The Sander Family Foundation directs relatively large, targeted gifts to Seattle-area civic, public safety, and education institutions despite being based in Alta, WY. Their grants show a mix of higher-education support (notably the University of Washington and its History Department) and investment in local social services and public safety organizations that serve vulnerable populations and youth. They make a small number of substantial general-purpose gifts, and they repeat support to select community service providers.
A $100,000 grant to the University of Washington Foundation set the tone for Sander Family Foundation’s recent giving: large, targeted support for Seattle institutions, especially higher education, public safety, and services for vulnerable residents. The foundation’s biggest awards are paired with repeated gifts to a small set of organizations, including DESC, where it gave $67,092 in 2025 after a $50,000 grant in 2023, and the UW History Department, which received $50,000 in 2025. That pattern suggests a funder that favors specific institutions and programs rather than broad, scattered grantmaking. Recent grants also show attention to youth-serving and civic organizations in Seattle, with support for Ryther, Seattle Police Foundation, and several school-based or community institutions. The grants are generally unrestricted in the recent records, which points to flexible institutional support. Although the foundation is headquartered in Alta, Wyoming, its giving is concentrated elsewhere, with most recent grants landing in Washington state and a smaller number reaching Idaho and Ohio. The overall portfolio is compact, active, and centered on a few recurring relationships.
Higher education is a clear thread in the foundation’s giving. It awarded $100,000 to the University of Washington Foundation in 2024 and $50,000 to the UW History Department in 2025, indicating direct support for both the institution and a specific academic unit. A second theme is homelessness and supportive services. DESC received $67,092 in 2025 after a $50,000 grant in 2023, along with a separate $10,000 award in 2024, showing sustained backing for one Seattle service provider. Youth and family services also appear in the recent record. Ryther received $41,000 in 2023, and the foundation later supported school-linked organizations such as Garfield PTSA and O'Dea High School. Public safety is another funded area, reflected in a $45,087 grant to Seattle Police Foundation in 2024.
The foundation’s recent gifts are uneven in size but center on a relatively small set of meaningful awards. In the available record, the middle of the distribution sits at a median of $1,230, with the 25th percentile at $500 and the 75th percentile at $7,576. That spread shows a mix of modest community gifts and larger institutional grants. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including DESC, Garfield PTSA, Epiphany, Salvation Army, WA Golf Foundation, and the University of Washington-related entities. The recent grants are listed as general support, and the foundation does not make program-related investments or grants to individuals. The pattern looks relationship-based rather than open-call driven.
$520K
$1.4M
$288K
$230K
Most grants fall between $500 and $8K, with a median of $1K.
25th Percentile
$500
Median
$1K
75th Percentile
$8K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in WA.
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Concentrated, relatively large general-purpose grants to a small set of organizations—mix of one-time and repeat support—with a clear geographic focus on Seattle-area institutions despite the foundation's Wyoming address.
Notable grantees: DESC (Downtown Emergency Service Center), University of Washington Foundation, UW History Department, Seattle Police Foundation, Ryther
Washington is the center of the foundation’s grantmaking: the top state by grant count is WA, and recent grantees cluster in Seattle, Tacoma, and Kirkland. Seattle alone appears repeatedly through recipients such as DESC, the University of Washington, Seattle Police Foundation, Ryther, and multiple school or parish groups. Idaho shows a smaller presence through Driggs recipients, while Ohio appears once through Beta Theta Pi in Oxford. All recent grants were made to U.S. recipients.
The recent record centers on higher education, homelessness and supportive services, youth behavioral health and child welfare, and public safety/community institutions. Examples in the data include the University of Washington Foundation, DESC, Ryther, and Seattle Police Foundation.
Yes. DESC appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Garfield PTSA appears in 2023 and 2024; Epiphany appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and Salvation Army appears in 2023 and 2025. That pattern points to recurring relationships rather than one-time-only gifts.
The listed distribution shows a p25 of $500, a median of $1,230, and a p75 of $7,576. The recent record also includes larger awards such as $100,000 to the University of Washington Foundation and $67,092 to DESC.
Most grants go to Washington recipients, especially in Seattle. The top state by grant count is WA, and the recent grants include multiple Seattle-based organizations plus Tacoma and Kirkland recipients.
