Mission:
To encourage personal philanthropy to improve the quality of life in King County, Washington.

Background:
The Seattle Foundation was established in 1946 by Seattle Art Museum founder Dr. Richard Fuller and seven other philanthropists with an initial endowment of $289,000. Today, it is the oldest and largest community foundation in the state of Washington, with assets that exceed $470 million. In 2005, the foundation distributed capital, equipment, and operating grants totaling $4.8 million through its Community Grantmaking Program to a wide range of nonprofits working to improve the lives of area residents and increase the overall health of the community.

Outstanding Web Feature:
The Healthy Community section of the Web site incorporates the foundation's vision for long-term improvement in the Seattle community. Also a guide for philanthropic investment, it describes seven intersecting areas where donors can help improve the quality of life for people living and working in King County — basic needs, health and wellness, education, economy, arts and culture, neighborhoods and communities, and environment. In addition, the section provides information about regional and racial disparities in these areas and a downloadable report, A Healthy Community: What You Need to Know to Give Strategically (94 pages, PDF).