Who’s Behind the Anduin Foundation and Its Washington Giving?

The foundation has steadily supported the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Photo: Ian Dewar Photography/shutterstock

The Anduin Foundation, one of the many philanthropies serving the state of Washington, is an under-the-radar funder that can be challenging to connect with. It does not have a website and offers little information on its grantmaking practices.

Here’s what we know so far about the Anduin Foundation and how it supports Washington communities.

Background on the foundation

Businesswoman Nancy Zevenbergen and her husband, John, established the Anduin Foundation to channel their philanthropic giving. Nancy Zevenbergen is the founder, president, CIO and portfolio manager of Zevenbergen Capital Investments.

Raised by a single mother, Zevenbergen worked in cannery operations and raspberry fields before launching her investment career, starting her company in 1987 with just one client and growing it from $500,000 in assets to at least $5 billion. Some of her firm’s success can be attributed to early and big bets on Amazon, Facebook and Netflix. She was named in Money magazine’s “50 Over 50” in 2022.

Top areas of interest

According to recent tax records, the Anduin Foundation commonly supports education, youth, cancer research and religious causes. Zevenbergen graduated from the University of Washington, and the foundation has often supported the university's foundation. Nancy Zevenbergen has also served on the board of the Seattle Pacific Foundation and supports that university, too.

Funding tends to align with personal causes and affiliations of Zevenbergen family members. For instance, John Zevenbergen's father passed away from cancer, and the foundation has steadily supported the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

Typical foundation grantmaking

In a recent year, the Anduin Foundation awarded a little less than a million dollars in grants and reported over $6.7 million in total assets. Grants are typically between $10,000 and $25,000. The foundation awards grants for public policy, programs, youth summer camps and museum education efforts. Recent grantees include Whidbey Island Nourishes in Langley, Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett, Earl Palmer Ministries in Seattle and Z Girls Foundation in Seattle.

Getting in touch 

The Anduin Foundation has no staff, other officers or board members besides the Zevenbergen family. Nancy Zevenbergen is the director and vice president, while John Zevenbergen Jr. is the director and president. The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funding and only funds preselected organizations. Interested nonprofits may contact the foundation with general questions by phone.

Learn more about this funder in IP’s profile of the Anduin Foundation, which is included in our Washington grantmaking guide.