About Washington State University Foundation
The WSU Foundation builds on the enthusiasm, pride and loyalty of the Cougar family to grow philanthropic relationships, broaden the base of alumni and donor engagement, and responsibly manage assets to advance Washington State University’s mission, vision and goals.
Focus Areas
Higher educationStudent scholarships and supportResearch and faculty supportCampus facilities and capital projectsAthleticsVeterinary medicineExtension and community outreach
Who They Fund
the university as an institutionundergraduate and graduate studentsfaculty and researchersadministrative and campus staff
About Washington State University Foundation
Washington State University Foundation’s recent grantmaking is centered on very large institutional support for Washington State University itself, with the top four reported grants all going to the university in Pullman. The largest recent award was $80,476,976 in 2024 for university activities, followed by $78,015,085 in 2023 for the same purpose and $77,306,212 in 2025 for university activities. A fourth grant of $50,644,641 in 2023 was earmarked to help fulfill the mission of the University. That pattern shows a funder built to move substantial resources into core university operations rather than a broad external grant portfolio. The foundation’s stated work also reflects the university’s broader institutional priorities, including higher education, student scholarships and support, research and faculty support, campus facilities and capital projects, athletics, veterinary medicine, and extension and community outreach. Its grantmaking is local and all reported recipient grants are in Washington State.
What Washington State University Foundation Funds
Institutional support is the clearest throughline in the recent grants record. Washington State University received $80,476,976 in 2024 to support university activities, a grant that matches the foundation’s focus on campus-level and mission-driven support. The same recipient received $78,015,085 in 2023 for university activities, reinforcing a pattern of large operating support. Another grant to Washington State University, $50,644,641 in 2023, was designated to fulfill the mission of the University. The foundation also lists student scholarships and support, research and faculty support, campus facilities and capital projects, athletics, veterinary medicine, and extension and community outreach among its focus areas. That mix suggests a funder that supports both day-to-day university needs and longer-term institutional priorities.
How Washington State University Foundation Gives
The reported grant size distribution is very concentrated at a high level: p25 is $70,640,819, median is $77,660,648, and p75 is $78,630,558. The recent grants list shows repeated support to the same institution across 2023, 2024, and 2025, indicating recurring funding rather than one-off awards. Washington State University Foundation is classified as a regular funder, not a DAF, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. The pattern in the data is institutional and unrestricted in nature, with grants written to support university activities and mission fulfillment.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$85M
Total Assets
$840.7M
Total Revenue
$125.2M
Total Expenses
$113.7M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $70.6M and $78.6M, with a median of $77.7M.
25th Percentile
$70.6M
Median
$77.7M
75th Percentile
$78.6M
Geographic Reach
Local1 state funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
Michael C Connell
Accepts unsolicited proposals
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