OVERVIEW: The Dunietz Minsk Family Foundation mainly supports Jewish organizations in the state of Washington. A few grants also support Seattle community causes and humanitarian aid.
IP TAKE: The Dunietz Minsk Family Foundation lacks transparency, but tax filings indicate that it is a strong supporter of Washington’s Jewish organizations. This funder doesn’t accept unsolicited proposals, but Jewish organizations may be able to gain an audience here by networking with other Jewish groups.
PROFILE: The Seattle-based Dunietz Minsk Family Foundation was established in 2003 by Microsoft software engineer Jerry Dunietz and his wife, Laurie Minsk, a lawyer. Jerry Dunietz graduated with an A.B. in applied mathematics and computer science from Harvard. He joined Microsoft, where he was a founding and driving member of the Open eBook Publication Structure (OeBPS) and is currently a principal software engineer.
The foundation does not maintain a website, which limits information available on its grantmaking priorities and activities. According to tax records, the Dunietz Minsk Family Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to Jewish causes in the state of Washington. A few grants also support community causes in the Seattle area and global humanitarian relief.
Grants for Jewish Causes .
The foundation’s grants for Jewish organizations support an array of religious, cultural, educational and human service organizations, focusing on the Jewish community of the greater Seattle area.
- Jerry Dunietz is a trustee of Jewish Day School of Metropolitan Seattle, a pluralistic community day school attended by Dunietz’s children. The school has received ongoing support.
- Jerry is also a trustee at Temple De Hirsch Sinai, another grantee.
- Laurie Mintz has served on the board of Jewish Family Service, which the family also regularly supports via the foundation.
- Other Washington grantees include Mercer Island’s Hebrew Free Loan Association, the Holocaust Center for Humanity in Seattle and the Kline Galland Center and the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle.
- Outside of Washington, the foundation has supported New York’s Hebrew Union College and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee.
Grants for Community Development
The Dunietz Minsk Family Foundation also earmarks funding for Seattle community organizations, especially those serving vulnerable people. Grantees include the United Way of King County, the Seattle Foundation and the Kline Galland Center, a skilled nursing and long-term care center in Seattle.
Grants for Humanitarian Aid
Humanitarian aid is not a major area of giving for this foundation, but it has supported the International Rescue Committee, an NGO that “helps people affected by war, conflict and natural disasters around the world.”
Important Grant Details:
Grants range from $5,000 to about $50,000.
- Jewish organizations are, by far, the foundation’s largest giving area.
- This funder tends to give multi-year support to its grantees makes about 20 grants a year.
- The foundation does not accept applications for funding at this time.
- For additional information about past giving, see the foundation’s tax filings.
The foundation keeps a low profile and does provide a direct way to get in touch. Its phone number is listed as (206) 621-1900. A mailing address is provided below.
PEOPLE:
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CONTACT:
Dunietz Minsk Family Foundation
c/o 10885 NE 4th St, No 320
Bellevue, WA 98004
(206) 621-1900
