Arches Foundation is a private foundation based in Aspen, Colorado. The foundation primarily funds organizations dedicated to preserving natural resources, promoting arts, education, and civil rights.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$454K
+55.5% YoY
Grant Count
83
-11.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$5K
+76.1% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving focuses on:
- Arts and creative endeavors
- Education
- Civil rights
- Natural resource preservation
- Human services
- Philanthropy and voluntarism
Grantmaking
The foundation does not currently list active grant opportunities.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Primary funding areas include Colorado, New York, and California.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total assets: $2,522,442
- Total giving: $292,108
- Total revenues: $162,886
- Total expenses: $347,882
- Number of employees: 0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Carbondale Clay Center ($226,000), Anderson Ranch Arts Center ($10,000), Doctors Without Borders Usa ($8,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACCESS FUND THE BOULDER, CO | ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO PRESERVING NATURAL RESOURCES, PROMOTING ARTS, EDUCATION AND CIVIL RIGHTS. | $1,000 |
| AMERICAN RIVERS WASHINGTON, DC | ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO PRESERVING NATURAL RESOURCES, PROMOTING ARTS, EDUCATION AND CIVIL RIGHTS. | $500 |
| AMERICAN WHITEWATER CULLOWHEE, NC | ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO PRESERVING NATURAL RESOURCES, PROMOTING ARTS, EDUCATION AND CIVIL RIGHTS. | $250 |
| ANDERSON RANCH ARTS CENTER SNOWMASS VILLAGE, CO | ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO PRESERVING NATURAL RESOURCES, PROMOTING ARTS, EDUCATION AND CIVIL RIGHTS. | $10,000 |
| ART BASE THE BASALT, CO | ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO PRESERVING NATURAL RESOURCES, PROMOTING ARTS, EDUCATION AND CIVIL RIGHTS. | $5,000 |
| ART CENTER THE GRAND JUNCTION, CO | ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO PRESERVING NATURAL RESOURCES, PROMOTING ARTS, EDUCATION AND CIVIL RIGHTS. | $1,500 |
| ASPEN ART MUSEUM ASPEN, CO | ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO PRESERVING NATURAL RESOURCES, PROMOTING ARTS, EDUCATION AND CIVIL RIGHTS. | $500 |
| ASPEN CENTER FOR ENIRONMENTAL STUDI ASPEN, CO | ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO PRESERVING NATURAL RESOURCES, PROMOTING ARTS, EDUCATION AND CIVIL RIGHTS. | $1,000 |
| ASPEN CHAPEL ASPEN, CO | ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO PRESERVING NATURAL RESOURCES, PROMOTING ARTS, EDUCATION AND CIVIL RIGHTS. | $500 |
| ASPEN COMMUNITY THEATRE ASPEN, CO | ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO PRESERVING NATURAL RESOURCES, PROMOTING ARTS, EDUCATION AND CIVIL RIGHTS. | $250 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Sara Ransford - President
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SARA RANSFORD | President | 2 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Arches Foundation fund?
The foundation's giving focuses on: • Arts and creative endeavors • Education • Civil rights • Natural resource preservation • Human services • Philanthropy and voluntarism
How do I apply for a grant from Arches Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 110 grants in the most recent fiscal year • Typical grant awards range from $250 to $225,000 • Median grant amount: $1,000 • Maximum grant amount: $15,000 **Recent Grantees (2023):** • Doctors without Borders USA ($10,000) • Reforest the Tropics Incorporated ($10,000) • Anderson Ranch Arts Center ($10,000) The foundation does not currently list active grant opportunities.
Where does Arches Foundation make grants?
Primary funding areas include Colorado, New York, and California.
What size grants does Arches Foundation award?
In 2024, Arches Foundation awarded 83 grants totaling $454K — an average of about $5K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Arches Foundation's EIN?
Arches Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-0468960. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Arches Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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