Mount Rainier above forested ridges in Washington
Foundation Lookup

Form 990-PFTax year 2025EIN 61-1862747

Mount Baker Foundation

A private foundation in Bellingham, WA. Its return for tax year 2025 lists 55 grants and $3.7 million paid in grants.

See which foundations fund work like yours Matching by cause, place and grant size

Tax year 2025 (period ending Dec 31, 2025), read from the IRS e-file on Nov 11, 2026. Returns reach the IRS 5 to 18 months after the year they describe.

How to apply

Accepts applications

The return gives an application contact and rules, as below.

Contact
Maria MacPherson
1323 Commercial St Suite 103
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 393-2599
[email protected]
Form and materials
Applications are submitted through an online portal or emails to the Grants and Communications Manager listed above.
Deadlines
None.
Restrictions
Located within Whatcom County, meets definition of eligible organization (e.g. 501c3) or through a fiscal sponsor, reflects diversity, equity and inclusion within the Foundation's areas of focus.

Assets and giving by year

6 returns on file
Grants paid by tax year. The latest year is in blue.

  • Tax year 2025

    $3,743,294

    Grants listed
    55
    Assets, end of year
    $38,007,612

  • Tax year 2024

    $2,073,021

    Grants listed
    45
    Assets, end of year
    $37,131,376

  • Tax year 2023

    $2,188,959

    Grants listed
    37
    Assets, end of year
    $35,610,536

  • Tax year 2022

    $2,059,258

    Grants listed
    21
    Assets, end of year
    $32,996,607

  • Tax year 2021

    $2,050,779

    Grants listed
    35
    Assets, end of year
    $42,225,548

  • Tax year 2020

    $567,875

    Grants listed
    16
    Assets, end of year
    $34,099,560

Grants paid in 2025

55 grants, largest first

As listed on the return. Grants to individuals show as “Individual”, with purpose and amount only.

  1. Children of the Setting Sun ProductionsBellingham, WA

    Support the Organization's capital campaign which is to raise funds to build their new Setting Sun institute, which showcases the culture and history of the Coast Salish People

    $2,500,000
  2. University of Washington FoundationSeattle, WA

    Support for the innocation and research at UW's Kidney Research Institute.

    $249,000
  3. Chuckanut Health FoundationBellingham, WA

    Support the Community Health Cohort project: local non-profit organizations gather and engage in a collaborative network

    $150,000
  4. NAMI WhatcomBellingham, WA

    Support new position of Executive Director

    $124,000
  5. Vamos Outdoors ProjectBellingham, WA

    Support outdoor and academic programs serving Latine, Migrant, Multilingual, and Newcomer youth and families in Whatcom and Skagit counties

    $90,000
  6. Chuckanut Health FoundationBellingham, WA

    Support Oasis, a fiscal sponsorship, which provides guidance and knowledge for thos navigating local services during a crisis.

    $80,000
  7. Immigrant Resources and Immediate Support (IRIS)Bellingham, WA

    Support general programming of providing urgent and unmet mneeds of immigrants in Whatcom and Skagit counties

    $80,000
  8. Immigrant Resources and Immediate Support (IRIS)Bellingham, WA

    Support position of Immigrant Justice Coordinator

    $80,000
  9. Common Threads FarmBellingham, WA

    Support farm-to-table school outreach program

    $51,000
  10. Individual

    Provide for housing, utilities, medications, clothing, vitamins, dental services assistance

    $40,169
  11. PflagBellingham, WA

    Support general programming of building support for the LGBTQ+ community and their families, friends and allies

    $35,000
  12. Bellingham Queer CollectiveBellingham, WA

    Support general programming of building community and providing support to LGBTQIA+ individuals

    $15,000
  13. Chuckanut Health FoundationBellingham, WA

    Support Oasis, a fiscal sponsorship, for their general diabetes prevention fund

    $10,000
  14. Ferndale Public Schools FoundationFerndale, WA

    Support the Multicultural Community Event, celebrating the different cultures of Ferndale

    $10,000
  15. NAMI WhatcomBellingham, WA

    Support a portion of salaries for staff who lead the Latine Outreach Program and Peer / Youth efforts

    $10,000
  16. Northwest Washington Indian Health BoardBellingham, WA

    Support youth attending the national conference, Youth Gathering of Native Americans

    $10,000
  17. Sent Ones MinistryFerndale, WA

    Support community meals at Ferndale Church

    $10,000
  18. United Church of Christ Lummi Island Congressional ChurchLummi Island, WA