No. The provided foundation data indicates that it does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DESC | SEATTLE, WA | $67,092 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| UW HISTORY DEPARTMENT | SEATTLE, WA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| WA GOLF FOUNDATION | TACOMA, WA | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| EPIPHANY | SEATTLE, WA | $9,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| GARFIELD | SEATTLE, WA | $8,469 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| BISHOP BLANCHET | SEATTLE, WA | $6,099 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| ODEA HIGH SCHOOL | SEATTLE, WA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| UW GIVING | SEATTLE, WA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| SALVATION ARMY | SEATTLE, WA | $1,500 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| LAKESIDE | SEATTLE, WA | $1,090 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| TETON VALLEY HEALTH FOUNDATION | DRIGGS, ID | $1,029 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| PACIFIC SCIENCE CENTER | SEATTLE, WA | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| TETON REGIONAL LAND TRUST | DRIGGS, ID | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| UNION GOSPEL MISSION | SEATTLE, WA | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| AMERICAS CHARITIES | CHANTILLY, VA | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| MARY'S PLACE | SEATTLE, WA | $472 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| FRED HUTCHINSON CANCER | SEATTLE, WA | $250 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| SEATTLE UNITED SOCCER CLUB | SEATTLE, WA | $193 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| JACKSON HIGH SCHOOL | MILL CREEK, WA | $104 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| UW FOUNDATION | SEATTLE, WA | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| SEATTLE POLICE FDN | SEATTLE, WA | $45,087 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| GARFIELD PTSA | SEATTLE, WA | $11,227 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| DESC | SEATTLE, WA | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| EPIPHANY | SEATTLE, WA | $7,500 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| CHEHALIS FOUNDATION | SEATTLE, WA | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| TETON VALLEY HEALTH FOUNDATION | DRIGGS, ID | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| WA GOLF FOUNDATION | TACOMA, WA | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| BETA THETA PI | OXFORD, OH | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| AHT CHARITY GOLF | SEATTLE, WA | $1,200 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| TETON REGIONAL LAND TRUST | DRIGGS, ID | $1,030 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| EMPLOYEE SCHOLOARSHIP FUND SECESSIO | BEAUFORT, SC | $1,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| GO FUND ME | SEATTLE, WA | $935 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| SALVATION ARMY | SEATTLE, WA | $500 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| SEATTLE UNITED SOCCER CLUB | SEATTLE, WA | $154 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| THE NAVIGATORS | COLORADO SPRINGS, CO | $150 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| NATIONAL MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY | SEATTLE, WA | $106 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| YOUNG LIFE | COLORADO SPRINGS, CO | $50 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| DESC | SEATTLE, WA | $50,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| RYTHER | SEATTLE, WA | $41,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| SEATTLE ACADEMY | SEATTLE, WA | $21,595 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| REACH MINISTRY | KIRKLAND, WA | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| GARFIELD PTSA | SEATTLE, WA | $7,804 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| EPIPHANY | SEATTLE, WA | $7,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| UNION GOSPEL MISSION | SEATTLE, WA | $2,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| SALVATION ARMY | SEATTLE, WA | $1,500 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| AHT CHARITY GOLF | SEATTLE, WA | $1,260 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT | JACKSONVILLE, FL | $1,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| CHEHALIS FOUNDATION | SEATTLE, WA | $1,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| BETA OMEGA FOUNDATION | KIRKLAND, WA | $647 | 2023 | CHARITY |
| GO FUND ME | SEATTLE, WA | $505 | 2023 | GENERAL |
DESC
$67,092GENERAL
UW HISTORY DEPARTMENT
$50,000GENERAL
WA GOLF FOUNDATION
$15,000GENERAL
EPIPHANY
$9,000GENERAL
GARFIELD
$8,469GENERAL
BISHOP BLANCHET
$6,099GENERAL
ODEA HIGH SCHOOL
GENERAL
UW GIVING
$5,000GENERAL
SALVATION ARMY
$1,500GENERAL
LAKESIDE
$1,090GENERAL
TETON VALLEY HEALTH FOUNDATION
$1,029GENERAL
PACIFIC SCIENCE CENTER
$1,000GENERAL
TETON REGIONAL LAND TRUST
$1,000GENERAL
UNION GOSPEL MISSION
$1,000GENERAL
AMERICAS CHARITIES
$1,000GENERAL
MARY'S PLACE
$472GENERAL
FRED HUTCHINSON CANCER
$250GENERAL
SEATTLE UNITED SOCCER CLUB
$193GENERAL
JACKSON HIGH SCHOOL
$104GENERAL
UW FOUNDATION
$100,000GENERAL
SEATTLE POLICE FDN
$45,087GENERAL
GARFIELD PTSA
$11,227GENERAL
DESC
$10,000GENERAL
EPIPHANY
$7,500GENERAL
CHEHALIS FOUNDATION
$5,000GENERAL
TETON VALLEY HEALTH FOUNDATION
$5,000GENERAL
WA GOLF FOUNDATION
$5,000GENERAL
BETA THETA PI
$5,000GENERAL
AHT CHARITY GOLF
$1,200GENERAL
TETON REGIONAL LAND TRUST
$1,030GENERAL
EMPLOYEE SCHOLOARSHIP FUND SECESSIO
$1,000GENERAL
GO FUND ME
$935GENERAL
SALVATION ARMY
$500GENERAL
SEATTLE UNITED SOCCER CLUB
$154GENERAL
THE NAVIGATORS
$150GENERAL
NATIONAL MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY
$106GENERAL
YOUNG LIFE
$50GENERAL
DESC
$50,000GENERAL
RYTHER
$41,000GENERAL
SEATTLE ACADEMY
$21,595GENERAL
REACH MINISTRY
$10,000GENERAL
GARFIELD PTSA
$7,804GENERAL
EPIPHANY
$7,000GENERAL
UNION GOSPEL MISSION
$2,000GENERAL
SALVATION ARMY
$1,500GENERAL
AHT CHARITY GOLF
$1,260GENERAL
WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT
$1,000GENERAL
CHEHALIS FOUNDATION
$1,000GENERAL
BETA OMEGA FOUNDATION
$647CHARITY
GO FUND ME
$505GENERAL