Best Grants for Education Nonprofits in Washington

Education-focused 501(c)(3) nonprofits in Washington can receive up to US $1,000 in sponsorship funding for capital campaigns, program operations, or events. Beneficial State Foundation supports transformative social justice, education, youth development, and related work for organizations in Washington, with priority given to existing clients and partners; requests must be submitted 60 days before funds are needed.

Education-focused 501(c)(3) nonprofits improving outcomes for children and youth, including those in Washington, can apply for Comis Foundation grants of US $5,000 - US $75,000 to support programs, policy work, and organizational capacity. Funding may back pilot projects, proof-of-concept efforts, innovation, and multi-year capacity building or general operating support.

Grants from Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation help Washington education nonprofits and other 501(c)(3) organizations provide direct services in education, health and human services, arts and culture, and community service. Eligible groups must serve low-income, rural, or underserved people, especially at-risk youth and individuals with special needs, and keep administrative costs low.

The ECMC Foundation focuses on eliminating equity gaps in postsecondary education by 2040 through strategic grantmaking and investments. They support organizations aiming to remove barriers to completion, build institutional capacity, and transform the postsecondary ecosystem. Eligible entities include nonprofit organizations, government entities, and postsecondary institutions. However, funding is not available for personal scholarships, political activities, or projects outside the U.S. that do not align with the Foundation's mission of diversity and inclusion.

With a mission to improve quality of life, The Norcliffe Foundation provides Washington education nonprofits with funding for programs, capital projects, capacity building, and general operations. Eligible applicants are 501(c)(3) organizations in the Puget Sound region’s eleven counties, including King, Pierce, Snohomish, and others, working in education and related community services.

Education-focused 501(c)(3) nonprofits in Washington can seek funding for programs in education, agriculture, environment, hunger and poverty relief, health, social services, and public safety. Focused on broad community betterment, Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation offers up to US $1,000 to organizations endorsed by a Perdue associate in eligible states, including Washington.

Inukai Family Foundation provides Washington education nonprofits and other 501(c)(3) organizations with grants for positive youth development, educational programs, senior care, health, and Japanese cultural awareness. Eligible organizations must serve communities in Oregon, Idaho, or Southwest Washington, including several Washington counties, and demonstrate measurable community impact through their programs.

Education and other 501(c)(3) nonprofits, tribal entities, and select government institutions in Washington can seek capital funding for construction, renovation, property purchase, and major facility upgrades. Focused on capacity-building, M J Murdock Charitable Trust prioritizes projects in education and related fields that have raised at least 40% of total costs and primarily serve the Pacific Northwest.

The M J Murdock Charitable Trust offers Strategic Projects: Equipment & Technology Grants to nonprofits in the Pacific Northwest. These grants focus on capacity-building projects and essential equipment, requiring recipients to cover at least 50% of costs. Eligible organizations include 501(c)(3) nonprofits and tribal entities. Priority is given to projects enhancing community services, education, and environmental stewardship, supporting initiatives that foster human flourishing and demonstrate diversified funding.

Education-focused 501(c)(3) nonprofits, tribal entities, and select government institutions in Washington can seek more than US $50,000 to expand programs and add staff through strategic project grants. M J Murdock Charitable Trust supports capacity-building in areas like education and leadership development, prioritizing projects with significant impact in the Pacific Northwest and diversified funding profiles.

Education-focused 501(c)(3) nonprofits in Washington can apply for the Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation’s corporate giving program; awards more than US $1,000 for community programs. Funding may support education, agriculture, environment, hunger and poverty relief, health and social services, public safety, and cultural heritage initiatives in communities where Perdue associates live and work.

Nonprofits, public entities, and tribes in eastern Washington can seek Innovia Foundation’s Community Grants to build, expand, or sustain education and youth development programs, including capacity building and capital needs. Awards of US $2,500 - US $15,000 support work in counties such as Spokane, Whitman, Adams, and others across the region.

Washington 501(c)(3) education and human services nonprofits can access funding through the Bamford Foundation to support basic needs, early learning, expanded learning, and postsecondary access programs in greater Tacoma and Pierce County. Grants up to US $15,000 typically support general operations or program costs, with a two-step LOI and full application process.

Public agencies and 501(c)(3) or other nonprofits in Washington planning or educating around historic preservation can seek US $2,500 - US $5,000 for local projects. National Trust for Historic Preservation supports planning, capacity-building, and outreach that advance preservation, which may benefit education-focused nonprofits incorporating preservation education or community forums into their work.

Education-focused 501(c)(3) nonprofits in Washington providing STEM, early childhood literacy, or financial education programs can apply for First Technology Federal Credit Union’s community grants and sponsorships to support programmatic or capacity-building needs. Organizations serving children and families, particularly in underserved communities, may be eligible if they are within the funder’s Washington service footprint.

Education nonprofits and schools in Washington offering STEM education, literacy, K–12 or higher education, workforce development, or youth development programs can seek funding to support these initiatives. With a mission to strengthen communities, PacifiCorp/Pacific Power/Rocky Mountain Power Foundation provides up to US $10,000 for projects in its Washington service-area counties focused on education and energy-related learning.

Education-focused 501(c)(3) nonprofits or fiscally sponsored groups in Washington working in child and youth educational equity, environmental education, housing stability, or women’s economic empowerment may be eligible for US $50,000 - US $100,000. Focused on education, Ninety Nine Girlfriends invites organizations impacting Clark County youth and families to apply for project or general operating support.

