Washington Grants for Nonprofits

NOTE: Program grant applications are open year-round and prioritized based on the scope and nature of the request. 

Anthem Foundation

The Anthem Foundation funds specific public health–related initiatives that positively affect conditions identified through our signature Healthy Generations program.

Program Grants

Anthem Foundation Program Grants support ongoing community health programs with proven and measurable outcomes. Generally, our grant terms are one year, with a few exceptions (mostly for national grants).

Approach

We invest in traditional and nontraditional problem-solving approaches. These include programs that provide services directly to people and those that change systems to transform healthcare. Although we fund some research and policy requests, such proposals are by invitation only. 

Measurable Results

We favor initiatives that prioritize obtaining strategic, measurable results over isolated grant activities. For example, a physical fitness initiative that increases physical activity or improves diet in general as a key goal is less likely to be favored than an initiative that increases physical activity or improves diet as a specific means to reduce BMI for a target population. Our gauge for a successful grant is a measurable result that is evident within the grant period.

Operating Principles

We want to create the greatest human gain for the grant dollars we have available. Rather than try to cover many broad health-related needs in the community, the Foundation funds targeted grants that align with our signature Healthy Generations program.

The Anthem Foundation evaluates the projected ability of grant requests to yield meaningful results by asking three simple questions of each proposal:

• What results will be achieved?
• Will this organization deliver on its proposed commitments?
• Is this grant the best possible use of the Foundation’s resources?

Healthy Generations

We believe that targeting specific, preventable health concerns by making strategic charitable choices will help us create a healthier generation of Americans.

The Healthy Generations initiative uses innovative social mapping technology and analyzes public health data to provide a snapshot of the major health issues in each state. This allows us to drill down to the zip code level and target initiatives that positively affect the conditions that matter most. We call this putting science behind the art of grant-making.

Today, we’re emphasizing efforts in five areas, while also supporting behavioral health efforts and programs that benefit people with disabilities.

Healthy Hearts

The Anthem Foundation is investing in preventive programs that minimize controllable cardiovascular diseases and strokes, including efforts to reduce smoking, obesity, high blood pressure and stressful and inactive lifestyles. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., with about 600,000 deaths each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Coronary heart disease alone costs the U.S. $108.9 billion a year in healthcare services, medications and lost productivity.

Cancer Prevention

Prevention offers the most cost-effective, long-term strategy for the control of cancer. The Anthem Foundation partners with organizations that implement lifesaving cancer-prevention and early-detection programs. More than a million people in the United States get cancer each year. At least a third of all cancer cases are preventable if people make healthy choices such as not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, eating right, keeping active, and getting recommended screening tests.

Healthy Maternal Practices

The Anthem Foundation focuses on programs that encourage and facilitate first-trimester prenatal care and help at-risk mothers commit to behaviors that reduce the numbers of low-birthweight babies. Preterm birth is among the leading causes of newborn death, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. Prenatal care is an important part of a healthy pregnancy, and known strategies can lower the risk of an early birth.

Diabetes Prevention

More than 25 million Americans are living with diabetes and a third of obese adults are at risk for developing this condition. The Anthem Foundation invests in programs that stem the spread of diabetes through healthy lifestyle changes and increased physical activity.

Healthy Active Lifestyle

The Anthem Foundation supports programs that raise awareness for, educate on, and encourage new behaviors, resulting in healthy, active lifestyles that offer long-term benefits. Regular physical activity helps reduce the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, colon cancer and diabetes. It also improves mental well-being, assists with weight control, reduces depression and anxiety, and helps healthy muscles and joints.

The Anthem Foundation’s support of healthy, active lifestyles for individuals with disabilities seeks to reduce healthcare disparities and improve access to care.

NOTE: For nonprofit organizations new to U.S. Bank Foundation, a Letter of Interest will be available in January 2021. Community Affairs Managers will review Letter of Interest submissions periodically to learn about new and innovative programs and organizations in their regions and markets. After reviewing a Letter of Interest, a Community Affairs Manager may reach out with a request for a full application. You can access the Letter of Interest by clicking the “Submit a letter of interest” link at the bottom of this page. Letters of Interest may be submitted at any time during the year.

