The Beardsley Foundation concentrates on place-based community support in the Puget Sound region—especially Vashon Island—funding local cultural institutions, youth services, and basic-needs providers with unrestricted general operating grants. Alongside this regional focus, the foundation also gives smaller awards to higher-education institutions and select national civil‑rights/advocacy groups, indicating a mix of local community stewardship and interest in broader social-justice causes.
Beardsley Foundation’s grantmaking is anchored in Vashon Island and the broader Puget Sound region, where general operating support appears across cultural institutions, youth services, and basic-needs providers. Recent awards include $50,000 to Friends of Mukai for general operating support and $40,000 to Vashon Household, both signaling a strong place-based emphasis on community organizations rooted in island life. The foundation also backs youth development and outdoor education, with support for groups such as Camp Burton and Camp Fire Central Puget Sound, while continuing to fund local arts, heritage, and media organizations on Vashon. Beyond that regional core, the foundation has extended smaller grants to higher-education institutions and civil-rights advocacy groups, including University of Puget Sound, WSU Foundation, Center for Reproductive Rights, and Southern Poverty Law Center. Across the recent record, the pattern is consistent: unrestricted support to organizations that sustain community infrastructure, with some awards reaching beyond Washington into national advocacy and education.
Community heritage and arts are a clear thread in the foundation’s giving. It gave $50,000 to Friends of Mukai for general operating support and $12,000 to Vashon Heritage Museum for general operating support, alongside $10,000 to Vashon Center for the Arts and $10,000 to Voice of Vashon. Basic-needs providers also receive steady support: White Center Food Bank received $20,000 for general operating support, and Farestart received $11,000 in 2024 and $6,000 in 2025. Youth and family services are another focus. Camp Burton received $26,000 for general operating support, while Vashon Youth and Family Services received $11,000. Education-related support appears through University of Puget Sound at $22,000 and WSU Foundation at $16,600 and $10,000, indicating a mix of local, regional, and statewide nonprofit partnerships. The foundation also made $10,000 grants to Center for Reproductive Rights and Southern Poverty Law Center.
Typical awards are modest: the 25th percentile is $2,000, the median is $2,500, and the 75th percentile is $5,000. The recent grant list shows a small number of larger operating grants alongside many grants at the $10,000-and-under level, which points to broad support across a range of organizations. The foundation appears to return to some recipients in more than one year, including WSU Foundation, Vashon Heritage Museum, Farestart, and Vashon Community Scholarships Fdn. It is classified as a regular funder, does not fund individuals, and does not make program-related investments.
$277K
$5.1M
$339K
$393K
Most grants fall between $2K and $5K, with a median of $3K.
25th Percentile
$2K
Median
$3K
75th Percentile
$5K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in WA.
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A concentrated regional giving strategy with many mid‑sized unrestricted operating grants; repeat funding to several Vashon and Puget Sound organizations plus occasional one‑off grants to national advocacy and educational institutions.
Notable grantees: Friends of Mukai, Vashon Heritage Museum, Vashon Youth and Family Services / Vashon Center for the Arts, White Center Food Bank, Center for Reproductive Rights
Grants go overwhelmingly to U.S. recipients, with 137 grants in the United States. Vashon, Washington appears frequently in the recent record, including grants to Vashon Household, Camp Burton, Journeymen Institute, Vashon Heritage Museum, Vashon Youth and Family Services, Voice of Vashon, and Vashon Center for the Arts. Seattle also receives multiple grants, such as White Center Food Bank, Farestart, Scc Foundation, and Virginia V Foundation. Outside Washington, recipients include New York, New York; Alexandria, Virginia; and Honolulu, Hawaii.
The foundation gives mainly general operating support to nonprofit organizations. Recent grants show repeated support for Vashon Island cultural institutions, youth and family services, food access, and other community-based providers, along with some higher-education and civil-rights organizations.
The grant-size distribution is relatively small: the 25th percentile is $2,000, the median is $2,500, and the 75th percentile is $5,000. Recent records also include larger operating grants such as $50,000 and $40,000.
Yes. The recent record includes repeat support for WSU Foundation, Vashon Heritage Museum, Farestart, and Vashon Community Scholarships Fdn across 2024 and 2025, which suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-time awards.
