Washington State Microenterprise Association
ActivePublic CharityCommunity Improvement
About Washington State Microenterprise Association
The Washington State Microenterprise Association’s mission is to strengthen economic development systems that support the growth of strong and effective Entrepreneur Support Organizations (ESOs) by building coalitions, providing leadership for microenterprise practitioners, promoting microenterprise as an economic development tool, and supporting ESOs in delivering self-employment education, access to capital and micro-lending, business creation and expansion support, job creation, and financial education.
Focus Areas
Microenterprise developmentEntrepreneur support organizations (ESOs)Business training and cohort programsTechnical assistance and one-on-one counselingAccess to financing and microloansCapacity building for nonprofit business support providersEconomic development for small businessesEquity-focused small business support (BIPOC, veterans, people with disabilities, returning citizens, LGBTQ+)
Who They Fund
microentrepreneurs
About Washington State Microenterprise Association
Washington State Microenterprise Association funds the organizations that help very small businesses get training, counseling, and access to capital. Its recent grant record shows a strong preference for nonprofit Entrepreneur Support Organizations, CDFIs, chambers of commerce, and community-based intermediaries that work with microbusinesses across Washington. The largest recent awards include $70,000 grants to Oneeastside Foundation, Terrain Programs, El Centro De La Raza, and Seattle Good Business Network in 2024, along with continued support for Seattle Good Business Network at $65,000 in 2025. That pattern points to a funder that backs local infrastructure for entrepreneurship rather than direct individual assistance. The foundation’s mission centers on economic development systems for self-employment, business creation and expansion, job creation, and financial education. Recent grants also show attention to equity-focused support for BIPOC entrepreneurs, veterans, people with disabilities, returning citizens, and LGBTQ+ communities. In practice, the association funds both training-oriented groups and organizations that connect microbusinesses to financing, suggesting a blend of capacity building and business support across the state.
What Washington State Microenterprise Association Funds
A clear theme in the portfolio is business training and technical assistance. In 2025, Washington State Microenterprise Association gave $55,000 to Community Carrot and $43,000 to Driver Solidarity & Resource Center, both in Seattle-area communities, for work tied to microbusiness support and entrepreneurship services. It also supported Emerald Cities Cooperative with $52,710 in Tukwila, another example of assistance delivered through local intermediaries. Access to financing is another recurring theme. The foundation awarded $60,000 to PNW Tribal Lending Lummi Community Development in Bellingham and $50,600 to Northwest Access Fund in Shoreline, showing support for organizations that help very small businesses connect with capital. Community-specific entrepreneurship support appears as well. Grants to El Centro De La Raza in Seattle and the Filipino Community of Seattle show that the funder works through established community organizations, not only through generic small-business providers.
How Washington State Microenterprise Association Gives
Washington State Microenterprise Association gives at a mid-five-figure scale, with typical awards clustered at p25 $20,000, median $25,250, and p75 $40,000. The recent list also includes larger $55,000 to $70,000 grants, indicating a tiered approach that mixes standard operating support with higher-award investments in selected partners. The organization is a Public Charity and does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. The record shows repeat support for some recipients across years, including Seattle Good Business Network, Terrain Programs, El Centro De La Raza, Tacoma Pierce Cty Cham of Comm, and Oneeastside Foundation, which suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-time awards. The active grant programs are competitive and do not accept unsolicited applications.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$5M
Total Assets
$3.3M
Total Revenue
$5M
Total Expenses
$2.7M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $20K and $40K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$20K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$40K
Geographic Reach
Local3 states funded
About 93% of grants go to recipients in WA.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
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