    Support portion of a part-time Program Coordinator

    $10,000
  19. Whatcom Literacy CouncilBellingham, WA

    Support for general programming

    $10,000
  20. Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services of Whatcom CountyBellingham, WA

    Support for Missing, Murdered Indigenous People event

    $9,000
  21. Chuckanut Health FoundationBellingham, WA

    Support Halogen, a fiscal sponsorship, to provide unique suicide prevention resources for Black and Brown trans communities

    $8,000
  22. Vamos Outdoors ProjectBellingham, WA

    Support their annual fundraiser and community event

    $8,000
  23. Birchwood Food Desert FightersBellingham, WA

    Support for general programming

    $7,500
  24. NAMI WhatcomBellingham, WA

    Support Peer Support Groups, specifically outreach and engagement purposes of NAMI's Latinx community engagement and outreach, and emerging peer support group and work

    $7,500
  25. Northwest Kidney CentersSeatac, WA

    Support the Emergency Assistance program for individuals on dialysis and/or those who have received a kidney transplant

    $7,500
  26. Whatcom Medical Reserves CorpBellingham, WA

    Support the Whatcom County's Street Medical Team to bring healthcare to those experiencing homelessness in Bellingham

    $7,500
  27. Brothers to BrothersBellingham, WA

    Support the Sankofa Wellness Project, a year-long healing journey designed by and for Black men to relaim identity, restore well-being and build community

    $6,850
  28. Bellingham Public Schools FoundationBellingham, WA

    Support PTO and leadership development at Cordata Elementary

    $6,500
  29. Vamos Outdoors ProjectBellingham, WA

    Support their Community Bike Day, which brings community together over their love of bikes

    $6,000
  30. Racial Unity Now (RUN)Lynden, WA

    Support for general programming

    $5,738
  31. Bellingham Food BankBellingham, WA

    Support general programming for supplies and operating costs

    $5,000
  32. Blaine Food BankBlaine, WA

    Support general programming for supplies and operating costs

    $5,000
  33. Catholic Community ServicesSeattle, WA

    Support general programming for supplies and operating costs

    $5,000
  34. Celebrity Barber CollegeBellingham, WA

    Support the Fresh start Initiative, which empowers and educates aspiring barbers, particularly from underserved communities

    $5,000
  35. Christian Hope AssociationLynden, WA

    Support general programming for supplies and operating costs

    $5,000
  36. Ferndale Food BankFerndale, WA

    Support general programming for supplies and operating costs

    $5,000
  37. Foothills Food BankMaple Falls, WA

    Support general programming for supplies and operating costs

    $5,000
  38. Lhaq'temish FoundationBellingham, WA

    Support the Lummi Victims of Crime Gala, with funds raised to support services and eligible clients including legal assistance, emergency housing and advocacy

    $5,000
  39. Lummi Food BankBellingham, WA

    Flexible funding for their Food Bank. Funding can be used to purchase supplies or for general operating costs

    $5,000
  40. Nooksack Tribal Food BankDeming, WA

    Support general programming for supplies and operating costs

    $5,000
  41. Nooksack Valley Food BankEverson, WA

    Support general programming for supplies and operating costs

    $5,000
  42. Northwest Youth ServicesBellingham, WA

    Support stipends for Youth Action Board, collective of young individuals aged 12-24 sharing lived experiences in homelessness and housing instablity

    $5,000
  43. PflagBellingham, WA

    Support PFLAG's Transgender Assistance Fund (TAF)

    $5,000
  44. Point Roberts Food BankPoint Roberts, WA

    Support for construction of permanent food sotrage facility for the Point Roberts Food Bank

    $5,000
  45. Whatcom WavesBellingham, WA

    Support for community engagement and outreach to help develop stronger partnerships for decarbonizing and decolonizing housing industry

    $5,000
  46. Allied arts of Whatcom CountyBellingham, WA

    Support their Art Out Loud program, which will create a replicable model for culturally rooted arts programming

    $4,500
  47. Racial Unity Now (RUN)Lynden, WA

    Support Go! Grant, infrastructure and development related to their racial justice work

    $4,262
  48. Bellingham Public Schools FoundationBellingham, WA

    Support the LatinX Graduation ceremony

    $3,000
  49. Bellingham SeaFestBellingham, WA

    Support Community Outreach and Operations Manager to plan, organize and lead 11 events per year, providing educational materials and supplies at events and for the Community Net materials and artists' time