Its top state by grant count is Maryland, while the recent grant list also shows a strong Washington presence, especially Vashon and Seattle. The recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 137 grants in the United States.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WHITE CENTER FOOD BANK | SEATTLE, WA | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| JOURNEYMEN INSTITUTE | VASHON, WA | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| VASHON HERITAGE MUSEUM | VASHON, WA | $12,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| VASHON YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES | VASHON, WA | $11,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER | TOPEKA, KS | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| FREEDOM PROJECT | RENTON, WA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| VOICE OF VASHON | VASHON, WA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| WSU FOUNDATION | PULLMAN, WA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SCC FOUNDATION | SEATTLE, WA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| FOSS WATERWAY SEAPORT | TACOMA, WA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| VASHON CENTER FOR THE ARTS | VASHON, WA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| VIRGINIA V FOUNDATION | SEATTLE, WA | $8,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| FARESTART | SEATTLE, WA | $6,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| VASHON COMMUNITY SCHOLARSHIP | VASHON, WA | $6,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| VASHON BE PREPARED C/O RICK WALLACE | VASHON, WA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE FOUNDATION | SEATTLE, WA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| 3W MEDICAL FOR WOMEN | SEATTLE, WA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| PACIFIC LEGAL FOUNDATION | SACRAMENTO, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| WA TRAILS ASSOCIATION | SEATTLE, WA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| ASHEVILLE HUMANE SOCIETY | ASHEVILLE, NC | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| COOL EARTH ACTION USA INC | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| HILLSDALE COLLEGE | HILLSDALE, MI | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| AMERICAN HERO QUILTS | VASHON, WA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| PACIFIC SCIENCE CENTER | SEATTLE, WA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| VASHON-MAURY ISLAND FOOD BANK | VASHON, WA | $4,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| VASHON SENIOR CENTER | VASHON, WA | $4,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| NORTH CASCADES INSTITUTE | SEDROWOOLEY, WA | $3,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| UNIVERSITY OF PUGET SOUND | TACOMA, WA | $3,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| WSCFF BENEVOLENT FUND | OLYMPIA, WA | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| NAMI SEATTLE | SEATTLE, WA | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| EMERALD CITY PET RESCUE | SEATTLE, WA | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SEATTLE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SAM YATES COMM FOUNDATION | VASHON, WA | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| VASHON ISLAND PET PROTECTORS | VASHON, WA | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| WOODLAND PARK ZOO | SEATTLE, WA | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| KCTS 9 | SEATTLE, WA | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| CATHOLIC COMMUNITY SERVICES | SEATTLE, WA | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| CHIMPANZEE SANCTUARYNW | CLE ELUM, WA | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| PT DEFIANCE ZOO SOCIETY | TACOMA, WA | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| VASHON YOUTH & FAMILY SERVICES | VASHON, WA | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES | BALTIMORE, MD | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| TREEHOUSE | SEATTLE, WA | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS | HAGERSTOWN, MD | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| KBTC PUBLIC TELEVISION | TACOMA, WA | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| VASHON PARTNERS IN EDUCATION (PIE) | VASHON, WA | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| ST JOHN VIANNEY | VASHON, WA | $1,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| HEALTHWELL FOUNDATION | BUCKYSTOWN, MD | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| FISHER CENTER FOR ALZHEIMER'S RESEARCH F | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
WHITE CENTER FOOD BANK
$20,000GENERAL OPERATING
JOURNEYMEN INSTITUTE
$15,000GENERAL OPERATING
VASHON HERITAGE MUSEUM
$12,000GENERAL OPERATING
VASHON YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES
$11,000GENERAL OPERATING
SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING
FREEDOM PROJECT
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING
VOICE OF VASHON
GENERAL OPERATING
WSU FOUNDATION
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING
SCC FOUNDATION
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING
CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING
FOSS WATERWAY SEAPORT
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING
VASHON CENTER FOR THE ARTS
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING
VIRGINIA V FOUNDATION
$8,000GENERAL OPERATING
FARESTART
$6,000GENERAL OPERATING
VASHON COMMUNITY SCHOLARSHIP
$6,000GENERAL OPERATING
VASHON BE PREPARED C/O RICK WALLACE
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING
SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE FOUNDATION
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING
WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING
3W MEDICAL FOR WOMEN
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING
PACIFIC LEGAL FOUNDATION
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING
WA TRAILS ASSOCIATION
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING
ASHEVILLE HUMANE SOCIETY
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING
COOL EARTH ACTION USA INC
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING
HILLSDALE COLLEGE
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING
AMERICAN HERO QUILTS
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING
PACIFIC SCIENCE CENTER
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING
VASHON-MAURY ISLAND FOOD BANK
$4,000GENERAL OPERATING
VASHON SENIOR CENTER
$4,000GENERAL OPERATING
NORTH CASCADES INSTITUTE
$3,500GENERAL OPERATING
UNIVERSITY OF PUGET SOUND
$3,000GENERAL OPERATING
WSCFF BENEVOLENT FUND
$2,500GENERAL OPERATING
NAMI SEATTLE
$2,500GENERAL OPERATING
EMERALD CITY PET RESCUE
$2,500GENERAL OPERATING
SEATTLE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
$2,500GENERAL OPERATING
SAM YATES COMM FOUNDATION
$2,500GENERAL OPERATING
VASHON ISLAND PET PROTECTORS
$2,000GENERAL OPERATING
WOODLAND PARK ZOO
$2,000GENERAL OPERATING
KCTS 9
$2,000GENERAL OPERATING
CATHOLIC COMMUNITY SERVICES
$2,000GENERAL OPERATING
CHIMPANZEE SANCTUARYNW
$2,000GENERAL OPERATING
PT DEFIANCE ZOO SOCIETY
$2,000GENERAL OPERATING
VASHON YOUTH & FAMILY SERVICES
$2,000GENERAL OPERATING
CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES
$2,000GENERAL OPERATING
TREEHOUSE
$2,000GENERAL OPERATING
DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS
$2,000GENERAL OPERATING
KBTC PUBLIC TELEVISION
$2,000GENERAL OPERATING
VASHON PARTNERS IN EDUCATION (PIE)
$2,000GENERAL OPERATING
ST JOHN VIANNEY
$1,500GENERAL OPERATING
HEALTHWELL FOUNDATION
$1,000GENERAL OPERATING
FISHER CENTER FOR ALZHEIMER'S RESEARCH F
$1,000GENERAL OPERATING