The McKinstry Charitable Foundation concentrates almost all of its giving on education with a pronounced emphasis on STEM programming and capacity-building for Washington state institutions. Most dollars flow to a small set of recipients—notably repeated, large awards to Eastern Washington University—indicating a strategy of deep, targeted investments in higher education and statewide STEM initiatives. The foundation’s grants appear intended to strengthen STEM education pipelines and institutional capabilities rather than broad, general-purpose philanthropy.
A repeated pattern of large awards to Eastern Washington University Foundation defines Mckinstry Charitable Foundation’s recent giving. Across 2023 to 2025, those grants range from $50,000 to $700,000, including a $700,000 award in 2023, a $300,000 award in 2024, and a $200,000 award in 2025. That concentration points to a funder that makes deep, multi-year investments in education and STEM rather than scattering support across many unrelated causes. The foundation’s grants also connect higher education with statewide STEM capacity. Washington STEM Center received $160,500 in 2023, while the University of Washington Foundation, Gonzaga University, and Washington State University Foundation also appear among recent recipients. Outside higher education, the portfolio includes climate-focused awards to Clean Energy Transition Institute, Climate Solutions, Building Transparency, and Spark Northwest, as well as targeted support for Washington Alliance for Better Schools and Seattle Children’s Foundation. The foundation’s recent record shows a preference for Washington-based institutions and for grants that strengthen systems, programs, and organizational capacity within education, climate, and equity work.
Education and STEM sit at the center of the foundation’s recent grantmaking. Eastern Washington University Foundation received $150,000 in 2024 for Education and STEM, and Washington STEM Center received $160,500 in 2023 for Education and STEM. The University of Washington Foundation also appears with awards of $70,000 in 2023, $50,000 in 2024, and $45,000 in 2025. Climate work is another visible theme. Clean Energy Transition Institute received $75,000 in 2024 and $77,200 in 2025 for Climate Change, while Climate Solutions received $28,800 in 2023 and $41,900 in 2025 for the same category. Building Transparency received $30,000 in both 2024 and 2025 for Climate Change, and Spark Northwest received $26,400 in 2025 for Climate Change. The foundation also supports equity-focused work. Washington Alliance for Better Schools received $42,300 in 2023, $30,000 in 2024, and $32,000 in 2025 for Racial Justice.
The median recent grant is $300, with the 25th percentile also at $300 and the 75th percentile at $1,500, indicating a distribution with many small awards and a few much larger grants. The recent list also shows repeated support over multiple years for several recipients, especially Eastern Washington University Foundation, Washington Alliance for Better Schools, Climate Solutions, Building Transparency, and Treehouse. Mckinstry Charitable Foundation is a regular funder rather than a DAF and does not fund individuals or PRIs. The grant record suggests institutional, program-oriented giving through corporate philanthropy and the charitable foundation rather than open-ended one-off awards.
$1.1M
$134K
$1.1M
$1.1M
Most grants fall between $300 and $2K, with a median of $300.
25th Percentile
$300
Median
$300
75th Percentile
$2K
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Highly concentrated: very few grants, large dollar amounts, repeat funding to a primary grantee (Eastern Washington University), and targeted support for STEM education initiatives rather than many small or geographically diffuse gifts.
Notable grantees: Eastern Washington University Foundation, Washington STEM Center
Giving is overwhelmingly U.S.-based, with 895 grants to U.S. recipients in the country distribution. Washington is the top state by grant count and accounts for 44% of grants to recipients in the HQ state. Recent recipient cities cluster in Cheney, Seattle, Spokane, Pullman, and Shoreline, showing a strong Washington footprint with activity around higher education, climate, and equity organizations.
Recent grants show a strong emphasis on Washington-based education and STEM institutions, with additional support for climate organizations and equity-focused nonprofits. Eastern Washington University Foundation, Washington STEM Center, the University of Washington Foundation, and Gonzaga University are among the recent education recipients, while Clean Energy Transition Institute and Climate Solutions appear in climate funding.
The recent grant-size distribution is tightly centered at small amounts: the 25th percentile is $300, the median is $300, and the 75th percentile is $1,500. At the same time, the foundation also makes much larger strategic awards, including several six-figure grants in the recent list.
