Family Offices in Washington

Ballmer Group is a philanthropic organization and family office co-founded by Steve and Connie Ballmer, dedicated to improving economic mobility for children and families across the United States. The firm operates at the intersection of philanthropy, policy, and technology, providing funding and support to non-profits and public sector organizations. Their approach involves both direct services that strengthen communities in the present and systems-level interventions designed to transform opportunities long-term, with a strong focus on advancing racial equity and addressing systemic inequities.The organization was established in 2015 by Steve Ballmer, former CEO of Microsoft, and his wife Connie Ballmer, a long-time advocate for children and education. Their founding was driven by a shared commitment to understanding and addressing the root causes of poverty and ensuring that every child has an equal chance to achieve economic mobility. The Ballmer Group emphasizes flexible, multi-year, and often unrestricted funding, coupled with rigorous data-based due diligence to support effective and scalable solutions.Ballmer Group's investment and grantmaking activities span multiple critical areas impacting economic mobility. These include early learning, K-12 education, college and career pathways, housing, behavioral health, and criminal justice reform. Notable commitments include significant investments in affordable housing funds like Avanath Capital's Affordable Housing Renaissance Fund and The Vistria Group's Vistria Housing Fund, substantial grants to organizations like Communities In Schools to expand student support, and a major donation to the University of Oregon to establish the Ballmer Institute for Children's Behavioral Health. They also support initiatives focused on improving data and technology infrastructure for human services.The team at Ballmer Group comprises practitioners with deep knowledge and experience in their impact areas. Key leadership includes Co-Founders Steve and Connie Ballmer, CEO Terri Ludwig, and other executives overseeing philanthropy, operations, finance, and national investments. The firm maintains a national focus with deep regional investments and a physical presence in key areas such as Washington state, Los Angeles County, and Southeast Michigan, reflecting a comprehensive strategy to drive systemic change.

Cresset Capital is an independent, award-winning multi-family office and private wealth management firm that serves ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) families, entrepreneurs, and executives across the United States. The firm offers a comprehensive suite of services designed to optimize wealth and life, including holistic financial planning, sophisticated investment solutions, tax and estate strategies, and trust services. Cresset aims to provide clients with the insights, access, and innovation traditionally reserved for leading single-family offices and institutions.The firm's offerings extend to private investment opportunities, encompassing private equity, real estate, and private credit. They also provide specialized services such as pre-transaction planning, liquidity and exit planning for business owners, private banking services, insurance advisory, CFO services, estate planning, philanthropic planning, family governance, education, and lifestyle solutions. Cresset emphasizes a client-first, fiduciary approach, ensuring transparency and accountability in its wealth management strategies.Cresset was founded in 2017 by private equity investors Eric Becker and Avy Stein. Their motivation stemmed from their own experiences with existing wealth management approaches, which they felt lacked the comprehensive, personalized services and access to institutional-quality private investment opportunities that UHNW individuals and families deserved. The founders envisioned creating a firm that was client and employee-owned, built to endure for over a century, and rooted in excellence, transparency, and partnership.The leadership team at Cresset includes founders Eric Becker and Avy Stein, along with key executives such as Susie Cranston (CEO effective April 15, 2026), Doug Regan (Founding Partner and Co-Chairman), Mike Silverman (Chief Investment Officer), Jack Ablin (Chief Investment Strategist), Paul Algreen (Chief Technology Officer), Michael Costabile (Chief Financial Officer), and Amy Hong (Chief Operating Officer). This team brings extensive experience in investment management, financial planning, and operational leadership, enabling Cresset to deliver sophisticated and integrated wealth management solutions to its diverse clientele.

Good Energies was initially established in 2001 by Marcel Brenninkmeijer as an investment company with a strong focus on the renewable energy and energy efficiency industries. Headquartered in New York, the firm quickly grew to manage over €4 billion in assets, making significant investments in companies within the solar and broader renewable energy sectors. They were known for their strategic approach to funding initiatives that aimed to advance clean energy solutions and mitigate climate change.In a significant strategic shift in 2012, Good Energies Capital, a key part of the investment firm, rebranded as Bregal Energy. This transition marked a broadening of its investment scope beyond solely renewables to encompass the wider North American energy industry, including traditional sectors like oil & gas, midstream, and power generation. Concurrently, a dedicated Good Energies Venture team continued its operations from London, supporting existing venture-stage portfolio companies, while the philanthropic arm, the Good Energies Foundation, maintained its separate activities.The firm, in its various iterations, has made notable investments in companies such as Q-Cells and Renewable Energy Corporation, playing a role in the growth of the solar energy market. Other portfolio companies included DunAn Microstaq, Konarka Technologies, NorSun, Tendril, and Power Assure. Their investment strategy often involved both control and non-control opportunities, with individual equity investments typically ranging between $15 million and $75 million.While the investment firm evolved into Bregal Energy, the Good Energies Foundation, established in 2007 as an integral part of the original private equity company, continues its philanthropic mission. Based in Switzerland and part of Porticus, the foundation focuses on funding initiatives that reverse the impact of climate change through access to clean energy and the protection of tropical forests. The historical investment firm's legacy is rooted in its early commitment to sustainable energy and its subsequent expansion into a broader energy investment mandate under the Bregal Energy brand.

