Academy Foundation for the Future

Private foundation · Grantmaker Draper, UT EIN: 84-4195477

Academy Foundation for the Future is a private foundation focused on Community Improvement & Capacity Building, based in Draper, UT. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. In 2024, it awarded 3 grants totaling $447K.

Academy Foundation for the Future at a glance

In short: Academy Foundation for the Future gave $447K across 3 grants in 2024 (avg $149K), mostly in Utah. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$447,170
+224.4% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
3
-75.0% vs 2023
Average grant
$149,057
+1197.6% vs 2023
Median grant
$34,480
Primary geography
Utah (91% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.

Who Academy Foundation for the Future funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 2 recipients in 2024

The Kessler Family Foundation: $408KThe Kessler Family Foundation$408KAlaska Junior Theater: $5KAlaska Junior Theater$5K

The largest 2024 recipient was The Kessler Family Foundation ($408K). Together the top 2 received $413K.

Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($34,480), which are not listed by name.

Grant Size Distribution

20 grants across all recorded years

17<$50K2$50–100K$100–250K1$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 17 grants of 20 (85%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

11states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.

Cities

AnchorageCascoChicoDraperLake OswegoOdgenPhoenixPocatelloRaleighSacramentoSalt Lake CitySouth JordanSt AugustineVancouverWest GroveCape CoralHermiston

How Academy Foundation for the Future gives

  • Giving grew 1207% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$200K$400K$600K0 grants2020 2 grants2021 3 grants2022 12 grants2023 3 grants2024

From 2021 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $34K (2021) to $447K (2024). In 2024 it made 3 grants totaling $447K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
The Kessler Family Foundation Draper, UTTo Further Exempt Purpose of Organization$407,690
1 grant to individuals Recipients not named —$34,480
Alaska Junior Theater Anchorage, AKTo Further Exempt Purpose of Organization$5,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsDistributable Amount
2024——$447,772$447,1703$447,170$9,615
2023$447,772$217,151$187,755$137,84212$137,842$22,345
2022$418,376$312,913$97,762$48,1453$48,145$16,715
2021$203,225$242,432$39,244$34,2012$34,201$7,445
2020$37$37—————

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Academy Foundation for the Future reported a distributable amount of $10K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Academy Foundation for the Future is led by Adam M. Kessler, President & Director since 2024 (on filings since 2020); none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Adam M. Kessler

    President & Director

    Director → President & Director, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Diana Cannell

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Gregory C. Brown

    Treasurer

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (4)
  • Former: James E. Mac Pherson (2020–2023) — President
  • Former: Kimber Ernsten (2020–2023) — Vice President
  • Former: Michael Huber (2020–2023) — Secretary
  • Former: Michael Jensen (2020–2023) — Director

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Frequently asked questions about Academy Foundation for the Future

How much does Academy Foundation for the Future give each year?

Academy Foundation for the Future gave $447K across 3 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $138K across 12 grants.

What is Academy Foundation for the Future's typical grant size?

Academy Foundation for the Future's median grant in 2024 was $34,480, and its average grant was $149,057, across 3 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does Academy Foundation for the Future give grants?

Academy Foundation for the Future gives mostly in Utah: 91% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there.

Does Academy Foundation for the Future give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 3 grants with a stated purpose on Academy Foundation for the Future's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.

What is Academy Foundation for the Future?

Academy Foundation for the Future is a private foundation focused on Community Improvement & Capacity Building, based in Draper, UT.

How much is Academy Foundation for the Future required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Academy Foundation for the Future reported a distributable amount of $10K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is Academy Foundation for the Future's EIN?

Academy Foundation for the Future's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-4195477. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

Data update history

(3)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 30, 2025)
  3. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open

Figures come from Academy Foundation for the Future's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.

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