    $3,000
  50. Chuckanut Health FoundationBellingham, WA

    Support Chardi Kala Project, a fiscal sponsorship, to create We-Circles, a small group of community members getting together over shared interests

    $2,500
  51. Fatherhood the FoundationBellingham, WA

    Support for family holiday support by hosting a free marketplace bazaar and providing assistance to 14 families

    $2,500
  52. Road2HomeBellingham, WA

    Wheelchair

    $1,775
  53. Chuckanut Health FoundationBellingham, WA

    Support NorthSound Race & Health Equity conference

    $1,000
  54. Chuckanut Health FoundationBellingham, WA

    Support cohort members of Connecting Community, a fiscal sponsorship, to attend the Just Narratives conference

    $1,000
  55. Salish CurrentBellingham, WA

    Support "Voices of the Northwest", a knowledge festical featuring five presentations providing perspectives and discussion about environment, social justice and culture

    $500

Approved for future payment

10 grants

Approved in 2025 and not yet paid.

  1. University of Washington FoundationSeattle, WA

    Support the ongoing research of the Kidney Research Institute to imporve dialysis

    $450,000
  2. Vamos Outdoors ProjectBellingham, WA

    Funding match for their 2025 fundraiser

    $200,000
  3. Common Threads FarmBellingham, WA

    Flexible funding to support their work in school gardens and food education in Title 1 Schools

    $75,000
  4. Health Ministries NetworkBellingham, WA

    Support for their Ask A Nurse Program

    $75,000
  5. Ferndale Community ServicesFerndale, WA

    Flexible funding to support their mission of understanding and alleviate unmet needs by providing resources and connection in Ferndale, WA.

    $50,000
  6. Whatcom Community FoundationBellingham, WA

    Support the Whatcom Racial Equity Commission

    $50,000
  7. Individual

    Provide for housing, utilities, medications, clothing, vitamins, dental services assistance

    $16,957
  8. Brothers to BrothersBellingham, WA

    Support their programming of creating community for Black men in Whatcom County committed to building connection, trust, and empowerment.

    $10,000
  9. Twin Sisters Mobile MarketBellingham, WA

    Supporting their work to bring mobile farmers markets to food deserts throughout Whatcom County

    $10,000
  10. Washington School Based Health AllianceSeattle, WA

    Support their event to promote school based health clinics

    $2,000

Where the money goes

By cause: grants to organizations we matched to the IRS list of exempt organizations, by their category.

  1. Philanthropy and grantmaking1 grant $2,500,00083% of the total
  2. Education5 grants $315,50011% of the total
  3. Youth development3 grants $104,0003% of the total
  4. Food and agriculture3 grants $20,000<1% of the total
  5. Public affairs2 grants $20,000<1% of the total
  6. Mental health1 grant $9,000<1% of the total
  7. 6 other causes6 grants $30,6251% of the total

By State

Grants to organizations with a US address, latest year.

  1. Washington54 grants $3,703,125

Officers, directors and trustees

9 people as filed

As filed on the return, with average hours per week and pay from the foundation.

  • Hannah SimonettiPresident Hours 1Pay $950
  • Bart HunterSecretary Hours 1Pay $0
  • Ben La TrayTreasurer Hours 1Pay $0
  • Semere WoldetatiosBoard Member Hours 1Pay $900
  • Angie KrzysiekBoard Member Hours 1Pay $113
  • Michelle CookBoard Member Hours 1Pay $850
  • Miriam KaramokoBoard Member Hours 1Pay $0
  • Sandhya GelouBoard Member Hours 1Pay $150
  • Zeenia JunkeerExecutive Director Hours 40Pay $180,891

The return

More foundations

Similar foundations

Same main cause (philanthropy and grantmaking), giving between a quarter and four times this foundation’s where possible, nearby first.

  1. Kindred FoundationBellingham, WA 1 grant Preselected only $1,780,359 giving
  2. The John C & Karyl Kay Hughes FoundationSeattle, WA 28 grants Preselected only $3,403,000 giving
  3. Mary Garner Esary TrustWalla Walla, WA 22 grants Accepts applications $3,400,589 giving
  4. SS Family FoundationBellevue, WA 10 grants Preselected only $4,120,835 giving
  5. The Brainerd FoundationSeattle, WA 98 grants Preselected only $3,342,164 giving