
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.
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.
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.
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.
$5M
$3.3M
$5M
$2.7M
Most grants fall between $20K and $40K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$20K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$40K
About 93% of grants go to recipients in WA.
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Washington dominates the distribution, with 93% of grants going to recipients in WA and a local geographic scope of giving. The most frequent recipient cities in the recent grants list include Seattle, Tacoma, Redmond, Spokane, Tukwila, and Richland. Outside Washington, only a small number of grants appear in the recent list, including recipients in Portland, Oregon. The funding pattern is clearly statewide, with awards reaching both urban centers and other Washington communities such as Bellingham, Shoreline, Wenatchee, and Seatac.
It funds nonprofit Entrepreneur Support Organizations, CDFIs, chambers of commerce, and other nonprofit groups that provide business training, technical assistance, and access to financing for microbusinesses. The mission statement also emphasizes self-employment education, micro-lending, and support for business creation and expansion.
No. The active grant programs are competitive and both listed programs state that they do not accept unsolicited applications.
Typical awards cluster around p25 $20,000, median $25,250, and p75 $40,000. Recent grants also include larger awards in the $55,000 to $70,000 range.
It gives most often in Washington. The data shows 93% of grants go to recipients in WA, and the foundation’s geographic scope of giving is local.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Seattle Good Business Network, Terrain Programs, El Centro De La Raza, Tacoma Pierce Cty Cham of Comm, and Oneeastside Foundation.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEATTLE GOOD BUSINESS NETWORK | SEATTLE, WA | $65,000 | 2025 | — |
| GREATER SEATTLE BUSINESS ASSOCIATIO | SEATTLE, WA | $55,000 | 2025 | — |
| ZERO WASTE WASHINGTON | SEATTLE, WA | $55,000 | 2025 | — |
| TERRAIN PROGRAMS | SPOKANE, WA | $55,000 | 2025 | — |
| COMMUNITY CARROT | SEATTLE, WA | $55,000 | 2025 | — |
| EL CENTRO DE LA RAZA | SEATTLE, WA | $53,000 | 2025 | — |
| EMERALD CITIES COOPERATIVE | TUKWILA, WA | $52,710 | 2025 | — |
| NORTHWEST ACCESS FUND | SHORELINE, WA | $50,600 | 2025 | — |
| REFUGEE ARTISAN INITIATIVE | SEATTLE, WA | $45,000 | 2025 | — |
| ONEREDMOND FOUNDATION DBA ONEEASTSIDE FOUNDATION | REDMOND, WA | $45,000 | 2025 | — |
| DRIVER SOLIDARITY & RESOURCE CENTER | TUKWILA, WA | $43,000 | 2025 | — |
| TACOMA PIERCE CTY CHAM OF COMM | TACOMA, WA | $41,000 | 2025 | — |
| MINORITY HEMP BUILDERS ASSOC | PORT ORCHARD, WA | $40,000 | 2025 | — |
| 360 SOCIAL IMPACT STUDIOS CIRCLE OF FRIENDS FOR MENTAL HEALTH | SEATTLE, WA | $40,000 | 2025 | — |
| CENTER FOR INCLUSIVE ENTREPRENEURSH | SEATTLE, WA | $35,000 | 2025 | 1ST STEP TRAINING & |
| CARING WITH COMPASSION COMMUNITY | GRAHAM, WA | $32,000 | 2025 | — |
| ALLIANCE 2005 ECONOMIC ALLIANCE OKANOGAN COUNTY | OMAK, WA | $30,000 | 2025 | — |
| SPOKANE INDEPENDENT METRO BUSINESS | SPOKANE, WA | $30,000 | 2025 | — |
| SEATTLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BUSINESS IMPACT NORTHWEST | TUKWILA, WA | $30,000 | 2025 | — |
| WA AFRICAN AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMM | RICHLAND, WA | $28,000 | 2025 | — |
| EDC TEAM JEFFERSON | PORT TOWNSEND, WA | $28,000 | 2025 | — |
| NORTHWEST NATIVE DEVELOPMENT FUND | COULEE DAM, WA | $28,000 | 2025 | — |
| FILIPINO COMMUNITY OF SEATTLE | SEATTLE, WA | $28,000 | 2025 | — |
| CENTRO CULTURAL MEXICANO | REDMOND, WA | $25,000 | 2025 | — |
