The Vadon Foundation concentrates its giving on education and Indigenous language/cultural revitalization, providing large unrestricted support to schools and community organizations that preserve Native languages and traditions. Grants are also directed to a small number of arts and youth-focused projects and occasional funding to a major research university — suggesting interest in both grassroots tribal programs and institutional partnerships. The foundation typically makes sizable grants to a few repeat and new grantees rather than many small awards.
A defining feature of Vadon Foundation’s recent giving is its sustained support for Native language and cultural revitalization, especially through large operating grants to community-based organizations. Inchelium Language and Culture Association received $285,000 in 2023 and another $160,000 in 2025, while Salish School of Spokane was awarded $250,000 in 2023 and $200,000 in 2025. Those repeat awards point to a funder that backs organizations over time rather than making isolated gifts. The foundation also supports Indigenous education and youth-serving work. Oceti Sakowin Community Academy received $225,000 in 2025, and The Yarrow Project was funded with $230,000 in 2023. On the arts side, Children of the Setting Sun Productions received $200,000 in 2025, following earlier support in 2023. Vadon Foundation’s recent portfolio also includes grants to Native-led groups addressing community leadership, violence against Indigenous women and Two-Spirit people, and related social needs. The pattern is one of sizable support for Native organizations, with both grassroots programs and institutional partners appearing in the same grant history.
Language revitalization is central to Vadon Foundation’s giving. The Salish School of Spokane received $250,000 in 2023 for organizational support and $200,000 in 2025, reflecting sustained backing for immersion-based education. Inchelium Language and Culture Association was also funded at $285,000 in 2023 and $160,000 in 2025. Indigenous education is another clear thread. Oceti Sakowin Community Academy received $225,000 in 2025 for organizational support, and Cheyenne River Youth Project received $125,000 in 2023 and $100,000 in both 2024 and 2025. The foundation also funds Native arts and cultural production. Children of the Setting Sun Productions received $140,000 in 2023 and $200,000 in 2025, showing continued support for cultural work tied to Indigenous identity. Its grant programs also name MMIWG2S, community leadership, and COVID-19-related essential needs as active priorities.
Vadon Foundation’s typical grant size centers on larger awards: the 25th percentile is $25,000, the median is $50,000, and the 75th percentile is $100,000. The recent grants list shows repeated support to the same organizations across multiple years, including Inchelium Language and Culture Association, Salish School of Spokane, Treehouse, Children of the Setting Sun Productions, and Cheyenne River Youth Project. That pattern suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-time gifts. The foundation gives direct grants to nonprofit organizations and does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. Several listed programs accept unsolicited requests.
$3.5M
$53.6M
$2.7M
$4.2M
Most grants fall between $25K and $100K, with a median of $50K.
25th Percentile
$25K
Median
$50K
75th Percentile
$100K
About 49% of grants go to recipients in WA.
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Vadon Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 103 | $8.1M | 98.1% |
| 2 | Canada | 2 | $70K |
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Concentrated, high-dollar grants to a small set of organizations with several repeat recipients; primarily unrestricted 'to support organization' commitments favoring Indigenous language/culture and education initiatives rather than broad, diversified small grants.
Notable grantees: Salish School of Spokane, Inchelium Language and Culture Association, Oceti Sakowin Community Academy, Children of the Setting Sun Productions, Stanford University
Grantmaking is concentrated in the United States, with 103 of 105 grants, and a small share in Canada with 2 grants. Washington is the top state by grant count, and several recent awards went to Spokane, Seattle, Tacoma, Bellingham, and Inchelium. The recipient mix also reaches beyond Washington to Rapid City, SD; Kyle, SD; Lame Deer, MT; and other tribal communities. The pattern shows a regional footprint anchored in the Pacific Northwest and the Northern Plains rather than a single-city focus.
The foundation’s active grant programs and recent awards center on Native language revitalization, MMIWG2S response, innovative community leadership, and COVID-19-related food insecurity and essential needs. Recent grants also support Indigenous education, arts and cultural production, youth development, and capacity-building for Native-led organizations.
Yes. The active programs listed for General Grantmaking, Language Revitalization Grants, MMIWG2S Grants, Innovative Community Leadership Grants, and COVID-19 Food Insecurity and Essential Needs Grants all note that they accept unsolicited applications.
The typical grant-size distribution is $25,000 at the 25th percentile, $50,000 at the median, and $100,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards also include several six-figure grants, including multiple awards between $100,000 and $285,000.
Yes. The recent grants list includes repeated awards to several organizations across 2023, 2024, and 2025, including Inchelium Language and Culture Association, Salish School of Spokane, Treehouse, Children of the Setting Sun Productions, and Cheyenne River Youth Project.
