Offices
PO BOX 3541
Seattle, WA 98124-3541
206.332.9900
info@seattleparksfoundation.org

© 2018 Seattle Parks Foundation

Seattle Parks Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Tax ID: 91-1998597

About Us

Seattle Parks Foundation brings community leaders, donors, and public partners together to create a thriving, accessible and connected system of public space for the health and happiness of all people.

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 over $59 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

Maya Mendoza-Exstrom

General Counsel, Sounders FC

Vice Chair

Garrett Kephart

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

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

Allegra Calder

Principal, BERK Consulting

Member

Debra Guenther

Design Partner, Mithun

Member

Sam Howard

Supply Chain Director, Starbucks

Member

Lyn Hunter

Director, Regional Strategies Network, Philanthropy Northwest

Member

Gerry Johnson

Founding Partner, Pacifica Law Group LLP

Member

Brad Kahn

Founder, Groundwork Strategies

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

Neelima Shah

Program Officer, Bullitt Foundation

Member

Myra Tanita

Retired COO, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

Member

Patrice Thomas

Equitable Development Initiative Project Manager, City of Seattle

Member

Chris Towne

Civic Activist

Member

David Victor

Founder and Managing Director, Seneca Group

Member

Huong Vu

Senior Program Officer - Community Engagement, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Member

Charlie Wright

Chairman, R.D. Merrill Company

Advisory Board

Staff

Elias Arkham

Elias Arkham

Administrative Coordinator
Rebecca Bear

Rebecca Bear

President and CEO
Michelle Benetua

Michelle Benetua

Senior Manager of Community Partnerships and Planning
Robert Furlong

Robert Furlong

Systems Manager
Anna Guthrie

Anna Guthrie

Program Coordinator
Falisha Kurji

Falisha Kurji

Community Partnership Coordinator
Shava Lawson

Shava Lawson

Director of Fiscal Services
Kristen Milliron

Kristen Milliron

V.P. of Philanthropy, Marketing & Communications
Kiyomi Morton

Kiyomi Morton

Payroll and Accounting Specialist
Sarah Olivo

Sarah Olivo

Annual Giving Manager

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 looking for a dynamic, strategic, community-centric Major Gifts Officer to guide our major gifts and individual donor work on our growing team! If you have a passion for public spaces, community engagement, advancing racial equity, and large scale civic philanthropy, consider joining our team! We are committed to racial justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging in our public spaces, and we strongly encourage BIPOC applicants who have a depth of leadership experience and believe in our mission. To find out more, see the attached job description!

Job Description

We are looking for a dynamic, strategic, community-centric Marketing & Communications Manager to help drive engagement and grow our base of donors, partners, and supporters! If you have a passion for public spaces, community engagement, advancing racial equity, and large scale civic philanthropy, consider joining our team! We are committed to racial justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging in our public spaces, and we strongly encourage BIPOC applicants who have a depth of leadership experience and believe in our mission. To find out more, see the attached job description!

Job Description

Contact

General Information

info@seattleparksfoundation.org

Press and Media

communications@seattleparksfoundation.org

Fiscal Sponsorship

partner@seattleparksfoundation.org

Donations

donations@seattleparksfoundation.org

Offices

Seattle Parks Foundation
PO Box 3541
Seattle, WA 98124-3541
206.332.9900
Phone: 206.332.9900