How Washington Nonprofits Should Approach the Paul M. Anderson Foundation

Seattle is a major hub for grantmaking in the Pacific Northwest, an many wealthy families in the region have established charitable foundations that focus on the city and the broader Puget Sound region. Yet one under-the-radar funder in the area that you may be unfamiliar with is the Paul M. Anderson Foundation. This funder can be challenging to get to know, but it is accessible to Washington nonprofits.  

Here’s an overview of the Paul M. Anderson Foundation, including its giving priorities, grantmaking approach and recent giving history.

Interest areas

The Paul M. Anderson Foundation has specific interests and supports only certain types of nonprofits in its home region. Nearly all grants support environmental protection, healthcare, medical research and various medical fields. Recent environmental grantees include the Bellevue Botanical Garden Society, Center for Whale Research and Conservation Northwest. Health and medical grantees include the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Low-Income Housing Institute and Northwest Kidney Foundation.

Prioritizing the needs of Washington

The Anderson Foundation is based in Issaquah, Washington, less than 20 miles east of Seattle. It awards grants in various Washington communities, including Friday Harbor, Bellevue, Duvall, Tukwila, Everett and Toppenish. Local grantees tend to receive between $5,000 and $20,000 per grant from this funder.

Trusts its grantees

Something else to know about the Anderson Foundation is that it exhibits great trust in its grantees. A majority of the foundation’s grants are open-ended and can be applied to recipients’ needs as they see fit. The funder is open to supporting general operating expenses, scholarships, endowments and whatever else its grantees need the most. The foundation has been operating since 1994.

Applying for a grant

The Anderson Foundation does not maintain a website, which limits insight into its grantmaking practices and guidelines. However, according to recent tax records, the foundation accepts unsolicited grant funding requests.

Michelle Privat Obermeyer is the foundation's president, and other Privat family members serve as the vice president, treasurer and director. There are no paid staff members or employees at the foundation. However, the best way to approach this funder is to call or send a letter to the foundation’s financial advisor, Joseph Winkler, a partner at Bristlecone Advisors, LLC. There are generally no submission deadlines or specific forms to complete, so contacting Winkler directly is the key to getting involved with the Anderson Foundation.

Read more about this funder in IP’s full profile, which is part of our Washington grants guide.