Funding community change

By Kennedy Byrne

Tony Mestres’s effective leadership has been transformative for the Seattle Foundation since he became CEO six years ago.

After 14 years at Microsoft, Tony found himself wondering what his next chapter was in life. After a fulfilling and valuable career, he decided to take a leap toward what he refers to as “act two” of his professional life. He didn’t know what it would be, but he was ready to explore a new beginning.

Coincidentally, on his last day at Microsoft, Tony received a call that the Seattle Foundation was looking for its next CEO. They wondered if he would be interested. Tony had planned to take at least a six-month break and brainstorm what was next. Instead, Tony was in the role three months later.

Seattle Foundation is an organization that connects philanthropists with nonprofits to create the largest impact possible — both locally and globally. The organization manages more than $1 billion in philanthropic investments, and has more than 1,200 partners.

When Tony started, he was ready to expand the reach of the 70-year-old foundation. His goal was to help Seattle Foundation achieve its mission more effectively. Not only did Tony have the professional experience in leadership, management, strategy development and marketing that he learned at Microsoft, he also understood the social sector.

While still at Microsoft, Tony had served as director of Kindering, a nonprofit that offers therapy, support, early learning and family education to children with disabilities and their families. He got connected with Kindering through Social Venture Partners, where he had been a partner and a board member.

Tony helped Seattle Foundation focus its efforts around racial, economic and health equity for all in the Seattle region. Tony, a history and philosophy major in college, tried to dissect the different challenges that face a city. The Greater Seattle region has some of the best business, education and health resources, yet it also has a population that is historically marginalized and struggling. He knows Seattle Foundation can play a role encouraging societal change and equity to replace historical injustices that have taken place over hundreds of years.

Under Tony’s leadership, Seattle Foundation started Communities of Opportunity with King County, a network of people dedicated to transforming communities and eliminating racial injustice in all areas. Seattle Foundation also launched the Vibrant Democracy Initiative which helps give a voice to underrepresented communities. The goal of equity is apparent in all the projects that Tony takes on.

Tony has led the foundation to receive many awards and an abundance of recognition both locally and nationally.

When the pandemic started, the Seattle Foundation acted quickly to provide support to as many affected both from a health standpoint, and an economic standpoint. The COVID-19 Response Fund was created, and Seattle Foundation partnered with more than 60 companies, thousands of philanthropists, and dozens of large foundations in the Seattle area to raise millions of dollars to help with the crisis.

Seattle was ground-zero for COVID-19 in the United States, and the response fund came together quickly. In March alone, more than $10 million was donated from the fund to 128 nonprofits that were on the frontlines of providing relief and support to those most affected by the pandemic.

Other groups across the country have now adopted the Seattle Foundation infrastructure for their response funds, referring to it as the “Seattle model.” Tony is proud of his team’s quick response in unprecedented circumstances, and says the fund continues to evolve and change in response to community needs.

In addition to his work with Seattle Foundation, Tony serves as a chairman of the Seattle International Foundation. He also serves on the boards of the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, Washington Roundtable, National Council of Foundations, and Hispanics in Philanthropy.

Tony doesn’t see his work as nonprofit work. In fact, the term makes him cringe. He refers to this type of work as “for-impact.”

“The term honors the criticality of these organizations,” he says. “These organizations play a vital role in our society. They are addressing sometimes the downstream impacts, sometimes the upstream systems changes, and (those impacts) are among the most important challenges for all of us, regardless of our race or identity or place in our society.”

Tony is a firm believer that life is too short to ignore the chance to make an impact. He urges others to be compassionate and identify how they can be compassionate toward all people.

“It is the richest and most satisfying, but also most challenging learning experience — a whole body, mind and soul learning experience that anyone can embark upon,” he said.