| GLOBAL TO LOCAL HEALTH INITIATIVE | SEATAC, WA | $25,000 | 2025 | — |
| KITSAP ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ALLIANC | SILVERDALE, WA | $25,000 | 2025 | — |
| COWLITZ-WIHKIAKUM COUNCIL OF GOV | KELSO, WA | $25,000 | 2025 | — |
| PNW TRIBAL LENDING LUMMI COMMUNITY DEV | BELLINGHAM, WA | $25,000 | 2025 | — |
| CHEHALIS TRIBAL LOAN FUND | OAKVILLE, WA | $25,000 | 2025 | — |
| FEAST COLLECTIVE | SPOKANE, WA | $23,000 | 2025 | — |
| URBAN BUSINESS SUPPORT | PUYALLUP, WA | $23,000 | 2025 | — |
| JAPAN-AMERICAN SOCIETY OF WA ST | MERCER ISLAND, WA | $23,000 | 2025 | — |
| NORTHWEST NATIVE CHAMBER | PORTLAND, OR | $23,000 | 2025 | — |
| INDIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY SERVICES | BELLEVUE, WA | $23,000 | 2025 | — |
| NORTHWEST FARMS TO FAMILIES | COLBERT, WA | $23,000 | 2025 | — |
| HC STARTZONE HIGHLINE COLLEGE FOUNDATION | DES MOINES, WA | $23,000 | 2025 | — |
| VERTUELAB | SEATTLE, WA | $23,000 | 2025 | — |
| MICRO ENTERPRISE SERVICES OF OREGON | PORTLAND, OR | $22,600 | 2025 | — |
| AFRICAN COMMUNITY HOUSING & DEVELOP | SEA TAC, WA | $22,000 | 2025 | — |
| DISCOVER BURIEN | BURIEN, WA | $22,000 | 2025 | — |
| TRI-COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT | COLVILLE, WA | $21,000 | 2025 | — |
| COMMUNITIES RISE | SEATTLE, WA | $20,160 | 2025 | — |
| TACOMA ARTS LIVE | TACOMA, WA | $20,000 | 2025 | — |
| MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOUNDATION | TACOMA, WA | $20,000 | 2025 | — |
| WOMEN OF WISDOM | RICHLAND, WA | $20,000 | 2025 | — |
| SNAP FINANCIAL ACCESS | SPOKANE, WA | $20,000 | 2025 | — |
| SAN JUAN COUNTY ECONOMIC DEV COUN | FRIDAY HARBOR, WA | $20,000 | 2025 | — |
| URBAN IMPACT | SEATTLE, WA | $20,000 | 2025 | — |
| BUILD 2 LEAD | FEDERAL WAY, WA | $20,000 | 2025 | — |
| ASIAN PACIFIC CULTURAL CENTER | TACOMA, WA | $20,000 | 2025 | — |
SEATTLE GOOD BUSINESS NETWORK
$65,000GREATER SEATTLE BUSINESS ASSOCIATIO
$55,000ZERO WASTE WASHINGTON
$55,000TERRAIN PROGRAMS
$55,000COMMUNITY CARROT
$55,000EL CENTRO DE LA RAZA
$53,000EMERALD CITIES COOPERATIVE
$52,710NORTHWEST ACCESS FUND
REFUGEE ARTISAN INITIATIVE
$45,000ONEREDMOND FOUNDATION DBA ONEEASTSIDE FOUNDATION
$45,000DRIVER SOLIDARITY & RESOURCE CENTER
$43,000TACOMA PIERCE CTY CHAM OF COMM
$41,000MINORITY HEMP BUILDERS ASSOC
$40,000360 SOCIAL IMPACT STUDIOS CIRCLE OF FRIENDS FOR MENTAL HEALTH
$40,000CENTER FOR INCLUSIVE ENTREPRENEURSH
$35,0001ST STEP TRAINING &
CARING WITH COMPASSION COMMUNITY
$32,000ALLIANCE 2005 ECONOMIC ALLIANCE OKANOGAN COUNTY
$30,000SPOKANE INDEPENDENT METRO BUSINESS
$30,000SEATTLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BUSINESS IMPACT NORTHWEST
$30,000WA AFRICAN AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMM
$28,000EDC TEAM JEFFERSON
$28,000NORTHWEST NATIVE DEVELOPMENT FUND
$28,000FILIPINO COMMUNITY OF SEATTLE
$28,000CENTRO CULTURAL MEXICANO
$25,000GLOBAL TO LOCAL HEALTH INITIATIVE
$25,000KITSAP ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ALLIANC
$25,000COWLITZ-WIHKIAKUM COUNCIL OF GOV
$25,000PNW TRIBAL LENDING LUMMI COMMUNITY DEV
$25,000CHEHALIS TRIBAL LOAN FUND
$25,000FEAST COLLECTIVE
$23,000URBAN BUSINESS SUPPORT
$23,000JAPAN-AMERICAN SOCIETY OF WA ST
$23,000NORTHWEST NATIVE CHAMBER
$23,000INDIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY SERVICES
$23,000NORTHWEST FARMS TO FAMILIES
$23,000HC STARTZONE HIGHLINE COLLEGE FOUNDATION
$23,000VERTUELAB
$23,000MICRO ENTERPRISE SERVICES OF OREGON
$22,600AFRICAN COMMUNITY HOUSING & DEVELOP
$22,000DISCOVER BURIEN
$22,000TRI-COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
$21,000COMMUNITIES RISE
$20,160TACOMA ARTS LIVE
$20,000MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOUNDATION
$20,000WOMEN OF WISDOM
$20,000SNAP FINANCIAL ACCESS
$20,000SAN JUAN COUNTY ECONOMIC DEV COUN
$20,000URBAN IMPACT
$20,000BUILD 2 LEAD
$20,000ASIAN PACIFIC CULTURAL CENTER
$20,000