How to Apply
The foundation has three grantmaking programs. To learn more about each of our programs, please use the drop-down menu below.
The Environmental Education Program provides support to organizations that offer outdoor environmental education experiences for youth. We focus funding on programs serving middle and high school-age students who live in Pierce, Kitsap, Thurston, Jefferson, Mason, and South King Counties. You can learn more about our program here.
- South King County region contains Auburn, Burien, Covington, Des Moines, Enumclaw, Federal Way, Kent, Maple Valley, Normandy Park, Renton, Tukwila, SeaTac, White Center/Boulevard Park, and Vashon Island.
The Environmental Education Program operates on an invitation-only basis for grant requests. We proactively identify and engage with potential recipients whose goals align with our mission, enabling us to maintain a focused and strategic approach to our philanthropic endeavors. By ensuring the effective utilization of our resources, we aim to make a meaningful impact. We appreciate your understanding and invite you to explore our website to learn more about our foundation and the projects we support. For additional assistance in locating prospective funders, we recommend visiting Candid, a non-profit organization offering useful tools.
Food for Climate Solutions application is now closed. You can learn more about this new program here.
The application period for Class 11 is closed. We will begin recruitment for Class 12 in June 2024. Please check back in summer 2024 for updates. Thanks!
Common Questions
Below are some common inquiries we receive about our grants. Still have questions? Please contact us.
The foundation does not fund overhead or indirect costs for colleges and universities. Administrative costs related directly to the project might be considered if itemized in the project budget.
The online Grant Portal is hosted by a separate organization and system errors cannot be resolved by contacting the foundation. Typically errors are resolved within 24 hours. If this time frame would cause you to be late in submitting, please take a screen shot of the error and send it to our Grants and Operations Manager.
Ask for what you need within the range provided in the grant guidelines. Please browse grants to see the range of projects and amounts awarded in the past. If you are invited to submit a full proposal, you are likely to discuss the requested amount further. We rarely fund 100 percent of a project budget. You should be able to show that you are seeking or have received other sources of funding. Other sources might include foundations, corporations, individuals, community groups, or others.
We prefer to award unrestricted grants, allowing organizations the flexibility to allocate funds as needed. These grants can be used for general operating support, including salaries, technical assistance, services, and programs, or any other expenses that align with the Fund’s priorities. Additionally, organizations may use the funds to support specific projects that align with our program priorities if preferred. Our funding aims to complement, rather than replace, the role of the public sector.
Pre-application meetings are not necessary. However, if you would like to speak with someone about your application in advance of submission, please feel free to contact our Grants and Operations Manager. If your application is advanced in the process, our program staff will work to schedule a meeting or site visit with your organization.
Yes. Separate project ideas should be submitted via separate Letters of Inquiry. If you have questions about this please contact our Grants and Operations Manager.
TRFF does not consider unsolicited requests for emergency funding.