The Russell Family Foundation (TRFF) has announced a new round of grants and investments totaling $2.33 million to support its Environmental Education (EE) and Food for Climate Solutions (FCS) programs. This year’s funding reflects an intentional increase in grantmaking, aligned with the Foundation’s plan to maintain an average 10% annual spend rate from 2025 to 2027. The expanded funding includes a new category of “Meet the Moment” grants, designed to provide timely, flexible support to organizations addressing urgent environmental and community challenges.
TRFF CEO Kathleen Simpson emphasized that the grants aim to support both long-term initiatives and emerging needs, helping partners address immediate challenges such as transportation, equipment, facilities, and disruptions affecting youth participation, alongside multi-year core grants.
Within the EE portfolio, TRFF awarded 26 core grants and 27 Meet the Moment grants, with some organizations receiving support from both categories. Key awards include $60,000 to the Aspen Institute for statewide convenings and coordination in outdoor education and youth development, $77,000 to Pacific Education to sustain statewide environmental and sustainability education coordination, and $50,000 to E3 Washington for strategic rebranding and organizational positioning to enhance visibility and collaboration across the field. Collectively, these grants strengthen networks of partners working to expand equitable access to environmental learning, deepen community connections, and build climate resilience.
The Foundation’s FCS program continues to support sustainable food systems and climate action through a combination of grants and investments. Funding includes a $500,000 recoverable grant to the Institute for Washington’s Future, fiscal sponsor for Community-to-Community Development, to support farmworker-led agricultural infrastructure. Additionally, a $250,000 investment supports the Native Nation Development Fund, providing access to capital for Native-led food and agricultural enterprises. These initiatives focus on place-based solutions that connect sustainable food systems, climate resilience, and regional economic vitality, complementing grantmaking with catalytic capital to advance long-term climate and equity outcomes.
