The Northwest Trek Foundation is a Washington State registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which promotes conservation, education and recreation to a regional and national community through the unique display of Pacific Northwest native wildlife in their natural habitats at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park in Eatonville, Washington.
A defining feature of Northwest Trek Foundation is that its recent grantmaking centers on exhibits, projects, and activities at Northwest Trek, with three large grants to Metro Parks Tacoma across 2023, 2024, and 2025. That pattern points to a funder focused on site-based support rather than broad external philanthropy. The foundation’s work is tied to Pacific Northwest native wildlife, and its stated mission includes conservation, education, and recreation for regional and national audiences through the wildlife park in Eatonville, Washington. Its funding priorities include wildlife conservation, species recovery, animal care and enrichment, environmental and wildlife education, public recreation and exhibits, and planned giving and endowment support. The foundation also operates named giving programs and restricted funds, including the David E. Ellis Conservation Fund and the Greatest Need option, both aligned with conservation, education, and animal care. Leadership is listed under Lori Price. Overall, the grant record shows a consistent emphasis on maintaining and developing the park experience while supporting wildlife-focused programming and facilities.
In exhibit development and visitor programming, Northwest Trek Foundation gave $341,000 to Metro Parks Tacoma in 2025 and $410,375 in 2024 to pay for exhibits, projects, and activities that occur at Northwest Trek. That same recipient also received $252,037 in 2023 for the same purpose, showing repeated support for site-based work. The foundation’s stated focus areas extend beyond exhibits into wildlife conservation and species recovery. It also lists animal care and enrichment, along with environmental and wildlife education, as part of its grantmaking priorities. Programmatically, it supports public recreation and exhibits, and its topic taxonomy includes interpretive and educational displays plus site-based visitor experiences. Those themes fit a funder backing the park’s educational role as well as the physical experience of the wildlife site.
Northwest Trek Foundation’s recent grants are large and tightly clustered: the p25 grant size is $291,622, the median is $331,206, and the p75 is $370,790. The recent record also shows the same grantee funded in 2023, 2024, and 2025, which indicates recurring support rather than one-off giving. The foundation is a nonprofit organization, not a fund that makes grants to individuals, and it does not make program-related investments. Its active programs include unrestricted gifts, monthly giving, matching gifts, and in-kind donations, alongside restricted support. Nominations for the Wildlife Legacy Award are open through a form, and several support channels accept unsolicited requests.
$341K
$931K
$508K
$540K
Most grants fall between $292K and $371K, with a median of $331K.
25th Percentile
$292K
Median
$331K
75th Percentile
$371K
LORI PRICE
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Northwest Trek Foundation gives locally: 100% of its grants in the available record went to recipients in Washington. The recipient city that appears in the recent grants list is Tacoma, with Metro Parks Tacoma receiving all three of the top reported grants. The foundation’s active programs also point to a Pacific Northwest focus, including references to the Pacific Northwest, Washington State, and regional support. The HQ city is Eatonville, but the giving record itself is concentrated in Washington recipients.
Its stated focus areas include wildlife conservation, species recovery, animal care and enrichment, environmental and wildlife education, public recreation and exhibits, and planned giving and endowment support. The recent grant record also shows support for exhibits, projects, and activities at Northwest Trek.
The typical grant size is relatively high: p25 is $291,622, the median is $331,206, and p75 is $370,790. The recent grants record includes three awards in that same range.
Yes. In the available grant data, 100% of grants went to recipients in Washington, and the top state by grant count is WA. The recent grants list shows Tacoma as the recipient city.
Yes. Multiple active support channels accept unsolicited requests, including the David E. Ellis Conservation Fund, Corporate Donation Matching, The Expedition monthly giving program, in-kind donation requests, and the Greatest Need option. The Wildlife Legacy Award also accepts nominations through a form.
The recent record shows recurring support. Metro Parks Tacoma appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025 with grants for the same purpose: exhibits, projects, and activities at Northwest Trek.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Northwest Trek Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Restricted to uses defined by the David E. Ellis fund for supporting Northwest Trek's species recovery, animal health and facilities (internal fund for the park).
Who can apply: Organizations that share the Foundation's mission to inspire conservation of wildlife and habitats. The Foundation prioritizes other conservation and wildlife education organizations. Specific eligibility beyond mission alignment is not listed.
Deadline: No application deadline; requests are reviewed on submission. The Foundation aims to respond within 10 business days.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| METRO PARKS TACOMA | TACOMA, WA | $341,000 | 2025 | TO PAY FOR EXHIBITS, PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES THAT OCCUR AT NORTHWEST TREK. |
| METRO PARKS TACOMA | TACOMA, WA | $410,375 | 2024 | TO PAY FOR EXHIBITS, PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES THAT OCCUR AT NORTHWEST TREK. |
| METRO PARKS TACOMA | TACOMA, WA | $252,037 | 2023 | TO PAY FOR EXHIBITS, PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES THAT OCCUR AT NORTHWEST TREK. |
METRO PARKS TACOMA
$341,000TO PAY FOR EXHIBITS, PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES THAT OCCUR AT NORTHWEST TREK.
METRO PARKS TACOMA
$410,375TO PAY FOR EXHIBITS, PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES THAT OCCUR AT NORTHWEST TREK.
METRO PARKS TACOMA
$252,037TO PAY FOR EXHIBITS, PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES THAT OCCUR AT NORTHWEST TREK.
