Colleen Willoughby

Colleen S. Willoughby is an American philanthropist and the founder and former president of the Washington Women's Foundation, and the director of Global Women Partners in Philanthropy.

Early life and career

Colleen Seidelhuber was born around 1934. She graduated in 1955. It was at Whitman where she would meet her future husband, George Willoughby. After the couple married, Willoughby taught junior high school. She would eventually quit to become a housewife, caring for the couple's two children, Scott and Anne.

Every year, the Colleen Willoughby Youth Civic Education Award is awarded by the Seattle CityClub. The award recognizes contributions by young people who are leading others in civic participation.

Washington Women's Foundation

Willoughby observed that women often volunteered at nonprofits but rarely donated financially, unlike men whose names often outweigh women's names on donor lists. Members of WWF donate $2,000 each, with $1,000 being donated to nonprofits of that member's choice. The remaining $1,000 is placed into a grantmaking fund. Each year members review grant proposals from local nonprofits and vote on the most worthy nonprofit out of the group to receive a $100,000 grant.

Women's Collective Giving Grantmakers Network

As a response to the growing number of collective giving groups, Willoughby started the Women's Collective Giving Grantmakers Network (WCGN) to serve as the umbrella organization for groups similar to the WWF. Incorporated in Charlotte, North Carolina, WCGN provides support and tools to current and future women-led giving groups and hosts regular meetings and an annual conference. As of 2017, WCGN has 49 member organizations in 24 states and two countries and over 10,000 women members from member organizations. In 2019, the organization changed its name to Catalist.

Philanthropic research work at University of Washington

Willoughby is active in women's philanthropic research at the Evans School of Public Policy & Governance at the University of Washington. She founded the Global Women's Philanthropy Project, which researches how collective giving models can be launched and successful in China. Willoughby also serves on the advisory board for the Evans School of Public Policy & Governance at the University of Washington and is the former chair of the school. She was named a 2004 Woman of Influence by the Puget Sound Business Journal. The following year, 2009, Willoughby was awarded the Mary Harriman Award by the Junior League for her work with the Junior League, women, and in fundraising. She received the 25th A.K. Guy Award from the YMCA in 2012, for her "extraordinary commitment to and leadership in philanthropy, women’s leadership, civic engagement, and youth issues."

Personal life Willoughby resides in Seattle and Lopez Island. She has five grandchildren.