Convening of grantmakers and philanthropists is a 30-year tradition in the Northwest.

In the fall of 1973, Norton Clapp, President of the Medina Foundation, met with Joe Nolan, President of the Weyerhaeuser Company Foundation and Charles Osborn, President of The Seattle Foundation, to discuss the establishment of an informal organization of grantmakers to exchange ideas and information on grantmaking activities in the Pacific Northwest.

After several planning meetings, the first "Inter-Foundation Meeting" occurred at the Olympic Hotel in Seattle on October 8, 1974. This gathering attracted 42 grantmakers from the Puget Sound, Washington area.

This initial meeting led to the formation of a loosely associated group of Northwest grantmakers. These funders met several times during 1975, and late in the year adopted a policy statement describing their objectives for the group. These objectives are the same today: to promote effective philanthropy among Northwest grantmakers.

In 1976, the Pacific Northwest Grantmakers Forum was incorporated. Managed solely by members and housed within a number of organizations including the Medina Foundation and The Seattle Foundation, in1989 the organization moved to an office and hired fulltime staff. Since then, our organization has grown from 73 members to nearly 200; from 4 meetings a year to over 30; and from being primarily a networking and support organization to one that offers educational programming on very complex issues, technical assistance to start-up grantmaking organizations, and involvement in public policy issues affecting the philanthropic world. We have moved forward over the years to become the premiere gathering place for grantmakers who want to share ideas, learn from each other, and find the resources they need to practice effective philanthropy.

In October, 2000, a new strategic plan led the organization to change its name to Philanthropy Northwest to reflect its broadened scope.

Today, Philanthropy Northwest serves grantmakers throughout Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming, and is headquartered in Seattle.

2505 Third Avenue, Suite 200    Seattle, WA  98121-1494
206-443-8430    877-PNW-ASK2 toll-free    206-441-4622 FAX
info@PhilanthropyNW.org

© 2007 Philanthropy Northwest