OVERVIEW: The Creag Foundation supports the efforts of small nonprofits that innovate in areas of human services, global development, health, environment, economic opportunity and more.
IP TAKE: The Creag Foundation makes modest grants to smaller, innovative nonprofits across several areas of giving. While many grants support Washington organizations, giving supports organizations everywhere in the U.S and abroad, as well. Take a look at Creag’s list of past grantees before deciding if this funder is right for you. Letters of inquiry are accepted at any time via an online form linked to the site.
PROFILE: Established in 2009 in Woodinville, Washington, the Creag Foundation’s purpose is to “support the efforts of nonprofit organizations who are innovators in the field of human services.” Specifically, the foundation aims to support “smaller organizations that are starting out or established organizations that are looking for funding to take their organization in a new direction.” Tax filings indicate that giving reaches beyond human services to support organizations working in the areas of human rights, global development and environmental causes. The foundation is steered by Robyn Christensen and gives nationally, but appears to prioritize the state of Washington, where it is based.
Grants for Human Rights, Global Development and Health
Creag does not name specific goals for its global giving but supports organizations promoting human rights and advancing sustainable global development. One grantee, the Amara Legal Center, empowers survivors of human trafficking. Another grantee, Tierra Grata pursues “solutions in energy, water and sanitation co-created together with communities without satisfied basic services.” Other global grantees include the Addis Clinic, the Soondra Foundation, Cure Cervical Cancer Global and the World Telehealth Initiative.
Grants for Public Health and Mental Health
The foundation’s U.S. giving for health and mental appears to prioritize smaller organizations with innovative approaches to wellness. Funding has supported Creativets, which aims to “empower wounded veterans to heal through the arts and music,” and A Bright Spot, which engages volunteers to make greeting cards, which are delivered to hospitalized children, the elderly and others. Other health and mental health grantees include Kids Kicking Cancer, Recovery All Ways and Living LFS, which supports patients and families with Li–Fraumeni syndrome and related cancers.
Grants for Environment, Animals and Wildlife Conservation
The foundation does not name the environment or animals as areas of interest, but several grants have supported organizations working in these areas over the years. Grantees include Marine Mammals of Maine, Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest, Cascadia Search Dogs and Think Wild a “wildlife hospital and conservation center for central Oregon.”
Grants for Work and Opportunity
A few of Creag’s grants support organizations that help people develop skills and careers for economic stability. Recipients include the Food Education Fund, the First Tech Fund, the Refugee Artisan Initiative and Viva Farms which works to “empower aspiring and limited-resource farmers by providing bilingual training in holistic organic farming practices, as well as access to land, infrastructure, equipment, marketing and capital” in Washington.
Important Grant Details:
Grants range from $500 to $4,000.
This funder tends to support small- to medium-sized organizations, including several that work internationally.
Grantees tend to be organizations that approach problems in new and innovative ways.
The foundation accepts letters of inquiry at any time via an online form. Full proposals are accepted by invitation only.
For information about past grantmaking, see the foundation’s grantees page.
Submit inquiries to the foundation via email to executive director Robyn Christensen at robyn@creagfoundation.org or by telephone at 360-6312767
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