About Us

Parks belong to everyone. Seattle Parks Foundation connects people across the city who are working together to fulfill that promise.

Children sitting on the grass listening and talking.

Vision

Everyone in Seattle should feel connected to safe and beautiful green spaces and have easy access to recreational opportunities that meet their needs and the needs of a growing and changing population.

Programs

Fiscal Sponsorship
We provide 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status and a suite of accounting, insurance, fundraising, communications, and advocacy services to community groups that are making park and public space projects happen across the city.

Fund Management
We manage restricted and general-purpose funds, including endowments, for donors who want to make long-term and legacy investments in Seattle’s parks and public space system.

Major Initiatives
We support partner capital campaigns, large-scale community park planning, and civic-scale parks and public space advocacy initiatives.

Our History

Founded as a nonprofit partner for Seattle Parks and Recreation and fueled by the energy of civic leaders whose efforts to build a 60-acre “Seattle Commons” in South Lake Union were twice thwarted at the ballot box in the mid-1990s, Seattle Parks Foundation became an independent nonprofit in 2001. Its first endeavors included supporting the acquisition and development of Lake People (Xacua’bs) Park near Columbia City, the restoration of Schurman Rock at Camp Long in West Seattle, field and play area enhancements at Maple Elementary School on Beacon Hill, and early planning for Lake Union Park.

Since then, donors have contributed $54 million through Seattle Parks Foundation to support more than 200 community-led park projects spanning almost every neighborhood in the city.

Learn More

Board of Directors

Chair

Allegra Calder

Principal, BERK Consulting

Vice Chair

Maya Mendoza-Exstrom

General Counsel, Sounders FC

Secretary

Jodi Green

Community Volunteer

Treasurer

Jerry Tone

Community Volunteer

Member

Ross Baker

Public Policy Director, Virginia Mason Medical Center

Member

Ken Bounds

Commissioner, Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission

Member

Steve Clifford

Author, Former CEO of King Broadcasting

Member

Gerry Johnson

Partner, Pacifica Law Group LLP

Member

Brad Kahn

Founder, Groundwork Strategies

Member

Garrett Kephart

Managing Principal and Practice Leader, Strategy and Social Impact, Point B, Inc.

Member

Doris Koo

Principal Consultant, Yesler Community Collaborative

Member

Carla Lewis

Community Volunteer

Member

Carol Lewis

Senior Advisor, Philanthropy Northwest

Member

John Nesholm

Founding Partner, LMN Architects

Member

Charles Nolan

Public Health Consultant, University of Washington

Member

Beth Purcell

Principal, Purcell Planning and Design

Member

Doug Raff

Retired

Member

Myra Tanita

Retired COO, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

Member

Chris Towne

Civic Activist

Member

David Victor

Founder and Managing Director, Seneca Group

Member

Huong Vu

Community Volunteer

Member

Charlie Wright

Chairman, R.D. Merrill Company

Member

Kyle McCoy

Vice President & Private Wealth Advisor, Goldman Sachs

Advisory Board

Deirdre Black

Community Volunteer

Barbee Crutcher

Community Volunteer

Barbara Feasey

Community Volunteer

Hope Garrett

Community Volunteer

C. David Hughbanks

Community Volunteer

Bob Ratliffe

Executive Vice President, Bentall Kennedy

Scott Redman

CEO, Sellen Construction

Chris Rogers

Founding Partner & CEO, Point32

Stu Rolfe

President, Wright Hotels, Inc.

Maggie Walker

Co-Chair, Central Waterfront Committee

Steve Wood

Managing Director, CenturyPacific LLLP

Staff

Opportunities

Seattle Parks Foundation relies on a network of staff, contractors, partners, and community members to make great things happen for Seattle’s parks and public spaces.

: We are seeking a Development Manager to enrich our community giving and institutional giving programs. This individual will lead and implement the annual campaign, including all solicitation, acknowledgment, cultivation, and stewardship activities and events. The Development Manager is responsible for cultivating positive relations with donors, staff, and community partners to ensure that Seattle Parks Foundation’s community giving goals are met.
Full Job Description
: We are seeking an Administrative Coordinator to fulfill a critical administrative role by creating a welcoming environment and positive first impression for individuals who call or visit the foundation. A keen customer service mindset is needed for this job, as well as strong organizational skills and attention to detail. This position involves working diligently, independently, and enthusiastically as part of a team and meeting deadlines on multiple projects. We seek a candidate who will uphold the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion and use them as a lens in carrying out work responsibilities.
Full Job Description

Contact

Offices

Seattle Parks Foundation
105 South Main Street #235
Seattle, WA 98104
Phone: 206.332.9900

About Us

Vision

Programs

Our History

Board of Directors

Chair

Allegra Calder

Vice Chair

Maya Mendoza-Exstrom

Secretary

Jodi Green

Treasurer

Jerry Tone

Member

Ross Baker

Member

Ken Bounds

Member

Steve Clifford

Member

Gerry Johnson

Member

Brad Kahn

Member

Garrett Kephart

Member

Doris Koo

Member

Carla Lewis

Member

Carol Lewis

Member

John Nesholm

Member

Charles Nolan

Member

Beth Purcell

Member

Doug Raff

Member

Myra Tanita

Member

Chris Towne

Member

David Victor

Member

Huong Vu

Member

Charlie Wright

Member

Kyle McCoy

Advisory Board

Deirdre Black

Barbee Crutcher

Barbara Feasey

Hope Garrett

C. David Hughbanks

Bob Ratliffe

Scott Redman

Chris Rogers

Stu Rolfe

Maggie Walker

Steve Wood

Staff

Andrea Arenas

Dre Avila

Thatcher Bailey

Michelle Benetua

Ed Ewing

Robert Furlong

Shava Lawson

Jason Merges

Erin Miller

Opportunities

Contact

General Information

Press and Media

Fiscal Sponsorship

Donations

Offices