Low-profile givers find solutions, not spotlight

By nearly any measure, "doing good" is a thriving, dynamic enterprise in this region.

Foundations in Washington state have given out nearly $10 billion since 2000, according to FoundationSearch.com. Since the beginning of last year, 78 more foundations were created in Washington.

Of course, nearly everyone has heard of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the world's largest philanthropy.

But there are countless other foundations and individual philanthropists — big and small — in the Puget Sound area going about the business of giving, far away from the public eye. Many are breaking traditional molds, challenging the notion of who can be a philanthropist or how a charity should work. They are making the act of giving "a uniquely American phenomenon that is open to everyone," says Carol Lewis, chief executive of Philanthropy Northwest.

Council on Foundations 58th Annual Conference

More than 2,000 people are attending the annual Council on Foundations conference through Tuesday at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center. The largest annual gathering on philanthropy is focusing on poverty, public health, the environment and disaster preparedness.

The event, which is not open to the general public, is being held in tandem with the annual meeting of Philanthropy Northwest. For more information, go to www.cof.org.

Today, we bring you snapshots of five people or organizations that are charting their own philanthropic course.