The Ken Birdwell Foundation (dba Magic Cabinet) made a single, large grant to support sector infrastructure for Indigenous communities, signaling an interest in strengthening Native-led philanthropy and organizational capacity rather than direct service delivery. Their giving appears strategic and targeted at umbrella/intermediary groups that can multiply impact across Native communities.
A $1.5 million grant to Native Americans in Philanthropy is the clearest signal in the Ken Birdwell Foundation (dba Magic Cabinet) C/o Clark Nuber Ps’ recent giving: the foundation funds Indigenous-led philanthropy infrastructure, not just direct service delivery. Its largest grants in the recent file also include repeated philanthropic partnerships support for Decolonizing Wealth Project, showing a pattern of backing intermediary organizations that can strengthen networks across Native communities. The grant record centers on capacity building, organizational development, leadership transitions, and operating support for nonprofits, with several awards explicitly tied to staffing, governance, development, communications, and systems improvements. The foundation’s recent grants also reach beyond Native-specific infrastructure into community-based organizations serving immigrant, refugee, youth, housing, arts, and education needs. Awards have supported groups such as La Liga De Ciudades, Eastside Arts Alliance, First Graduate, and East African Community Services. Many of the grants are sized in the middle range rather than as very small checks, which suggests a strategy of materially supporting organizational functions and not only one-off project expenses. The overall picture is of a regional funder using substantial grants to help organizations expand internal capacity and stabilize core operations.
Indigenous philanthropy infrastructure is the foundation’s most visible theme. It gave $1.5 million to Native Americans in Philanthropy for capacity building support, and $500,000 in both 2025 and 2024 to Decolonizing Wealth Project for philanthropic partnerships grants. Those awards point to an interest in Native-led networks, sector coordination, and movement infrastructure. A second theme is organizational capacity. The foundation gave $277,613 to Eastside Arts Alliance for salary increases, an operations director, and HR benefits costs, and $226,456 to La Cocina for Salesforce improvements, COLA adjustments, HR software, and related infrastructure. It also funded board/governance and strategic planning at Korean Community Center of the East Bay with a $195,000 grant. Community-serving nonprofits appear across immigrant, refugee, and youth-serving work. Examples include $167,917 to Center for Empowering Refugees & Immigrants, $166,667 to Congolese Integration Network for immigration legal support, research, and certification programming, and $173,011 to Safe Futures Youth Center for fundraising development.
$13.4M
$147.2M
$93.3M
$20.3M
Most grants fall between $600 and $80K, with a median of $28K.
25th Percentile
$600
Median
$28K
75th Percentile
$80K
About 48% of grants go to recipients in CA.
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Ken Birdwell Foundation (Dba Magic Cabinet) C/O Clark Nuber Ps.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 684 | $34.8M | 99.8% |
| 2 |
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Highly concentrated: a single large ($1.5M) one-off grant to an intermediary organization, favoring capacity/infrastructure support over many small or geographically dispersed awards.
Notable grantees: Native Americans in Philanthropy
The typical grant size sits at $600 at the 25th percentile, $28,001 at the median, and $80,000 at the 75th percentile, which indicates a wide spread from smaller support grants to substantial capacity-building awards. The recent record also shows repeat funding to some recipients across multiple years, including Decolonizing Wealth Project and Ventures, suggesting ongoing relationships rather than purely one-time awards. The foundation is classified as a regular funder, funds individuals, and does not make program-related investments. Its grants often support operating needs, staffing, leadership transition, and systems work rather than restricted program activity.
Grant recipients are overwhelmingly U.S.-based, with 684 grants in the United States and one in Asia. Within the U.S., giving is most frequent in California, while 47% of grants go to recipients in Washington, the headquarters state. Recipient cities that appear often include Seattle, San Francisco, Oakland, Richmond, and San Juan. The list also includes Seatac, Tacoma, Renton, Menlo Park, Detroit, and Aguas Buenas, showing a regional footprint with some concentration in West Coast and Puerto Rico organizations.
Its recent grants emphasize capacity building, organizational development, and infrastructure for nonprofits. Large awards have supported staffing, HR systems, board and strategic planning, fundraising development, leadership transition, and communications or technology improvements, alongside a major grant for Native philanthropy infrastructure.
Indigenous philanthropy infrastructure is prominent, but the foundation also funds immigrant and refugee services, youth programs, education, homelessness, arts, and community-based nonprofit capacity. Recent grantees include organizations working on immigration legal support, fundraising development, and staff or systems strengthening.
Yes. The recent grant list includes repeated awards to Decolonizing Wealth Project in both 2024 and 2025, and to Ventures in both 2024 and 2025. That pattern suggests some ongoing funding relationships rather than a fully one-off approach.