Washington is the top state by grant count, and 49% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s headquarters state. Recent Washington recipients include Spokane, Seattle, Tacoma, Bellingham, and Inchelium.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Current and upcoming funding from Vadon Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Organizations providing COVID-19 relief, food distribution, or essential services to Native communities; nonprofits and Tribal entities prioritized.
Who can apply: Organizations led by or serving Native communities that demonstrate community-driven leadership and innovation.
Who can apply: Native-led or Native-serving organizations working on issues related to MMIWG2S; nonprofits, Tribal entities, and other community organizations.
Who can apply: Organizations serving Native/Indigenous communities (nonprofits, Tribal entities, U.S. colleges/universities, hospitals). Indirect cost policy: maximum 10% indirect cost rate for grants to colleges/universities, Tribal/governmental entities, or hospitals; ICOs for 501(c)(3)s determined case-by-case.
Who can apply: Organizations serving Native communities, including 501(c)(3)s, Tribal entities, colleges/universities, and hospitals/health systems. Indirect cost rate permitted up to 10% for grants to U.S. colleges/universities, Tribal or other governmental entities, and hospitals/health systems; indirect rates for 501(c)(3)s determined case-by-case.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| STANFORD UNIVERSITY | REDWOOD CITY, CA | $250,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION |
| WAMBLI SKA OKOLAKICIYE | RAPID CITY, SD | $250,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION |
| OCETI SAKOWIN COMMUNITY ACADEMY | RAPID CITY, SD | $225,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION |
| SALISH SCHOOL OF SPOKANE | SPOKANE, WA | $200,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION |
| CHILDREN OF THE SETTING SUN PRODUCTIONS | BELLINGHAM, WA | $200,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION |
| TREEHOUSE | ASH GROVE, CO | $175,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION |
| INCHELIUM LANGUAGE AND CULTURE ASSOCIATION | INCHELIUM, WA | $160,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION |
| KNIFE CHIEF BUFFALO NATION SOCIETY | PORCUPINE, SD | $140,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION |
| YUCHI LANGUAGE PROJECT | SAPULA, OK | $100,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION |
| FRED HUTCHINSON CANCER RESEARCH CENTER | SEATTLE, WA | $100,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION |
| CHEYENNE RIVER YOUTH PROJECT | LINCOLN, NE | $100,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION |
| INDIGENOUS PEOPLES POWER PROJECT INC | RAPID CITY, SD | $100,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION |
| SPOKANE LANGUAGE HOUSE | SPOKANE, WA | $100,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION |
| TANKA FUND | KYLE, SD | $100,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION |
| AMERICAN INDIAN YOUTH RUNNING STRONG | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $100,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION |
| NKWUSM SCHOOL | ARLEE, MT | $95,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION |
| UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON | SEATTLE, WA | $80,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION |
| OAYE LUTA OKOLAKICIYE | PINE RIDGE, SD | $75,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION |
| UNITED NATIONAL INDIAN TRIBAL YOUTH INC (UNITY) | MESA, AZ | $75,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION |
| MAKOCE AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT | PORCUPINE, SD | $75,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION |
| SAAD K'IDILYE | ALBUQUERQUE, NM | $75,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION |
| NACA-INSPIRED SCHOOLS NETWORK | ALBUQUERQUE, NM | $75,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION |
| YELLOW BIRD LIFEWAYS CENTER | LAME DEER, MT | $70,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION |
| CAMAS FOUNDATION | USK, WA | $60,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION |
| KWU CNXI | USK, WA | $50,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION |
| NDN COLLECTIVE | RAPID CITY, SD | $50,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION |
| GENERATIONS INDIGENOUS WAYS | LENOIR, NC | $45,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION |
| STANDING ROCK COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORP | FORT YATES, ND | $35,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION |
| MEDICINE FISH | GRESHAM, WI | $35,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION |
| HAIDA ROOTS | SEATTLE, WA | $35,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION |
| GLOBAL CIVIC POLICY SOCIETY | VANCOUVER | $35,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION |
| SOUTH DAKOTA EDUCATION EQUITY COALITION | BLACK HAWK, SD | $35,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION |
| THE HOPI SCHOOL | KYKOTSMOVI, AZ | $35,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION |
| BLACKFEET ECO KNOWLEDGE | BROWNING, MT | $25,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION |
| BLACK HILLS AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | RAPID CITY, SD | $25,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION |
| YEHAW INDIGENOUS CREATIVES COLLECTIVE | SEATTLE, WA | $25,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION |
| ALLIANCE FOR FELIX COVE | OAKLAND, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION |
| ALL OUR KIN COLLECTIVE | NEW HAVEN, CT | $25,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION |
| ARTIST TRUST | SEATTLE, WA | $12,500 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION |
| INCHELIUM LANGUAGE AND CULTURE ASSOCIATION | INCHELIUM, WA | $127,513 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION |
| SALISH SCHOOL OF SPOKANE | SPOKANE, WA | $126,274 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION |
| SALISH SCHOOL OF SPOKANE | SPOKANE, WA | $125,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION |
| SPOKANE LANGUAGE HOUSE | SPOKANE, WA | $110,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION |
| NA'AH ILLAHEE FUND | SEATTLE, WA | $110,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION |
| NDN COLLECTIVE | RAPID CITY, SD | $102,169 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION |
| TREEHOUSE | ASH GROVE, CO | $100,350 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION |
| CHILDREN OF THE SETTING SUN PRODUCTIONS | BELLINGHAM, WA | $100,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION |
| NOT AN ALTERNATIVE | VASHON, WA | $100,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION |
| CHEYENNE RIVER YOUTH PROJECT | LINCOLN, NE | $100,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION |
| FRED HUTCHINSON | SEATTLE, WA | $99,993 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION |
STANFORD UNIVERSITY
$250,000TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION
WAMBLI SKA OKOLAKICIYE
$250,000TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION
OCETI SAKOWIN COMMUNITY ACADEMY
$225,000TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION
SALISH SCHOOL OF SPOKANE
$200,000TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION
CHILDREN OF THE SETTING SUN PRODUCTIONS
$200,000TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION
TREEHOUSE
$175,000TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION
INCHELIUM LANGUAGE AND CULTURE ASSOCIATION
$160,000TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION
KNIFE CHIEF BUFFALO NATION SOCIETY
$140,000TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION
YUCHI LANGUAGE PROJECT
$100,000TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION
FRED HUTCHINSON CANCER RESEARCH CENTER
$100,000TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION
CHEYENNE RIVER YOUTH PROJECT
$100,000TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES POWER PROJECT INC
$100,000TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION
SPOKANE LANGUAGE HOUSE
$100,000TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION
TANKA FUND
$100,000TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION
AMERICAN INDIAN YOUTH RUNNING STRONG
$100,000TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION
NKWUSM SCHOOL
$95,000TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
$80,000TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION
OAYE LUTA OKOLAKICIYE
$75,000TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION
UNITED NATIONAL INDIAN TRIBAL YOUTH INC (UNITY)
$75,000TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION
MAKOCE AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT
$75,000TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION
SAAD K'IDILYE
$75,000TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION
NACA-INSPIRED SCHOOLS NETWORK
$75,000TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION
YELLOW BIRD LIFEWAYS CENTER
$70,000TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION
CAMAS FOUNDATION
$60,000TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION
KWU CNXI
$50,000TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION
NDN COLLECTIVE
$50,000TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION
GENERATIONS INDIGENOUS WAYS
$45,000TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION
STANDING ROCK COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORP
$35,000TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION
MEDICINE FISH
$35,000TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION
HAIDA ROOTS
$35,000TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION
GLOBAL CIVIC POLICY SOCIETY
$35,000TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION
SOUTH DAKOTA EDUCATION EQUITY COALITION
$35,000TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION
THE HOPI SCHOOL
$35,000TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION
BLACKFEET ECO KNOWLEDGE
$25,000TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION
BLACK HILLS AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$25,000TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION
YEHAW INDIGENOUS CREATIVES COLLECTIVE
$25,000TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION
ALLIANCE FOR FELIX COVE
$25,000TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION
ALL OUR KIN COLLECTIVE
$25,000TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION
ARTIST TRUST
$12,500TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION
INCHELIUM LANGUAGE AND CULTURE ASSOCIATION
$127,513TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION
SALISH SCHOOL OF SPOKANE
$126,274TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION
SALISH SCHOOL OF SPOKANE
$125,000TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION
SPOKANE LANGUAGE HOUSE
$110,000TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION
NA'AH ILLAHEE FUND
$110,000TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION
NDN COLLECTIVE
$102,169TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION
TREEHOUSE
$100,350TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION
CHILDREN OF THE SETTING SUN PRODUCTIONS
$100,000TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION
NOT AN ALTERNATIVE
$100,000TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION
CHEYENNE RIVER YOUTH PROJECT
$100,000TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION
FRED HUTCHINSON
$99,993TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION