Seattle Foundation

464. That is the number of shootings and shots fired in King County during the first half of 2026. Twenty-three resulted in the loss of life. And the violence has continued: nearly two months after a shooting at Seattle Center took three lives, a series of shootings in Belltown over Labor Day weekend left three people dead and four injured.

When gun violence becomes a recurring part of community life, we risk treating it as inevitable. As The Seattle Times has argued, Seattle may be accepting higher levels of gun violence as a “new normal.” We become overwhelmed and begin to believe there is nothing we can do. Some of us may even quietly tell ourselves that gun violence only happens to those people, over there—failing to see how it affects all of us and the place we call home.

The reality is that gun violence affects all of us, whether we experience it directly or not. It is the trauma children carry after losing a classmate, the potential denied when a young life is cut short, the fear that takes hold when neighbors no longer feel safe, and the customers lost when that fear keeps people away from local businesses, as noted by the Seattle Metro Chamber and their latest remarks in response to gun violence. Read our full statement: https://www.seattlefoundation.org/gun-violence-is-not-normal-lets-not-treat-it-that-way/

This school year, Seattle Foundation's Scholarship Program will support 367 students, awarding a total of $1,800,010 in scholarships.

For many recipients, this support is life-changing. As many of these scholars are first-generation college students, these scholarships help make higher education more accessible by reducing financial barriers and, in many cases, enabling students to graduate with little to no student loan debt!

Join us in celebrating these students' accomplishments and the generosity of our greater Seattle community.

Boba, ballots and a conversation that matters. Join King County Director of Elections Julie Wise and Wing Luke Museum Executive Director Chrissy Shimizu for Ballots & Boba. Learn what’s on the ballot, how election security works and how we can all stay civically engaged.

📅 September 16 | 5:30–7:30 p.m.
📍 Wing Luke Museum, 719 S. King Street
🔗 RSVP required: kce.wiki/BallotsAndBoba2026

This free, wheelchair-accessible event will include ASL and Cantonese interpretation.

Our Director of Social Impact Investing, Ken Takahashi, recently shared his perspective in The Seattle Times, on how the Evergreen Impact Housing Fund is helping address the shortage of affordable, family-sized homes across Washington state.

To date, the fund has invested more than $56 million across six projects, helping create over 1,300 affordable housing units, most of which are designed for families.

The need is clear, and so is the opportunity to do more. Seattle Foundation is looking to recapitalize EIHF so we can continue helping working families find a place to call home.

Read Ken’s full letter to the editor: https://www.seattlefoundation.org/housing-a-partnership-for-affordability/

Seattle Foundation is hiring a Gift Planning Advisor to join our Philanthropic Services team.

This role is ideal for a relationship-driven professional with experience in business development, fundraising, philanthropic advising, financial services, or planned giving. You’ll work with donors and professional advisors to turn philanthropic goals into meaningful, long-term community impact.

Apply today: https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/portal/E2C4E22C68817EC0AD21A79E66B057BF/jobs/335909

August may be coming to a close, but there is still time to take action during Black Philanthropy Month to support work that continues well beyond August.

At Seattle Foundation, we celebrate the generosity, leadership, and community power of Black philanthropists, organizers, donors, and changemakers who move resources where they are needed most.

ICYMI the BackBlack 2026 BackBlack Impact Grant is still open!

The 2026 BackBlack Impact Grant will award four Black-led nonprofits with $5,000 in unrestricted funding each—a total of $20,000—during Black Philanthropy Month.

🖤 $20,000 in unrestricted funding
🖤 Four Black-led nonprofits
🖤 Four $5,000 grants

If your organization has been fundraising on an online platform this August, consider applying. The application takes less than five minutes to complete, and submissions close August 31 by 8:00 PM EST.

Know a Black-led nonprofit that could benefit? Share this opportunity with them.

Apply here: https://airtable.com/appUtCcV7Jz1TQO2k/pagwyR75Vm3nEMGvD/form

We are proud to sponsor , a transformative gathering of philanthropy practitioners and community leaders hosted by Philanthropy Northwest!

Join us in Anchorage, Alaska on October 6-8 as we explore bold ideas shaping the future of community-centered philanthropy, equity, and collective impact. You won’t want to miss this opportunity to connect and learn together—register today: https://bit.ly/4ttMFRm

Time is running out to save your spot for tomorrow! ⏰

Estate planning is more than legal paperwork—it’s about making thoughtful choices for the people and causes you care about. Join Seattle Foundation for Planning with Purpose: Essential Documents for Estate Planning, a free session designed to help you feel informed, prepared, and confident, whether you’re creating a plan for the first time or updating one you already have.

We’re bringing in nationally recognized Seattle attorney Wendy Goffe to break down the must-have essentials including wills, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives. Learn how to build an estate plan that protects what matters most and aligns with your values.

📅 Tomorrow, August 20
⏰ 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM PT

It’s National Make a Will Month and there is no better time to get clear and confident about your future.

👉 Save your spot before tomorrow: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_M5EtpL_YSnOd8i2NmQuauA #/registration