Education-focused 501(c)(3) nonprofits working in Washington can receive up to US $50,000 to advance learning, from early education through college, through BECU Foundation’s People Helping People Awards. Grants from BECU Foundation also support related areas like basic needs, community development, and wellness, and require nomination by a BECU member in the communities it serves.

Education nonprofits, schools, and public entities in Washington can seek funding for program support, equipment, and capital projects through the Paul Lauzier Scholarship Foundation. Focused on education, youth, community development, public health and safety, and agriculture, it especially favors rural communities in central and eastern Washington, with emphasis on Grant County.

Enterprise Community Partners

Enterprise Community Partners is a national nonprofit that exists to make a good home possible for the millions of families without one. Home is where life happens, where plans are made, and futures begin. It is the foundation for dignity, health, education, wealth, and community. Yet rents keep going up, paychecks don’t keep pace, and good homes in strong neighborhoods are increasingly out of reach.

The system doesn’t work. It must be changed, and it must be changed by us.

Enterprise has the breadth, scale, and expertise to do it. We support community development organizations on the ground. We aggregate and invest billions to improve housing and strengthen communities across the U.S. We advance housing policy at every level of government. We build and manage communities ourselves. Everything we do is informed by the residents we serve.

Together with our partners, we focus on the greatest need — the massive shortage of affordable rental homes — to achieve three goals:

• Increase the supply of affordable homes
• Advance racial equity after decades of systematic racism in housing
• Support residents and strengthen communities to be resilient to the unpredictable, and make upward mobility possible

Since 1982, we have invested $92.0 billion and created 1.1 million homes across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. We do all this to make home and community places of pride, power, and belonging.

National Housing Innovation Grant Competition

Home is foundational. It’s where we plant roots, raise and care for our families, and build community bonds. Yet in every corner of the country, millions of people of all ages and backgrounds need a home they can afford.

Wells Fargo is meeting this moment with a powerful grant opportunity. Together with Enterprise, Wells Fargo has launched the third iteration of the Housing Affordability Breakthrough Challenge. The 2026 cycle of the housing innovation competition will identify and propel proven, ready-to-scale solutions that transform current practices and increase housing choice and access.

Eligible applicants will compete for five individual grants of $2 million to advance their innovation and drive meaningful, systems-level change in the housing and adjacent industries. Winners will gain access to mentorship and coaching from industry leaders and experts and join a powerful network of Breakthrough Challenge innovators.

Focus Areas

This third cycle of the Housing Affordability Breakthrough Challenge aims to meet the nation’s affordable housing challenges across all types of communities: Native, rural, suburban, tribal, and urban.

Proposals must encompass one or more of three focus areas:

• Design and Construction
• Finance
• Service Delivery and Programs

Applicants will be asked to show how their proof of concept or pilot program has achieved clear outcomes and success, and provide a clear pathway to expanding the innovation’s reach and impact

Round 1: Criteria and Scoring

Your innovation must meet the criteria below to advance to the official scoring stage.

Type of Community

Innovations can serve all types of communities:

• Rural
• Urban
• Suburban
• Tribal

Location

Priority scoring will be given to applications from entities that are based in – or whose innovations are designed for – one or more of these 28 states, plus D.C.:

• Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Washington D.C.

Affordability

Innovations must serve residents at these income levels:

• Rental: 80% AMI or below
• Homeownership: 120% AMI or below
• Workforce housing: 120% AMI or below

Washington education and community nonprofits, government entities, and other 501(c)(3) organizations can access funding for community enhancement and environmental respect projects, including libraries, science centers, parks, trails, gardens, and affordable housing. PacifiCorp/Pacific Power/Rocky Mountain Power Foundation supports work in eligible Washington counties served by Pacific Power, which may benefit education-focused programs with community or environmental components.

Education-focused 501(c)(3) nonprofits offering K–12, early learning, higher education, or life-skills programs in Washington’s Benton or Yakima counties can seek funding for programmatic initiatives. With a mission to strengthen communities, Universal Corporation provides grants up to US $5,000 for education, well-being, civic and arts, and environmental stewardship efforts in its priority locations.

Washington 501(c)(3) arts and community presenters, government units, higher education institutions, and tribal governments can access funding through Creative West to bring touring performers and literary artists to their communities; awards US $2,000 - US $3,000 for regional touring costs. Education-focused nonprofits offering performing arts or literary programming may be eligible.

The Superfeet Local Grant supports nonprofit organizations in the Pacific Northwest, emphasizing community well-being and environmental health. Grants focus on basic needs, outdoor accessibility, and sustainability, empowering underserved populations through equitable access to recreation. Preference is given to initiatives in Washington state, ensuring a meaningful impact in local communities. The foundation's commitment includes funding projects that foster inclusivity and promote long-term engagement with nature and recreational spaces.

Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status working on education, human services, health, or community engagement in Washington and the broader Pacific Northwest can seek support for programs and services. With a mission to strengthen communities, Foster Foundation provides long-term funding partnerships that may benefit education-focused nonprofits serving underserved children, women, seniors, and other disadvantaged populations.

Washington education and cultural nonprofits, 501(c)(3) organizations, youth groups, schools, and qualifying government entities can access funding through PacifiCorp/Pacific Power/Rocky Mountain Power Foundation for arts and culture projects, including festivals, museums, music, theater, and visual arts. Programs serving communities in the listed Washington counties may be eligible for awards up to US $10,000.

Nonprofit organizations in Washington working on housing, youth programs, financial education, or economic development can apply for Banner Bank’s Banner Gives community support grants. Funding prioritizes programs serving low- and moderate-income residents and may benefit education-focused nonprofits offering academic achievement, financial literacy, civic involvement, or social-emotional development initiatives.