Focus Areas

A Focus on Self-Sufficiency

The Medina Foundation focuses on improving the lives of Puget Sound residents by funding organizations that help people on their path to self-sufficiency. Our primary areas of grantmaking focus on positive pathways for youth, stabilization for families and individuals, and economic opportunities.

Our funding prioritizes organizations that provide direct services to people in these areas, particularly youth, individuals, and families who are low-income, facing barriers, or in communities that have historically been under-resourced.

The majority of our grants are for general operating support because unrestricted funds are so important to nonprofits. We also support capital projects, programs, and start-up funds.

Please note that applicants do not have to self-select one of these issue areas during application. These are for informational purposes only, to give a sense of what Medina funds.

Positive Pathways for Youth

Helping youth achieve positive outcomes.
We support organizations that:

Ensure that young people’s basic needs such as safe, stable housing are met
Mentor, tutor, and support youth as they find their own voice, achieve their own goals, and build new skills
Support transition points through school, from early education through postsecondary, including job training

Stabilization for Families and Individuals

Ensuring basic needs are met.
We support organizations that:

Alleviate hunger, primarily through larger food distribution networks or rural food banks that are also a hub of additional services
Prevent homelessness or quickly stabilize people who are experiencing homelessness
Offer programs that prevent or reduce the effects of domestic violence, sexual assault, trauma, and abuse

Economic Opportunities

Helping people secure employment, increase income, and build assets.
We support organizations that:

Offer job training and entrepreneurship opportunities
Teach skills and assist with obtaining credentials needed for career advancement
Provide financial education