Foster Foundation

About Foster Foundation

The Foster Foundation’s recent giving is anchored by a $750,000 grant to the UW Athletic Department in Seattle, a signal of how strongly the foundation supports university athletics alongside education, healthcare, and community institutions in the Seattle area. The foundation also made a $260,000 grant to Swedish Medical Center Foundation and repeated support for the University of Washington - Foster School Building, showing sustained attention to higher education and regional medical needs. Across its recent grants, the foundation favors established local organizations rather than a wide scatter of small awards. Its portfolio includes independent K–12 schools such as St Thomas School and Overlake School, healthcare-related recipients such as Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and Seattle Children’s Hospital, and community groups like Montlake Futures and Seattle Foundation. The pattern suggests a family philanthropic organization investing through invitation-only relationships with nonprofits already working in priority areas. The grant list also shows recurring support for the same institutions over multiple years, especially in Seattle and nearby Eastside communities. This is a funder whose identity is closely tied to regional institutions that serve education, medical care, and community engagement in Washington.

What Foster Foundation Funds

Education appears in several forms. The Foster Foundation gave $300,000 to St Thomas School in Medina for education and $100,000 to the University of Washington - Foster School Building in Seattle for education, alongside a separate $22,500 grant to University of Washington - Tougher Together. Medical giving is another clear strand. In 2025, they awarded $50,000 to Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle for medical purposes and $20,000 to Seattle Children’s Hospital for medical support. Earlier grants to Swedish Medical Center Foundation show the same emphasis on regional healthcare institutions. Community and social-services grants also make up a visible part of the recent record. Examples include $160,000 to Montlake Futures, $60,000 to Together Center in Redmond for social services, and $35,000 to Make-A-Wish in Seattle for social services. The foundation also supported animal welfare through Paws - Progressive Animal Welfare Society.

How Foster Foundation Gives