Allen Family Philanthropies: decades of community-minded giving
Allen Family Philanthropies was founded in 1988 by philanthropists Jody Allen and the late Paul G. Allen. While our grantmaking has evolved over the years, our priorities have remained constant: supporting thriving, healthy communities; advancing our collective wellbeing; and helping creativity, future generations, and nature flourish.
Over the past decade, our foundation has distributed over $500 million in strategic support for arts and culture, the environment and ecosystems, and the empowerment of young changemakers across the Pacific Northwest and around the globe. Paul Allen’s philanthropy exceeded $2 billion during his lifetime, and Jody Allen continues this commitment as Board Chair of Allen Family Philanthropies and the Fund for Science and Technology.
Paul and Jody’s original vision for the foundation was to support people tackling some of the world’s pressing challenges, and that ethos remains deeply embedded in what Allen Family Philanthropies funds today. Currently, the foundation has manages over $105M in active grants across three core program areas; Arts & Culture, Environment, and Youth. In addition we contribute to Washington state community organizations, including the Spirit of 12 with the Seattle Seahawks Foundation, and support bioscience through the Frontiers Group, formerly managed at the Allen Institute.
Over last decade (2014-2024), $500 million in philanthropic investment has focused on arts and culture, communities, environment, youth, and bioscience.
What are our thoughts and learnings as grant makers?
Partnerships are paramount: Our most successful funding efforts have always relied on trusted partners and collaborative efforts that drive scale and impact. Initiatives such as mapping the world’s sharks through Global FinPrint, advancing coral reef conservation through global collaboration, and distributing millions to expand arts access across Washington state could not be accomplished alone.
Community-driven solutions are the most sustainable: We prioritize supporting work that is designed with and for the communities closest to the issues being addressed.
Systems thinking is essential: Complex challenges require a deep understanding of systems and what is possible to achieve long-term change. Our support for environmental solutions, arts & culture access, and youth empowerment reflects the interconnected systems, and the power of the people working on the ground.
Sometimes, funders must be responsive: While we strive to be strategic and forward-thinking partners, extraordinary moments sometimes require rapid response. During crises such as pandemics, like Ebola and COVID-19, we acted quickly while remaining grounded in our community-first approach.
Philanthropy does not occur in a vacuum. It is shaped by the communities it serves; evolving political, social, and economic contexts; and advances in technology and understanding. Reflecting on our grantmaking since 1988, we are proud of the work and achievements of our partners. We look forward with optimism and continue to value community as the defining principle woven throughout all of our investments.
In our 2025 Year In Review, our Executive Director wrote:
“When each of us does our part and does it through mindful connection and communion with others – whether a scientist, an artist, or a young person, it lays the foundation for collective wellbeing. Together, we are all creating a future where communities of creativity, youth, and nature can flourish throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond.”
This is what we are all about. Community is at the very heart of our philanthropy.