Yes. Washington is the top state by grant count, and 44% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. Recent recipient cities include Seattle, Cheney, Spokane, Pullman, and Shoreline, showing a concentrated in-state pattern.
Yes. The recent grants list shows multi-year support for several recipients. Eastern Washington University Foundation appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Washington Alliance for Better Schools appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and both Climate Solutions and Building Transparency also recur across multiple years.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Washington University Foundation | Cheney, WA | $200,000 | 2025 | Education and STEM |
| Clean Energy Transition Institute | Seattle, WA | $77,200 | 2025 | Climate Change |
| Washington State University Foundation | Pullman, WA | $50,000 | 2025 | Childrens Health |
| PATH | Seattle, WA | $50,000 | 2025 | Health and Science |
| University of Washington Foundation | Seattle, WA | $45,000 | 2025 | Education and STEM |
| Climate Solutions | Seattle, WA | $41,900 | 2025 | Climate Change |
| Washington Alliance for Better Schools | Shoreline, WA | $32,000 | 2025 | Racial Justice |
| Building Transparency | Seattle, WA | $30,000 | 2025 | Climate Change |
| Spark Northwest | Seattle, WA | $26,400 | 2025 | Climate Change |
| Seattle Childrens Foundation | Seattle, WA | $25,100 | 2025 | Racial Justice |
| Seattle Colleges Foundation | Seattle, WA | $25,000 | 2025 | Education and STEM |
| Treehouse | Seattle, WA | $21,300 | 2025 | Youth and Family Services |
| Groundwork Denver Incorporated | Denver, CO | $20,600 | 2025 | Conservation and Environment |
| Western Washington University Foundation | Bellingham, WA | $20,600 | 2025 | Education and STEM |
| Washington Stem Center | Seattle, WA | $20,400 | 2025 | Education and STEM |
| Global Partnerships | Seattle, WA | $20,000 | 2025 | Economic Justice |
| Oregon Tradeswomen Inc | Portland, OR | $15,000 | 2025 | Gender Equity |
| Food Lifeline | Shoreline, WA | $14,000 | 2025 | Food Security |
| YouthCare | Seattle, WA | $13,400 | 2025 | Education and STEM |
| Project Worthmore | Aurora, CO | $13,300 | 2025 | Human and Civil Rights |
| Spokane Neighborhood Action Partners | Spokane, WA | $13,200 | 2025 | Economic Justice |
| Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition Technical Advisory Group | Seattle, WA | $12,700 | 2025 | Conservation and Environment |
| Columbia Slough Watershed Council Inc | Portland, OR | $11,500 | 2025 | Conservation and Environment |
| The Trevor Project Inc | West Hollywood, CA | $11,400 | 2025 | LGBTQ Equity |
| The Gathering Place A Refuge for Rebuilding Lives | Denver, CO | $11,000 | 2025 | Gender Equity |
| Forterra NW | Seattle, WA | $10,300 | 2025 | Conservation and Environment |
| Apprenticeship and NonTraditional Employment for Women | Tukwila, WA | $10,000 | 2025 | Gender Equity |
| Partnership for Learning | Seattle, WA | $10,000 | 2025 | Schools and Foundations |
| Teach for America Inc | Los Angeles, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | Schools and Foundations |
| Operation Sack Lunch | Seattle, WA | $10,000 | 2025 | Food Security |
| Vanessa Behan | Spokane, WA | $8,400 | 2025 | Youth and Family Services |
| Marys Place Seattle | Seattle, WA | $7,200 | 2025 | Gender Equity |
| The Nature Conservancy | Arlington, VA | $6,900 | 2025 | Conservation and Environment |
| Second Harvest Inland Northwest | Spokane, WA | $5,400 | 2025 | Food Security |
| Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund Inc | New York, NY | $5,300 | 2025 | LGBTQ Equity |
| Project 48 Inc | Portland, OR | $5,200 | 2025 | Youth and Family Services |
| Dress for Success of Oregon Inc | Portland, OR | $5,000 | 2025 | Gender Equity |
