Free funder guide · Washington · Last checked 27 September 2026
Which Washington environmental funders actually accept applications
Most private foundations in Washington have already told the IRS they won't read your proposal. This page explains how to spot them, and lists 13 secular funders of environmental and conservation work in Washington that do take applications, with what they fund, what they have given, and when they next open.
Washington's largest open money for land trusts and salmon groups comes from state programs run by the Recreation and Conservation Office. Two of them award only every two years, so the next round can be more than a year away.
From my own read of IRS filings, September 2026
In Washington, 533 of the 718 private foundations with $1 million or more in assets that I could check tick the box on their tax return saying they don't accept unsolicited requests. That is 74%.
That leaves 185 larger Washington foundations that say they will read an application. It is a higher share of closed doors than in Oregon (64%, 217 of 337), and a lower share than in California (83%, 3,396 of 4,113), counted the same way.
How I counted: every private non-operating foundation with a Washington address on the IRS Exempt Organizations Master File (September 2026 release) reporting assets of $1 million or more, checked against its most recent e-filed Form 990-PF (tax years 2023 to 2026, almost all 2024 or 2025). There are 722; 4 had no e-filed return I could find, so they are left out of the count. Operating foundations, which mostly run their own programs, are left out, as they were for Oregon and California. Counting them too gives 75% (577 of 773).
What the checkbox means
One small box on the tax return tells you whether to bother.
Every private foundation files Form 990-PF with the IRS each year. Part XIV, line 2 of that return has a checkbox. A foundation that ticks it is telling the IRS, in writing, that it chooses its grantees itself. A proposal sent to it is usually wasted work.
"Check here if the foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."Form 990-PF, Part XIV, line 2
A foundation that leaves the box empty has to fill in lines 2a to 2d instead: who receives applications, what form they should take, any deadlines, and any limits on who or what it funds. For many small family foundations, those four lines are the only published guidelines they have.
The box does not tell you whether a foundation funds your kind of work. For that, read line 3a, the list of grants it actually paid. Check both before you write a letter of inquiry. Any foundation's return can be read free on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
13 funders
Open to applications, and funding environmental work in Washington.
Every funder below is secular, says it accepts applications (on its website or its tax return), and has paid grants to environmental or conservation groups in its most recent filing. Government programs are the exception: they file no tax return. Community foundations are listed by the program that fits environmental groups. Grant examples come from each funder's latest IRS filing unless the funder's own site is named.
Verified date on the funder's own site on 27 Sept 2026Expected based on last cycle; next not yet postedRolling applications any timeFiling only no website; from the tax return, confirm firstCheck site next date not posted; open their page
Statewide and regional public grantmakers
01
Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment: Puget Sound Stewardship and Mitigation Fund
Oakland, CA · Snoqualmie, Central Sound, Green-Duwamish and North Sound watersheds
Community-based projects that protect or improve Puget Sound water quality: monitoring, watershed restoration, green stormwater work and local stewardship capacity. The fund comes from Clean Water Act enforcement actions, so projects must benefit the Snoqualmie River watershed, Central Sound (including Lake Washington and Elliott Bay), the Green-Duwamish River or North Sound (including Padilla Bay and the San Juan Islands). It prefers locally based groups and does not fund general operating support or land acquisition.
Typical grant
Up to $40,000 (its site). 2025 grants on its own grants list include South Puget Sound Salmon Enhancement Group $40,000, Great Peninsula Conservancy $35,000, Northwest Straits Foundation $35,000 and Wild Fish Conservancy $30,000.
Next deadline
The fall 2026 round closed September 29, 2026 (awards announced December 2026). Next round expected in 2027; check its page Check site.
How to apply
Rose's online grants portal: create a profile, then choose the current Puget Sound Stewardship and Mitigation Fund application.
Washington Recreation and Conservation Office: Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program
Olympia · statewide
State bond funding to buy and restore wildlife habitat, farmland and forestland. Nonprofit nature conservancies (land trusts) can apply in the Critical Habitat, Natural Areas, Riparian Protection and Urban Wildlife Habitat categories and in the Farmland and Forestland Preservation categories.
Typical grant
No cap in most habitat categories; Riparian Protection has a $25,000 minimum. Nonprofits provide a 50 percent match in the habitat categories; farmland grants also need a 50 percent match (its site).
