Seattle Foundation

Since its founding in 1946, Seattle Foundation has played a vital role in addressing Greater Seattle region's deep-rooted challenges and consequential opportunities from post-war recovery to the Seattle World's Fair, the desegregation of Seattle Public Schools and the COVID-19 pandemic response. Seattle Foundation served as early inspiration for how Microsoft would become a civic and philanthropic leader, helping to shape the company’s now $2 billion philanthropic investment in community causes like human services, arts & culture, education, and healthcare.  

Today, Microsoft and Seattle Foundation work together to exponentially boost individuals’ power to build a stronger, more vibrant community for everyone. “We harness our collective resources to do good in this community,” says Alesha Washington, President and CEO of the Seattle Foundation. “Together, we can ensure this is a joyful region where we all have real opportunity to succeed.”  

The foundation’s mission is to make Greater Seattle a stronger, more vibrant community for all. It pursues these goals by supporting organizations and leaders working on the front lines to advance justice, economic equity, and well-being. It also partners with philanthropists and companies to make the most of their generosity. In just the last decade, Microsoft has invested $10.8 million in Seattle Foundation through corporate grants, matched employee donations, and technology support.  

The partnership extends well beyond funding to include advocacy, leadership, and innovation. “This relationship is built on collaboration,” Washington says. “We do our best work by coming together to address our community’s most pressing challenges and create positive impact.”

Through all of it, the organization is betting that conventional fixes alone cannot break inequitable patterns, so it works with Microsoft and other partners to fuel innovation. “With Microsoft, we and our community partners use philanthropic dollars to experiment, fund proofs of concept, then scale,” Washington says.  

Seattle Foundation mirrors some aspects of the Puget Sound technology hub’s model by investing in and incubating nonprofits. Expert support and financial backing empower early-stage organizations to get off the ground. Microsoft acted as a thought partner to develop this approach, which has grown nonprofits focused on equitable healthcare, community development, education, and more. Microsoft directly supported Seattle Foundation’s incubation of the Road Map Project, a collective impact initiative to boost student success from early learning to college and career in seven South King County, Washington school districts, home to more than 127,000 K-12 students.  

This nontraditional approach to philanthropy exemplifies the relationship between Seattle Foundation and Microsoft. “We learn from each other,” Washington says. “Microsoft leans on our team for advice about how to invest in community, and we look to what Microsoft is building and testing. We find ways to bring together the best of what we do for meaningful co-investment.” 

When Microsoft announced its $750 million commitment to advance affordable housing in King County, they turned to Seattle Foundation to identify potential solutions. Microsoft committed $50 million to the foundation’s Evergreen Impact Housing Fund, an investment fund that aims to boost production of housing for working families by lending private capital to fill critical housing financing gaps. By overcoming financial roadblocks, Evergreen Impact Housing Fund has invested in five housing development projects that will provide over 1,100 units of housing, with more to come.  

Seattle Foundation believes that novel financing approaches like this can trigger a wave of governmental and industry investment in new housing, significantly increasing the availability of affordable homes for low- and middle-income households.  

Inventive solutions, policy changes, and working with corporate partners can lead to a more livable and affordable region, Washington says. “When Microsoft steps up to invest in affordable housing, we can demonstrate what is possible with philanthropic dollars. Then solutions can happen at scale.”

Seattle Foundation supports community organizations working on vital issues from childcare and transit to climate justice and housing. Addressing persistent challenges in these spaces requires lasting commitment and collaboration, Washington says. “No one organization, no one sector can solve our community’s challenges. It takes all of us coming together, each of us using our brilliance and expertise, to drive impact.” 

Together, Microsoft and Seattle Foundation rally other companies, governmental bodies, and the nonprofit sector. Recognizing the monumental impact the COVID-19 pandemic would have on the region, the two organizations mobilized. Seattle Foundation’s response fund, seeded with a $1 million initial investment from Microsoft, began distributing basic needs and assistance to the most-affected communities within days of the first case in Seattle. Microsoft also brought other funders to the table and amplified the campaign. “Microsoft both modeled the power of collaboration and brought its full weight as a leader to organizing the effort,” says Michele Frix, Executive Vice President of Seattle Foundation. 

As the pandemic continued, Microsoft partnered with the foundation to multiply resources and expand the effort statewide through All In Washington. With Microsoft in a leadership role and a lead donor of $2.5 million, the campaign raised more than $110 million for COVID relief across the state. “Microsoft’s involvement brings other partners to the table,” Washington says. 

The collaboration prioritized speed and flexibility to meet changing needs. “Microsoft trusted us to deploy resources quickly to the organizations, communities, and individuals who needed it fast,” Frix says. The company also led the effort to close the digital divide for children in Washington who attended school online. “Microsoft stepped up, led, and went above and beyond," Frix adds. 

The combined efforts of many partners can lead to a Puget Sound of equal opportunity, Washington says. “There is hope when leaders like Microsoft join Seattle Foundation and others to step up and work for progress. That is helping make Seattle a joyful region of shared prosperity and belonging.”