VADON FOUNDATION
Annual Giving
$3.5M-15% YoY
Grants
39
Median Grant
$75K
Organizations Funded
53
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Foundation Overview
Mission
To support innovative community-based initiatives that sustain healthy thriving indigenous nations in perpetuity; to support programs working to ensure that every successive generation of indigenous people and culture will face an increasingly brighter future of healthy self-determination, autonomy, evolution, and sustainability; to develop and support visionary changemakers within native communities providing the most proven path for fostering long-term progress.
Focus Areas
Grant Types
Funded Initiatives
Language revitalization programs for Native communities; NDN Collective support for Indigenous organizing and activism; Immersion schools focused on Salish language revitalization; Colville language and culture revitalization efforts; COVID-19 relief efforts for Indigenous communities; youth leadership and STEM programs for Native students; grants ranging from $5,000 to $285,000.
How to Apply
Interested grantees initially send an introductory email to dave@vadonfoundation.org or call 206-472-7220 to discuss your program. If there seems to be potential for collaboration, we can mutually determine what materials or information would be useful for further discussion. Executive Director Dave LaSarte-Meeks promotes a non-traditional approach: "Just read the website, shoot me a call, or send me an email."
Based on publicly available information from the foundation's 990 filings and website.
Giving History
$3.5M
Grants
39
Median
$75K
States
14
$4.1M
Grants
36
Median
$73K
States
13
$2.7M
Grants
32
Median
$73K
States
11
Grant Size Distribution
$75K
Typical Grant (Median)
$13K
Smallest
$35K
25th Pctile
$100K
75th Pctile
$250K
Largest
Excludes grants ≤ $5K. Half fall between $35K and $100K.
Largest Recent Grants
$250K
2024
WAMBLI SKA OKOLAKICIYE
SD · TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION
$250K
2024
STANFORD UNIVERSITY
CA · TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION
$225K
2024
OCETI SAKOWIN COMMUNITY ACADEMY
SD · TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION
$200K
2024
SALISH SCHOOL OF SPOKANE
WA · TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION
$200K
2024
CHILDREN OF THE SETTING SUN PRODUCTIONS
WA · TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION
Geographic Focus
Top states by total grant dollars. Based on IRS filing data.
Financial Overview
Grants paid shown as percentage of total assets
Data sourced from IRS 990 and 990-PF filings and publicly available foundation websites. Grant data, financial figures, and organizational details reflect historical filings and may not represent current operations or funding priorities. Verify directly with the foundation before applying. See an issue? Let us know.