Next deadline
Grants are awarded every two years. The 2026 round closed April 30, 2026, so the next round is expected to open in early 2028 Expected; RCO posts the schedule on each category page.
How to apply
Online application through RCO (PRISM) after the opening webinar; habitat applicants must file a comprehensive plan first.
Washington Recreation and Conservation Office: Salmon Recovery Grants
Olympia · statewide, through local lead entities
Salmon Recovery Funding Board and Puget Sound Acquisition and Restoration grants for salmon habitat restoration, acquisition and design. Nonprofits and regional fisheries enhancement groups can apply; projects are ranked first by the local watershed lead entity.
Typical grant
Any amount over $5,000; design-only projects without match up to $350,000. Most projects no longer need match (its site). Awards recommended in RCO's September 2026 funding report include South Puget Sound Salmon Enhancement Group $819,901 (upper Deschutes River) and Nisqually Land Trust $160,490 (Powell wetland restoration).
Next deadline
Funding is awarded every year. The 2026 round ran from January site visits to final applications on June 22, 2026. The 2027 round should follow the same pattern, starting with your lead entity early in 2027 Expected.
How to apply
Contact your local lead entity coordinator first; it sets site visit and ranking dates, then applications are submitted to RCO.
Washington Recreation and Conservation Office: No Child Left Inside
Olympia · statewide
State Parks' outdoor education grants for underserved youth, run by RCO: environmental education, stewardship activities, camps and outdoor recreation. Nonprofits can apply if the program benefits youth in Washington.
Typical grant
Three tiers: $5,000 to $25,000, $5,000 to $75,000, and $75,000 to $150,000; no match for the first two tiers, 25 percent for the third (its site).
Next deadline
Grants are awarded every other year. RCO's estimate for the next round: applications open about February 17, 2027 and are due about April 15, 2027 Expected.
How to apply
Online application through RCO after the applicant webinar.
Washington Department of Natural Resources: Urban and Community Forestry Grants
Olympia · statewide
Community Forestry Assistance grants to improve community tree canopy and local urban forestry programs, with an emphasis on tree equity. 501(c)(3) organizations are eligible alongside cities, tribes and districts.
Typical grant
Not published on the program page. The 2024 round awarded more than $8 million to more than 40 projects (its site).
Next deadline
The 2026 round has closed (applicants notified September 30, 2026) and the next round is not posted yet Check site.
How to apply
Application materials are posted on the DNR urban forestry page when a round opens.
One aligned Community Grant Cycle each year; the general Community Grants include Environment and Animal Welfare among their program areas.
Typical grant
Community Grants up to $5,000 (its site). Environmental grants in its filing for the year to September 2025: Great Peninsula Conservancy $11,884 (Friends of Miller Bay) and Kitsap Audubon Society $9,000 (the filing does not say which fund paid them).
Next deadline
The 2026 cycle ran August 17 to September 14, 2026. Next cycle about August to September 2027 Expected.
How to apply
Foundant Grant Lifecycle Manager; applicants need a new account on the platform from 2026.
An open annual grant cycle for Skagit County nonprofits across issue areas that include environmental stewardship.
Typical grant
Not published. The 2026 cycle awarded $666,881 to 71 organizations, including Friends of the Anacortes Community Forest Lands, Mount Vernon Parks Foundation and Washington Trails Association (its site). Its 2024 filing shows Padilla Bay Foundation $8,000.
Next deadline
2026-27 cycle: November 1, 2026 to February 1, 2027; awards by the end of May 2027 Verified.
How to apply
Skagit Community Foundation online grant system (Foundant).
Community Foundation of North Central Washington: Legacy Funds
Wenatchee · Chelan, Douglas and Okanogan counties
Unrestricted, place-based grants decided by local advisory boards for Cashmere, Chelan Valley, Methow Valley, Okanogan Valley, Upper Valley and Wenatchee Valley. Applicants must be 501(c)(3)s headquartered in the three counties, and each applicant has a short site visit.
Typical grant
Not published. Environmental grants in its filing for the year to June 2025 include Chelan-Douglas Land Trust $621,667, Methow Conservancy $212,116, Wenatchee River Institute $148,370 and Okanogan Land Trust $37,399 (the filing does not separate Legacy grants from donor-advised gifts).
Next deadline
The 2026 round for Cashmere, Chelan Valley, Upper Valley and Wenatchee Valley ran July 1 to August 15, 2026. Next round about July 2027 Expected. Methow Valley and Okanogan Valley run on their own schedules: its page lists Methow December 1 to January 15 and Okanogan January 1 to February 15, with no year printed Expected.
How to apply
One online application through the CFNCW grant portal, selecting the areas you serve.
Walla Walla · Walla Walla, Columbia and Garfield counties
County community grant programs that name environmental stewardship among the work they fund, plus a Columbia County Habitat Project Fund that opens every two years.
Typical grant
Walla Walla County Community Grant Program: general operating requests up to $20,000 (its site). Environmental grants in its filing for the year to June 2025 include Blue Mountain Land Trust $279,903, Blue Mountain Audubon Society $8,423 and Walla Walla Basin Watershed Council $6,339 (the filing does not separate these from donor-advised gifts).
Next deadline
Walla Walla County round: August 1 to 31, 2026; next about August 2027 Expected. Garfield County (February) and Dayton/Columbia County (March to April) rounds follow their 2026 pattern; the Habitat Project Fund dates are not set Check site.
How to apply
BMCF grants portal (Foundant); new applicants create an account first.
One annual grant round for island nonprofits, with Environmental Preservation as one of its categories. A pre-application meeting with the foundation is required.
Typical grant
Not published. Grants in its 2024 filing include San Juan Islands Conservation District $21,776, San Juan Islands Agricultural Guild $20,570 and Wolf Hollow Wildlife Rehabilitation Center $18,857.
Next deadline
Applications are reviewed once a year; the 2026 deadline was March 6, 2026. Next about March 2027 Expected.
How to apply
Schedule the pre-application meeting through the office, then submit the online application.
Seattle · Cascadia and other priority regions of the West
Science-driven conservation of wildlands and the habitat connections wildlife need. Washington sits in its Northwest/Southwest program's Cascadia region. It asks applicants to talk with the program officer before sending a proposal.
Typical grant
Median $50,000 across its 225 grants in 2024. Washington examples: EcoAdapt $180,000, Conservation Northwest $80,000, Cascade Forest Conservancy $75,000.
Next deadline
No public deadline; proposal dates are set with the program officer, and grants go to one of three board meetings a year Check site.
How to apply
Contact the Northwest/Southwest program officer first (listed on its program page); proposals follow that conversation.
Project funding for sound, fast-moving responses to the climate emergency. Its current funding opportunity is reducing the threats of extreme weather: workshops, research, communications and ready-to-build community resilience pilots.
Typical grant
$25,000 to $100,000, projects of 6 to 18 months (its site). Washington examples in its 2025 filing: Climate Foundation $85,500, EcoAdapt $73,750.
Next deadline
Letters of inquiry are accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed within 45 days Rolling.
How to apply
Online letter of inquiry with a PDF project overview; full proposals are by invitation.
Seattle · national; some funds set aside for greater Snohomish County
Small, quick grants for projects tied to its goals, one of which is climate change. Some funds are reserved for organizations in greater Snohomish County and can be general operating support.
Typical grant
Up to $5,000 (its site). Examples in its filing for the year to September 2025: Jefferson Land Trust $5,000 (climate ambassador program), North Cascades Institute $5,000, Glacier Peak Institute $5,000.
Next deadline
Rolling until the year's funds are spent; decisions within three weeks Rolling.
How to apply
Online application system: choose Opportunity Grants Application and attach a one to two page letter of intent.
It is not exhaustive and it is not a ranking. Deadlines and guidelines change, so open each funder's own page before you start. Grants are competitive, and past grant sizes describe what a funder gave, not what it will give you. I list secular funders only.
The full version
Want this done for your own organization?
A Funding Roadmap ($1,200, flat fee) gives you ten to fifteen funders matched to your mission, place and size, the grants each one paid to groups like yours, how to apply, and a 12-month grant calendar. Every deadline is labeled the same way as on this page.
Email me your organization's name, rough budget and what you'd like funded. You'll get a written reply within two business days.
You fill in a short intake questionnaire, then answer one round of written follow-up questions.
About three weeks later you get the roadmap, a two-page note on how to use it, and 14 days of email questions.
Everything happens in writing. There are no calls or meetings.