Hoban Family Office is a real estate investment and services-focused family office dedicated to creating value and income for its principals and co-investors. The firm primarily focuses on core-plus multi-family real estate assets located in high barrier-to-entry markets. Beyond real estate, Hoban Family Office also engages in modest angel and private equity opportunities, investing in operating businesses that align with their diversified commercial real estate service company growth plans, while maintaining sufficient liquidity for strategic ventures.The origins of the Hoban Family Office trace back to 1987 when brothers Tom and Shawn Hoban launched their real estate career with Coast Property Management. This initial venture, built on an 'others-centered' philosophy, expanded into the Coast Group of Companies, which today manages over $8 billion in real estate assets across various property types. The Hoban Family Office itself was formally established in 2017 to serve as a platform for innovation, talent development, and philanthropic endeavors, leveraging the extensive resources and expertise of the broader Coast Group. The family's long-term vision is to positively impact the lives of one million individuals through their business and charitable activities.The firm's investment portfolio includes stakes in various startups and angel groups. Notable investments include Lyft, an app-based ride-hailing aggregator; Polyverse Corporation, a security solution for operating systems; RedAwning, an online marketplace for vacation rentals; Prompt.io, offering cloud-based message marketing services; and Leasera, a SaaS-driven rental property management software. They also participate in angel investment networks such as IrishAngels and Northwest Business Angels, indicating an interest in early-stage companies across diverse sectors.The leadership team brings extensive experience in real estate and finance. Tom Hoban, Chairman and Co-founder, holds a BA in Finance from the University of Notre Dame and has a background in commercial lending. Shawn Hoban, CEO and Co-Founder, also graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a degree in Business Finance and holds CCIM and CPM designations. The team also includes professionals like Mark Washington, a Senior Vice President at Eastdil Secured with significant experience in investment sales and capital markets, and Jaebadiah Gardner, Founder & CEO of GardnerGlobal, Inc., a multi-family real estate developer. Their collective expertise spans property management, real estate development, investment banking, and venture capital.

Vulcan Capital was the multi-billion dollar investment arm of Vulcan Inc., the company founded by Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Paul G. Allen. Established in 2003, the firm was dedicated to generating long-term value appreciation across a diverse portfolio. It operated with a flexible, entrepreneur-friendly approach, investing in both private and public companies with a long-term investment horizon. The firm's investment strategies spanned various stages of corporate development, including early-stage venture capital, growth capital, leveraged buyouts, distressed/turnaround situations, acquisitions, special situations, and public equity value investing.The firm's investment focus was broad, encompassing sectors such as media and communications, energy and natural resources, financial and information services, technology, and life sciences. Vulcan Capital also showed interest in internet, big data, sustainability, healthcare, and real estate. With headquarters in Seattle, Washington, and additional offices in Palo Alto, California, and Singapore, Vulcan Capital maintained a global reach, partnering with category-leading companies worldwide. Notable investments included stakes in companies like Alibaba, Uber, Spotify, Epic Games, Dataminr, Pioneer Square Labs, and Wildlife Studios.In January 2022, Vulcan Capital underwent a significant transformation, spinning off and rebranding as Cercano Management. This new entity continues to manage the investment assets of the Paul G. Allen estate and the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, while also expanding its investor base to include ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, and charitable organizations. Cercano Management maintains a focus on fostering innovation across a wide range of sectors, including healthcare, information technology, internet of things, life science, and SaaS.Cercano Management, based in Bellevue, Washington, operates with a multi-disciplinary approach to investment selection, utilizing various securities and transaction structures. The firm offers distinct investment strategies covering venture capital, public equity, private equity, private credit, and LP funds. Its team comprises experienced professionals dedicated to guiding partners through the complexities of the investment landscape to achieve sustainable growth.