OVERVIEW: The David and Cathy Habib Foundation conducts its grantmaking through the Jewish Federation of Seattle. In addition to Jewish causes, this foundation support Seattle-area efforts for education, community development, the environment and social justice.
IP TAKE: The David and Cathy Habib Foundation lacks transparency, which limits information available on its grantmaking priorities and activities, but its giving has increased in recent years and expanded into the realm of social justice and racial equity. Grantseekers may inquire about the foundation via the Jewish Federation of Seattle, through which it conducts its giving.
PROFILE: Established in 2001, the David and Cathy Habib Foundation was established by software engineer couple David Habib and his wife Cathy. David was a senior software design engineer and development manager at Microsoft Corporation, where he has worked on Windows, applications, and development tools. Cathy, meanwhile, worked for Hewlett-Packard and Microsoft. The foundation does not maintain a website, which limits available information on its grantmaking priorities and activities. David and Cathy Habib Foundation is administered by the Jewish Federation of Seattle. The couple are also members of Social Venture Partners Seattle, which “works to connect and invest in people and organizations to co-create thriving, sustainable, and just communities.” Additional grantmaking serves Seattle-area organizations for education, youth and community development.
Grants for Jewish Causes
David and Cathy Habib Foundation is a supporting foundation of the Jewish Federation of Seattle, which it regularly funds. Other grantees have included Temple B’Nai Torah, Jewish Family Service of Seattle, the Hebrew Free Loan Association and the Union for Reform Judaism – Camp Kalsman.
Grants for Education
The Habibs support their mutual alma mater University of Washington, where they’re both 1986 alums. The university is home to the David & Cathy Habib Endowed Scholarship, which provides assistance to undergraduate students in the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering. Cathy, who also has a computer science and engineering background, has served on the Bellevue Schools Foundation as a community advocate for educational programs and funding and works for Eastside Pathways, a “collective action nonprofit focused on improving educational outcomes for all children” in the eastern portion of King County.
Other education grants have gone to Bright Spark Early Learning Services in Renton, the Rainier Scholars Program, the Bellevue Schools Foundation, the Equity in Education Coalition of Seattle and the Bellevue College Foundation.
Grants for Community Development and Housing
The Habib Foundation supports a range of Seattle-area community organizations that prioritize children and vulnerable people. Grantees include the United Way of King County, Youth Eastside Services, Food Lifeline, Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Puget Sound and Friends of Youth.
Grants for the Environment and Climate Change
This is a much smaller area of giving for the Habib Foundation, with only a few grants going in this direction each year. Past recipients include the Washington Environmental Council and Climate Solutions.
Grants for Racial Justice and Indigenous Rights
Social justice and the rights of BIPOC people are newer areas of giving for this funder. The foundation does not name specific goals for this giving. Grantees include the United Indians of All Tribes Foundation, the Alliance for a Just Society, the Equal Justice Initiative and Front and Centered, “a diverse and powerful coalition of communities of color-led groups across Washington State” that works “at the intersection of equity, environmental and climate justice.”
Important Grant Details:
Grants range from $7,500 to $180,000.
The David and Cathy Habib Foundation’s giving focuses mainly on the greater Seattle area.
Giving has branched out recently to include grants for social justice and racial equity, and grant sizes have increased.
This funder does not accept unsolicited proposals at this time.
The Habib Foundation conducts its giving via the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, obscuring information about the foundation’s past giving.
This foundation does not provide a direct way of getting in touch. Contact the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle with inquiries via email at info@jewishinseattle.org or telephone at 206.443.5400. The Habib Foundation’s phone number is listed as 425-443-5400. A mailing address is provided below.
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CONTACT:
David and Cathy Habib Foundation
c/o Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle
2033 Sixth Avenue, Suite 810
Seattle, WA 98121
206.443.5400