The grant-size distribution shows a 25th percentile of $600, a median of $28,001, and a 75th percentile of $80,000. That range indicates the foundation makes both smaller support grants and much larger capacity-building grants.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
| Australia |
| 1 |
| $100 |
0.1% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NATIVE AMERICANS IN PHILANTHROPY | LOS ANGELES, CA | $1,500,000 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT |
| DECOLONIZING WEALTH PROJECT | DETROIT, MI | $500,000 | 2025 | PHILANTHROPIC PARTNERSHIPS GRANT |
| LA LIGA DE CIUDADES | SAN JUAN, PR | $450,000 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT |
| RAINBOW CENTER | TACOMA, WA | $249,000 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT |
| COALITION ON HOMELESSNESS | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $248,161 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT |
| FEEST | SEATTLE, WA | $230,000 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT |
| DRAPER RICHARDS KAPLAN FOUNDATION | MENLO PARK, CA | $200,000 | 2025 | PHILANTHROPIC PARTNERSHIPS GRANT |
| HOMELESS CHILDREN'S NETWORK | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $180,700 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT |
| MINDFUL LIFE PROJECT | RICHMOND, CA | $170,201 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT |
| EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY SERVICES | SEATTLE, WA | $170,000 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT |
| POGO PARK | RICHMOND, CA | $169,333 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT |
| YOUNG WOMEN EMPOWERED (Y-WE) | SEATTLE, WA | $168,667 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT |
| CENTER FOR EMPOWERING REFUGEES & IMMIGRANTS | OAKLAND, CA | $167,917 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT |
| COMMUNITY PASSAGEWAYS | SEATTLE, WA | $167,024 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT |
| STREET LEVEL HEALTH PROJECT | OAKLAND, CA | $166,704 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT |
| VENTURES | SEATTLE, WA | $166,667 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT |
| GOT GREEN | SEATTLE, WA | $166,667 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT |
| EASTSIDE ARTS ALLIANCE | OAKLAND, CA | $166,309 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT |
| UTOPIA | KENT, WA | $161,500 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT |
| URBAN TILTH | RICHMOND, CA | $157,778 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT |
| NAAM (NORTHWEST AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM) | SEATTLE, WA | $155,000 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT |
| OLD SKOOL CAFE | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $150,000 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT |
| NORTH BAY HOUSING COALITION | SUISUN CITY, CA | $150,000 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT |
| GLOVER EMPOWERMENTORING PROGRAM (GEM) | KENT, WA | $150,000 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT |
| NAAM (NORTHWEST AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM) | SEATTLE, WA | $150,000 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT |
| INTERCULTURAL CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES | RENTON, WA | $138,817 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT |
| FAMILY RESOURCE NAVIGATORS | SAN LEANDRO, CA | $137,310 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT |
| OPPORTUNITY JUNCTION | ANTIOCH, CA | $135,000 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT |
| AFGHAN HEALTH INITIATIVE | AUBURN, WA | $135,000 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT |
| EMERGENCY FEEDING PROGRAM | RENTON, WA | $133,000 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT |
| NIAD ART CENTER | RICHMOND, CA | $131,050 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT |
| SOMALI HEALTH BOARD | TUKWILA, WA | $130,000 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT |
| VILLAGE COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER | BRENTWOOD, CA | $124,942 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT |
| NEIGHBORHOOD CLINIC | TACOMA, WA | $112,423 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT |
| PARTNER IN EMPLOYMENT | SEATAC, WA | $110,000 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT |
| UKRANIAN COMMUNITY CENTER OF WA | RENTON, WA | $110,000 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT |
| CENTER FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT | CONCORD, CA | $102,453 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT |
| FOOD RUNNERS | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $101,550 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT |
| EAST BAY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | OAKLAND, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT |
| RVC SEATTLE | SEATTLE, WA | $100,000 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT |
| RVC SEATTLE | SEATTLE, WA | $100,000 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT |
| RVC SEATTLE | SEATTLE, WA | $100,000 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT |
| RVC SEATTLE | SEATTLE, WA | $100,000 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT |
| YES NATURE TO NEIGHBORHOODS | RICHMOND, CA | $99,560 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT |
| OPEN DOOR LEGAL | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $93,833 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT |
| FAMILY RESOURCE NAVIGATORS | SAN LEANDRO, CA | $93,100 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT |
| COALITION ON HOMELESSNESS | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $89,063 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT |
| CONGOLESE INTEGRATION NETWORK | SEATAC, WA | $88,542 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT |
| SAFEFUTURES YOUTH CENTER | SEATTLE, WA | $86,938 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT |
| TENDERLOIN MUSEUM (UPTOWN TENDERLOIN) | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $82,255 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT |
NATIVE AMERICANS IN PHILANTHROPY
$1,500,000CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT
DECOLONIZING WEALTH PROJECT
$500,000PHILANTHROPIC PARTNERSHIPS GRANT
LA LIGA DE CIUDADES
$450,000CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT
CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT
UTOPIA
$161,500CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT
NORTH BAY HOUSING COALITION
$150,000CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT
GLOVER EMPOWERMENTORING PROGRAM (GEM)
$150,000CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT
INTERCULTURAL CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES
$138,817CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT
EMERGENCY FEEDING PROGRAM
$133,000CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT
NIAD ART CENTER
$131,050CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT
NEIGHBORHOOD CLINIC
$112,423CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT
UKRANIAN COMMUNITY CENTER OF WA
$110,000CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT
FOOD RUNNERS
$101,550CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT
TENDERLOIN MUSEUM (UPTOWN TENDERLOIN)
$82,255CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT