Home » About Us » Mission and More

Our Mission

Washington Women's Foundation educates, inspires and increases the number of women committed to philanthropy in order to strengthen community and demonstrate the impact that can result from informed, focused grant making.

Our Vision

Washington Women’s Foundation will change the course of women’s philanthropy by:

Producing locally and nationally recognized leaders in philanthropy;
Increasing the visibility and influence of major philanthropic investments by women; and
Inspiring widespread replication of its innovation approach to educating philanthropists and making grants.

Our Purpose

Inspire women to become leaders in philanthropy;
Demonstrate the impact of large-scale, targeted grant-making; and
Provide education in current issues and strategies in philanthropy

Our Core Values

Equality – The Foundation is open to all women who wish to participate in philanthropy. All members make the same annual contribution and five-year initial commitment. All members have an equal final vote in the grant-making process.
Collaboration – Members work together and with other organizations to promote giving and volunteering.
Leadership – Members serve as philanthropic role models for each other and the wider community.
Impact – Members’ contributions are pooled to make significant grants of $50,000 to $100,000. Individual and pooled grants are given broadly, reflecting members’ diverse interests.
Connection – The Foundation is a community of women who share a vision to address critical needs, support bold new ventures and seek solutions to ongoing problems.
Education – Members become more knowledgeable and skillful philanthropists.

Our History

In September 1995, Washington Women’s Foundation was created to allow women to pool their financial resources to make large high-impact gifts to improve our community, while improving their skills as philanthropists. The idea was the brainchild of our founder, Colleen Willoughby. The approach was innovative and appealing and attracted over 100 Seattle area women to be founding members. Members organized into work groups to study the needs of the community during the winter, and awarded their first pooled grant of $100,000 in June to Mothers Against Violence in America. In addition, each member made an individual grant to an organization of her own choice.

In those early days, the foundation was staffed by its founder on a volunteer basis, the offices were located in her office at the Rainier Tower and there were 5 board members.

Over time, the Foundation offered educational forums, the membership increased and the pooled fund grew. By 2001 Washington Women’s Foundation reached 350 members and was able to grant one impact grant in each interest area for the first time.

Moving day to our current offices in the brand new 2100 Building in south Seattle took place in January 2003. In 2006 WWF celebrated its 10th anniversary and held a special celebratory meeting at Benaroya Hall with Governor Christine Gregoire as its speaker.

Today, the Foundation has nearly 500 members. The grant committee reviews more than 150 Letters of Inquiry annually. Together our members have made grants of nearly $9 million over 13 years including members own individual grants.

Washington Women’s Foundation’s innovative model has inspired over 16 other funds in cities across the United States. The concept of giving together allows more individuals to participate in philanthropy and provides members the opportunity to leverage their single gift with others for maximum benefit to their communities.

A significant benchmark was reached in April 2008 when Carla Lewis was selected to lead the foundation as its new President. She and the Foundation are uniquely poised to continue the pioneering work that was begun in 1995 and rise to new levels of engagement for the new times in which we live.

EarthCorps
2006 Grantee