The Firstenburg Foundation
The Firstenburg Foundation is a private foundation based in Vancouver, WA (established 2004) that supports nonprofits in Southwest Washington. The official site (theffdn.org) presents the foundation's mission, focus areas, impact, grantmaking information, staff and board, and contact details.
Source: Website · Mar 2026
Ideal Applicant
A community-based 501(c)(3) operating in Southwest Washington (or nearby Oregon) with programs in human services, education, youth development, food security, housing, or local health; projects that request operating, capacity-building, or capital support fit well.
Good Fit
- • Organizational base or service area in Clark County / Southwest Washington
- • Project requests for program expansion, staff/capacity building, or capital/renovation
- • Clear demonstration of local impact and partnerships in the region
- • Asking for typical grant sizes (low five-figures or under) and providing a complete application via the portal
Geography
Grantmaking is regionally concentrated: in the latest year about 90% of dollars stayed in Washington and the foundation is explicitly based in Vancouver and focused on Southwest Washington, with only a few out-of-state awards.
Recipient Variety
The latest year shows a broad recipient set (55 distinct organizations and 66 grants) spanning community centers, human services, education, food banks, youth programs and more, with only modest repetition across years.
New Applicants
Direct evidence supports new-entry access: the foundation publishes application instructions and an online portal, and the latest year included about 40 first-time grantees, indicating unfamiliar organizations can and do win funding.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
