About Mckinstry Charitable Foundation
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.
Focus Areas
University-led STEM program expansion (Eastern Washington University)Statewide K–12 STEM ecosystem support (Washington STEM Center)Higher-education capacity-building and institutional development in Washington state
Who They Fund
children and youthfamiliesschools and educational institutionsracially marginalized communitieswomen and girlsLGBTQ communities
About Mckinstry Charitable Foundation
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.
What Mckinstry Charitable Foundation Funds
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.
How Mckinstry Charitable Foundation Gives
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.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$1.5M
Total Assets
$17K
Total Revenue
$1.4M
Total Expenses
$1.5M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $300 and $2K, with a median of $300.
25th Percentile
$300
Median
$300
75th Percentile
$2K
Geographic Reach
Regional39 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
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