The Catherine Holmes Wilkins Charitable Foundation provides grants to support medical research and social service organizations in the Puget Sound area of Washington, specifically serving the region from Tacoma to Everett, including Seattle and the Eastside. The foundation's mission is to benefit organizations that positively impact the residents of this region, focusing on areas such as education, health, human services, and medical research.

There are three annual grant cycles, and proposals must be submitted by the following deadlines: the second Monday of March (spring cycle), the fourth Friday of June (summer cycle), and the second Friday of October (fall cycle). The foundation gives preference to projects rather than ongoing operating expenses, and smaller capital campaigns are prioritized where modest contributions can make a significant impact.

The foundation funds organizations that focus on three key areas: medical research, with a focus on cancer, heart disease, and mental illness; services for low-income individuals with physical or mental disabilities; and humanitarian services, particularly those that offer immediate support to abused women and children.

Grants typically range from $2,000 to $5,000 per year, and multi-year grants are available for up to three years, but there are specific eligibility requirements. For example, applicants must have received at least two single-year grants from the foundation within the past five years before they can apply for a multi-year grant. Additionally, organizations can only reapply for funding two years after receiving three consecutive grants.

There are several restrictions on funding. The foundation does not provide grants to individuals, scholarships, debt retirement, or to cover operational deficits. Also, organizations that have been denied funding twice in the last five years are ineligible to reapply. Lastly, organizations must have an annual operating budget of less than $5 million, unless they are applying for medical research or have received two grants from the foundation in the past five years.