As a volunteer powered nonprofit, we rely on the generous giving of our partners and supporters to bring hundreds of free and affordable programs to 10,000+ people citywide year after year. Your investment today amplifies our work and signals a shared belief that design in the public realm sparks important discussions that foster collaboration and change.
Our mission envisions a culture of design that fosters equitable, resilient, and thriving communities. We unleash the design thinker in everyone to illuminate Seattle’s challenges and ignite action.
Keep the Festival Inclusive and Accessible
Since 2011, Seattle Design Festival (SDF) has welcomed over 140,000 attendees! Many, including families, young adults, and a diverse audience, had their first taste of a design-focused event. At SDF, we firmly believe that design should be for everyone. Its benefits ought to be accessible, intersectional, and shaped by a diverse public. How do we make this happen? By hosting our programming in the public realm and ensuring it’s either free or low-cost. Your contribution can help us keep the Festival an inclusive experience for all.
Invest in Your Creative Community
SDF has forged partnerships with hundreds of community-based nonprofits and emerging designers, facilitating vibrant, multi-disciplinary discussions that break down barriers and inspire change. But that’s not all – your donation enables us to waive submission fees, and provide financial support to non-profit organizations, community groups, and individuals who might otherwise miss out on the chance to participate.
Keep the Festival Going!
We are community-generated and community-funded. We rely on our generous donors to keep our work going. Want to support SDF year-round? Consider becoming a monthly donor. Monthly donations begin at any dollar amount you choose. Simply click the ‘MONTHLY’ button on our donate page to set up your recurring gift.
“The Seattle Design Festival provides such a meaningful opportunity to leverage design. I donate to help individuals and organizations to test ideas, challenge assumptions and raise awareness for our community.” – Marisa Zylkowski, SDF Supporter
Individual giving is just 1 of the 4 ways to engage with the Seattle Design Festival! Consider our other paths of support:
Sponsor
Roughly 45% of SDF’s budget is funded by our amazing sponsors. Boost your visibility, invest in your team, and show care for your community by sponsoring the Festival! Learn more about sponsorship here.
Volunteer
We are a volunteer-driven Festival! Your time and experience are of great value, we’re eager to connect you with one of more than 70 volunteer opportunities within our organization. Learn more here.
Partner
Each year, we empower our community to shape our annual Festival through our open call for proposals. Partners work with our planning team to create engaging experiences that align with our annual theme. Are you ready to showcase the power of design thinking? Eager to empower communities to enact the changes they envision? Is your work interdisciplinary or poised to benefit from it? Sign up for our e-news so you don’t miss the launch of our call next spring!