with a p25 of $5,000, median of $10,000, and p75 of $25,000. The recent grants list also includes larger awards at $50,000, $80,000, and $100,000.
Where does First Fed Foundation give?
Giving is concentrated in Washington, with 99% of grants to recipients in the HQ state. The foundation’s local grant geography includes Clallam, Jefferson, and Kitsap counties, and recent awards also reached cities such as Port Angeles, Port Townsend, Bellingham, and Olympia.
What kinds of organizations receive support?
The recent grants list includes affordable-housing providers, maritime and workforce organizations, colleges and foundations, food banks, medical and community clinics, and other nonprofit partners. The pattern suggests project-based support for established organizations serving local communities.
Latest 990 Filing
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Open Grant Opportunities
Current and upcoming funding from First Fed Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Opening soonCloses Mar 1, 2027Award: $5K – $100K
First Fed Foundation Challenge and Matching Grants
Community supportAffordable housingEconomic development+2 more
Who can apply: Organizations must be eligible applicants under the Foundation's grant program and carry out projects benefiting communities where First Fed operates full-service branches. Specific challenge or matching requirements vary by grant opportunity.
Deadline: Applications are accepted during announced grant cycles. The current cycle is closed; the next stated cycle opens January 1, 2027 and closes March 1, 2027.
Economic developmentWorkforce developmentMentorships and apprenticeships+3 more
Who can apply: Tax-exempt organizations under IRC Sections 501(c)(3), including public charities described in IRC 509(a)(1)-(4) and 170(b)-(c); government units, school districts, and tribes are also eligible. Fiscal sponsors may apply on behalf of sponsored applicants if the sponsor meets the eligibility criteria. Funded work must benefit Clallam, Jefferson, Kitsap, and/or Whatcom Counties, Washington.
Deadline: Spring: January 1-March 1 annually. Fall: July 1-September 1 annually.
Basic needsQuality of lifeNonprofit capacity building+1 more
Who can apply: Tax-exempt organizations under IRC Sections 501(c)(3), including public charities described in IRC 509(a)(1)-(4) and 170(b)-(c); government units, school districts, and tribes are also eligible. Fiscal sponsors may apply on behalf of sponsored applicants if the sponsor meets the eligibility criteria. Funded work must benefit Clallam, Jefferson, Kitsap, and/or Whatcom Counties, Washington. Completed projects, budget deficits, debt reduction, general operating expenses, event sponsorships, individual contributions, political or labor organizations, religious mission activities, and proposals creating conflicts of interest are ineligible.
Deadline: Spring: January 1-March 1 annually. Fall: July 1-September 1 annually.
Affordable housingWorkforce housingHomeownership+2 more
Who can apply: Tax-exempt organizations under IRC Sections 501(c)(3), including public charities described in IRC 509(a)(1)-(4) and 170(b)-(c); government units, school districts, and tribes are also eligible. Fiscal sponsors may apply on behalf of sponsored applicants if the sponsor meets the eligibility criteria. Funded work must benefit Clallam, Jefferson, Kitsap, and/or Whatcom Counties, Washington.
Deadline: Spring: January 1-March 1 annually. Fall: July 1-September 1 annually.
Deadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