| Urban Impact | Seattle, WA | $5,000 | 2025 | Economic Justice |
| Denver Urban Gardens | Denver, CO | $5,000 | 2025 | Conservation and Environment |
| Building Blocks to Success Corporation | Portland, OR | $5,000 | 2025 | Economic Justice |
| Girl Scouts of Colorado | Denver, CO | $5,000 | 2025 | Gender Equity |
| Midwives for Black Lives | Santa Fe, NM | $5,000 | 2025 | Gender Equity |
| US Chamber of Commerce Foundation | Washington, DC | $5,000 | 2025 | Veterans Support |
| Northwest Abortion Access Fund | Portland, OR | $5,000 | 2025 | Gender Equity |
| American Civil Liberties Union Foundation Inc | New York, NY | $4,800 | 2025 | Human and Civil Rights |
| Sound Foundations NW | Normandy Park, WA | $3,800 | 2025 | Economic Justice |
| Citizen Nine26 | Spokane, WA | $3,600 | 2025 | Human and Civil Rights |
| ACE Mentor Program of America Inc | Philadelphia, PA | $3,100 | 2025 | Education and STEM |
| Hillsborough Education Foundation Inc | Tampa, FL | $2,900 | 2025 | Education and STEM |
| Food Bank of the Rockies | Denver, CO | $2,800 | 2025 | Food Security |
Eastern Washington University Foundation
$200,000Education and STEM
Clean Energy Transition Institute
$77,200Climate Change
Washington State University Foundation
$50,000Childrens Health
PATH
$50,000Health and Science
University of Washington Foundation
$45,000Education and STEM
Climate Solutions
$41,900Climate Change
Washington Alliance for Better Schools
$32,000Racial Justice
Building Transparency
$30,000Climate Change
Spark Northwest
$26,400Climate Change
Seattle Childrens Foundation
$25,100Racial Justice
Seattle Colleges Foundation
$25,000Education and STEM
Treehouse
$21,300Youth and Family Services
Groundwork Denver Incorporated
$20,600Conservation and Environment
Western Washington University Foundation
$20,600Education and STEM
Washington Stem Center
$20,400Education and STEM
Global Partnerships
$20,000Economic Justice
Oregon Tradeswomen Inc
$15,000Gender Equity
Food Lifeline
$14,000Food Security
YouthCare
$13,400Education and STEM
Project Worthmore
$13,300Human and Civil Rights
Spokane Neighborhood Action Partners
$13,200Economic Justice
Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition Technical Advisory Group
$12,700Conservation and Environment
Columbia Slough Watershed Council Inc
$11,500Conservation and Environment
The Trevor Project Inc
$11,400LGBTQ Equity
The Gathering Place A Refuge for Rebuilding Lives
$11,000Gender Equity
Forterra NW
$10,300Conservation and Environment
Apprenticeship and NonTraditional Employment for Women
$10,000Gender Equity
Partnership for Learning
$10,000Schools and Foundations
Teach for America Inc
$10,000Schools and Foundations
Operation Sack Lunch
$10,000Food Security
Vanessa Behan
$8,400Youth and Family Services
Marys Place Seattle
$7,200Gender Equity
The Nature Conservancy
$6,900Conservation and Environment
Second Harvest Inland Northwest
$5,400Food Security
Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund Inc
$5,300LGBTQ Equity
Project 48 Inc
$5,200Youth and Family Services
Dress for Success of Oregon Inc
$5,000Gender Equity
Urban Impact
$5,000Economic Justice
Denver Urban Gardens
$5,000Conservation and Environment
Building Blocks to Success Corporation
$5,000Economic Justice
Girl Scouts of Colorado
$5,000Gender Equity
Midwives for Black Lives
$5,000Gender Equity
US Chamber of Commerce Foundation
$5,000Veterans Support
Northwest Abortion Access Fund
$5,000Gender Equity
American Civil Liberties Union Foundation Inc
$4,800Human and Civil Rights
Sound Foundations NW
$3,800Economic Justice
Citizen Nine26
$3,600Human and Civil Rights
ACE Mentor Program of America Inc
$3,100Education and STEM
Hillsborough Education Foundation Inc
$2,900Education and STEM
Food Bank of the Rockies
$2,800Food Security