Wayne D Kuni And Joan E Kuni

The Kuni Foundation operates with remarkable programmatic clarity: every grant must trace directly to either accelerating cancer research or advancing inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). This dual focus — rooted in the founders' personal experiences with Wayne's 2005 lung cancer diagnosis and Joan's lifelong advocacy for her sons Stephen and Michael — means misaligned proposals are identified and declined quickly regardless of organizational quality.

The foundation accepts applications only during formal open cycles, typically twice per year. The 2026 spring cycle opened January 16 with notifications April 17. Between cycles, no unsolicited proposals are reviewed. Organizations must register for email alerts at kunifoundation.org to know when windows open.

For IDD-focused applicants, the foundation's DNA is in person-centered housing and inclusion. The $10 million Stephen's Place assisted living complex in Vancouver — named after Joan's son — is the model the foundation wants to replicate and scale. Organizations proposing housing, independent living, employment, arts, or advocacy for IDD adults in Oregon or Washington are core fits. The foundation explicitly prioritizes organizations where people with disabilities hold leadership or advisory roles.

For cancer research applicants, the foundation favors emerging, entrepreneurial scientists working in areas underserved by NIH/NCI funding — particularly pediatric and rare cancers, translational research, and collaborative work across institutions. Major anchor grantees include the University of Washington ($6.75M across 3 grants), Oregon Health & Science University ($4.91M across 3 grants), and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center ($3.125M across 3 grants).

First-time applicants should target the Imagination Grants track (one-year, $25,000–$100,000 range) before pursuing Transformation Grants (multi-year, larger awards). President Angela Hult and Grants Officer Ben Furr are the primary staff contacts; building a relationship through email before a cycle opens is strongly advisable. The board of directors makes all final decisions, making staff navigation essential.

The Kuni Foundation has distributed a total of approximately $24.5 million in tracked giving across FY2019–FY2023, with a pronounced acceleration in recent years.

Annual giving trajectory: - FY2019: $1,069,634 - FY2020: $5,273,713 - FY2021: $2,779,015 - FY2022: $5,239,700 - FY2023: $10,182,145 (record high; grants paid: $8,741,990) - FY2024: Assets $172M, revenue $29.5M — giving data pending IRS filing

This growth reflects both asset appreciation (total assets grew from $118M in FY2019 to $172M in FY2024) and deliberate step-up in distributions.

Grant size range: The portfolio spans an unusually wide range. Flagship institutional grants to UW, OHSU, and Fred Hutch run $1–$3M+ per award. Mid-tier disability services grants (Arc of Gray's Harbor: $354,000; Advocates for Life Skills: $300,000; Village Community Services: $250,000) cluster in the $150,000–$350,000 range. The open-cycle Imagination Grants average $25,000 for small awards and $100,000 per year for up to 3 years for larger awards — the practical target range for most new applicants.

Program area concentration: Of the 50 grants tracked in available 990 data, cancer research accounts for approximately 65% of total dollar volume (concentrated in 4–5 anchor institutions) while IDD organizations receive roughly 35% of dollars but the majority of individual grant transactions (30+ distinct grantees). Cancer research grants are fewer, larger, and multi-year; IDD grants are more numerous, smaller, and geographically distributed.

Geography: 28 grants went to Oregon-based organizations, 20 to Washington state, with isolated grants to Ohio and DC. Portland metro (OHSU, Providence) and Vancouver-SW Washington (Community Foundation SW WA, local IDD providers) receive the largest shares.

The following foundations carry comparable asset levels (~$172M) and share the same Philanthropy & Grantmaking NTEE classification, providing useful benchmarking context for grant seekers evaluating their options:

Among these asset-comparable peers, the Kuni Foundation stands out as the most accessible: it runs open application cycles twice per year and is geographically specific to Oregon and Washington, which narrows competition significantly. Most peer foundations of similar scale operate exclusively through invited relationships or are opaque about their process. For Pacific Northwest nonprofits aligned with cancer research or IDD, Kuni is a rare combination of major scale and genuine open access.

The most consequential recent development is the passing of Joan Kuni at age 88. Joan was the principal architect of the foundation's IDD mission — her advocacy for her sons Stephen and Michael shaped everything from the foundation's name to its person-centered housing philosophy. The board published a formal tribute on the foundation's website, honoring her role in developing Stephen's Place and her lifelong commitment to inclusion. Her passing will likely intensify the board's focus on honoring her legacy through IDD grantmaking.

On the financial side, FY2024 total assets reached $172,052,718 — a 20% increase from $143,015,133 in FY2023 — driven by $29,485,393 in investment income and contributions. This asset growth, combined with the record $10,182,145 in FY2023 giving, suggests the foundation is on track to distribute $10M+ annually going forward.

Board leadership transitioned: Matt Newell is now Chair, with Greg Goodwin serving as Immediate Past Chair. Angela Hult remains President, and her compensation trajectory ($143,144 → $200,000 → $249,725 across tracked years) reflects the foundation's growing operational investment. Ben Furr serves as Grants and Communications Officer.

The 2026 spring grant cycle opened January 16, 2026, covering both the Cancer Research and IDD Inclusion tracks, with award notifications scheduled for April 17, 2026.

Timing is everything. The foundation runs two grant cycles annually and accepts no unsolicited proposals between cycles. The 2026 spring cycle opened January 16 with notifications April 17. Register for email alerts at kunifoundation.org to be notified of future cycle openings — missing the window means waiting another 6 months.

Geographic non-negotiable. The foundation explicitly funds organizations serving Oregon and Washington. If your organization operates nationally, the proposal must articulate specific, measurable impact in those two states. Southwest Washington and the Portland-Vancouver metro represent the densest concentration of past grantees.

Match the dual-track structure. Imagination Grants (one-year, averaging $25,000–$100,000) are the entry point for first-time applicants. Transformation Grants (multi-year, larger) are reserved for established grantee relationships. Do not apply for a Transformation Grant before building a track record with the foundation.

Cancer research applicants: Emphasize what NIH/NCI does *not* fund — pediatric cancers, rare cancers, early-stage entrepreneurial science at academic medical centers. The foundation's multi-million dollar relationships with UW, OHSU, and Fred Hutch show preference for institutions with research infrastructure, but emerging researchers embedded within those institutions can apply as project leads.

IDD applicants: Use person-centered language throughout. The foundation is explicitly focused on inclusion, housing, and independence — not custodial or institutional care. Proposals that involve people with IDD in governance, advisory roles, or program design score highest. Reference the Stephen's Place model as the standard of what inclusive housing can look like.

Common mistakes to avoid: Generic capacity-building narratives without a direct line to cancer research or IDD. Proposals framing people with disabilities as passive service recipients rather than active community members. Cancer research proposals focused on direct clinical care rather than scientific discovery. Applying outside the open cycle window.

Build the relationship before the cycle. Email grants@kunifoundation.org or call 360-663-KUNI before a cycle opens. Ask one specific, substantive question about your program's fit. This creates a touchpoint with staff and signals genuine engagement — foundation staff respond well to thoughtful pre-application outreach.