Community Possible Grant

Through U.S. Bank’s Community Possible® grant program, we invest in efforts to create stable jobs, safe homes and communities.

Funding Types

Within these general guidelines, we consider the following funding request types:

Operating grants

An operating grant is given to cover an organization’s day-to-day, ongoing expenses, such as salaries, utilities, office supplies and more. We consider operating support requests from organizations where the entire mission of the organization fits a Community Possible grant focus area.

Program or project grants

A program or project grant is given to support a specific, connected set of activities, with a beginning and an end, explicit objectives and a predetermined cost. We consider highly effective and innovative programs that meet our Community Possible grant focus areas.

Capital grants

A capital grant is given to finance fixed assets. The U.S. Bank Foundation considers a small number of requests for capital support from organizations that meet all other funding criteria, whose entire mission statement fits a Community Possible grant focus area, and with which the Foundation has a funding history. All organizations requesting capital funding must also have a U.S. Bank employee on the board of directors. U.S. Bank does not fund more than 1% of the non-endowment total capital campaign fundraising goal. All capital grant requests are reviewed and approved by the national U.S. Bank Foundation Board or by the U.S. Bank Foundation President.

Focus Area: PLAY

Creating vibrant communities through play.

Play brings joy, and it’s just as necessary for adults as it is for kids. But in low-income areas there are often limited spaces for play and fewer people attending arts and cultural events. That’s why we invest in community programming that supports ways for children and adults to play and create.

Access to artistic and cultural programming and arts education

Our investments ensure economic vitality and accessibility to the arts in local communities, as well as support for arts education. Examples of grant support include:

• Programs that provide access to cultural activities, visual and performing arts, zoos and aquariums and botanic gardens for individuals and families living in underserved communities
• Funding for local arts organizations that enhance the economic vitality of the community
• Programs that provide funding for arts-focused nonprofit organizations that bring visual and performing arts programming to low- and moderate-income K-12 schools and youth centers

Supporting learning through play.

Many young people across the country do not have the resources or access to enjoy the benefits of active play. Supporting active play-based programs and projects for K-12 students located in or serving low- and moderate-income communities fosters innovation, creativity, and collaboration and impacts the overall vitality of the communities we serve. Funding support includes:

• Support for organizations that build or expand access to active play spaces and places that help K-12 students learn through play and improves the health, safety and unification of neighborhoods in low- and moderate-income communities
• Programs that focus on using active play to help young people develop cognitive, social and emotional learning skills to become vibrant and productive citizens in low- and moderate-income communities

Focus Area: WORK

Supporting workforce education and prosperity.

We know that a strong small business environment and an educated workforce ensure the prosperity of our communities and reducing the expanding wealth gap for communities of color. We provide grant support to programs and organizations that help small businesses thrive, allow people to succeed in the workforce, provide pathways to higher education and gain greater financial literacy.

Investing in the workforce.

We fund organizations that provide training for small business development, as well as programs that support individuals across all skill and experience levels, to ensure they have the capability to gain employment that supports individuals and their families. Examples of grant support include:

Small business technical assistance programs

Job-skills, career readiness training programs with comprehensive placement services for low- and moderate-income individuals entering or reentering the labor force

Providing pathways for educational success.

To address the growing requirements for post-secondary education in securing competitive jobs in the workplace, we support:

• Organizations and programs that help low- and moderate-income and at-risk middle and high school students prepare for post-secondary education at a community college, university, trade or technical school and career readiness
• Programs and initiatives at post-secondary institutions that support access to career and educational opportunities for low- and moderate-income and diverse students

Teaching financial well-being for work and life.

Financial well-being is not only critical for financial stability, it’s crucial in helping individuals be successful in the workplace. Examples of grant support include programs that positively impact:

• K-12 and college student financial literacy
• Adult and workforce financial literacy
• Senior financial fraud prevention
• Military service member and veteran financial literacy

Focus Area: HOME

Working to revitalize communities one neighborhood at a time.

Children and families are better positioned to thrive and succeed in a home that is safe and permanent. Access to sustainable low-income housing is increasingly challenges for low-moderate income families. In response, our giving supports efforts that connect individuals and families with sustainable housing opportunities.

Access to safe, affordable housing

We provide financial support to assist people in developing stability in their lives through access to safe, sustainable and accessible homes. Examples of grant support include:

• Organizations that preserve, rehabilitate, renovate or construct affordable housing developments for low- and moderate-income families, individuals, seniors, veterans, and special-needs populations
• Organizations that provide transitional housing as a direct steppingstone to permanent housing
• Organizations that focus on Veterans housing and homeownership
• Construction of green homes for low- and moderate-income communities
• Energy retrofit programs for low- and moderate-income housing developments

Home ownership education

Owning and maintaining a home requires significant financial knowledge, tools, and resources. We support programs that assist low- and moderate-income homebuyers and existing homeowners. Examples of grant support include:

• Homebuyer education
• Pre- and post-purchase counseling and coaching
• Homeownership-retention programs designed to provide foreclosure counseling

Note: Applications to the Creag Foundation are by invitation only. If you believe that your organization fits our funding criteria, you are welcome to submit a letter of inquiry. 

What We Do

The Creag Foundation is a private grant making foundation established in 2009 in Woodinville, Washington.

We provide grants to 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organizations with innovative approaches to addressing current social problems.

Who We Are

The founders of the Creag Foundation believe that meaningful change can only be achieved through hard work, creativity and passion. They also understand the practical mechanisms that allow charitable organizations to succeed and grow. As a group, Creag Foundation principals are dedicated to helping today’s most innovative programs improve the human condition in a wide variety of ways.

Our Focus

The broad purpose of the Foundation is to support the efforts of nonprofit organizations who are innovators in the field of human services. Our particular focus is on smaller organizations that are just starting out or established organizations that are looking for funding to take their organization in a new direction.

Perdue Farms is the family-owned parent company of Perdue Foods and Perdue AgriBusiness. Perdue Farms are dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for everyone we touch through innovative food and agricultural products.

Through Perdue Farms Perdue, Harvestland and Coleman Natural food brands; through Perdue Farms agricultural products and services; and through Perdue Farms stewardship and corporate responsibility programs, Perdue Farms are committed to making Perdue the most trusted name in food and agricultural products.At Perdue, Perdue Farms believe in responsible food and agriculture.What We SupportWe believe in putting our resources where there is direct benefit to a broad-based spectrum of the community.We strive to strengthen our communities by focusing our efforts on education, agriculture, the environment, health and social services, public safety and fighting hunger and poverty.We also support events that celebrate the heritages and cultures of our communities.

Perdue Farms is the family-owned parent company of Perdue Foods and Perdue AgriBusiness. Perdue Farms are dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for everyone we touch through innovative food and agricultural products.

Through Perdue Farms PERDUE®, HARVESTLAND® and COLEMAN NATURAL® food brands; through Perdue Farms agricultural products and services; and through Perdue Farms stewardship and corporate responsibility programs, Perdue Farms are committed to making Perdue the most trusted name in food and agricultural products.

At Perdue, Perdue Farms believe in responsible food and agriculture.

What We Support

We believe in putting our resources where there is a direct benefit to a broad-based spectrum of the community.

We strive to strengthen our communities by focusing our efforts on education, agriculture, the environment, health and social services, public safety, and fighting hunger and poverty

We also support events that celebrate the heritages and cultures of our communities

Note:  The Foundation Board generally meets in May and October. In order for a proposal to be considered at a particular meeting, inquiries should be initiated about five months prior to the meeting date ("letter of inquiry" deadline above). Proposals which have been invited for Board consideration, through the process described above, should be received by April 1st and/or September 1st ("full proposal" deadline above)

The Mead Foundation exists to support activities likely to enhance civilization. 

Founded in California in 1961, the Mead Foundation supports organizations dedicated to preserving and improving the environment, the advancement of medical science, and other important social needs. Environmental support is primarily in the western United States with emphasis on Northern California, Oregon, Washington and Alaska.

The Mead Foundation supports organizations dedicated to preserving and improving the environment, the advancement of medical science, and other important social needs. Environmental organizations supported by the Mead Foundation generally have as their primary emphasis: forestry, fisheries and the sustainable use of natural resources in Western North America. 

Scientific and medical organizations supported by the Mead Foundation are generally limited to grant proposals initiated by individual Board members. Funding in other program areas is limited to grant proposals initiated by individual Board members.