BF Foundation
BF Foundation is a private foundation based in Basalt, Colorado. Its 2024 grants supported organizations working in areas including astronomy and public education, land conservation, environmental education, and Western communities.
BF Foundation at a glance
In short: BF Foundation gave $240K across 12 grants in 2024 (avg $20K), mostly in Arizona. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $240,000
- +64.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 12
- +33.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $20,000
- +23.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $3,109,508
- -2.2% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Arizona (52% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to BF Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 50 River Oaks Lane, Basalt, CO 81621
Phone: (970) 927-3592
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who BF Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Lowell Observatory ($60K across 2 grants). Together the top 9 received $240K.
Grant Size Distribution
68 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 65 grants of 68 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, grant dollars went to recipients in Arizona (52%), Colorado (27%), Washington (12%), and New Mexico (8%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
Cities
How BF Foundation gives
- Giving fell 45% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 101% of 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
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $146K (2023) to $439K (2021). In 2024 it made 12 grants totaling $240K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Canyon Trust Flagstaff, AZ | Internship Program | $40,000 |
| Lowell Observatory Flagstaff, AZ | Indigenous Mural Project | $35,000 |
| Aspen Valley Land Trust Carbondale, CO | Capital Campaign | $25,000 |
| Lowell Observatory Flagstaff, AZ | Young Scholars | $25,000 |
| Northern AZ University Flagstaff, AZ | Native American Studies Program | $25,000 |
| Aspen Valley Land Trust Carbondale, CO | Education Programs | $20,000 |
| Georgia O'Keefe Museum Santa Fe, NM | Intern Program | $20,000 |
| Wilderness Land Trust Bainbridge Island, WA | Wilderness Opportunity Fund | $20,000 |
| Independence Pass Foundation Aspen, CO | Operations | $10,000 |
| Wilderness Land Trust Bainbridge Island, WA | GIS Project | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with BF Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $3,109,508 | $199,942 | $270,348 | $240,000 | 12 | $241,987 | $172,310 | $238,567 |
| 2023 | $3,179,914 | $139,112 | $173,785 | $145,686 | 9 | $147,681 | $113,138 | $212,659 |
| 2022 | $3,214,587 | $-43,934 | $207,223 | $167,950 | 14 | $169,925 | $23,597 | $218,876 |
| 2021 | $3,465,744 | $584,412 | $480,631 | $438,500 | 17 | $440,712 | $344,693 | $251,530 |
| 2020 | $3,474,664 | $76,078 | $288,884 | $239,250 | 16 | — | $33,657 | $203,733 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, BF Foundation reported a distributable amount of $239K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for education and conservation-related work. For example, Lowell Observatory describes its mission as pursuing astronomical research and public education and outreach. Aspen Valley Land Trust says it works to protect open land and special places in the Roaring Fork and Middle Colorado River valleys for wildlife, agriculture, and community.
Other 2024 grantees describe missions including restoring and protecting the Independence Pass corridor (Independence Pass Foundation), informing and inspiring action on behalf of the West’s natural and human communities (High Country News), and inspiring lifelong commitment to the earth through programming for all ages (Aspen Center for Environmental Studies).
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 12 grants totaling $240,000. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $40,000, with a median grant of $20,000. The largest grants included $40,000 to Grand Canyon Trust for an internship program; $35,000 to Lowell Observatory for an Indigenous mural project; and $25,000 each to Aspen Valley Land Trust for a capital campaign, Lowell Observatory for young scholars, and Northern AZ University for its Native American Studies Program.
Other notable grants included $20,000 to Aspen Valley Land Trust for education programs, $20,000 to Georgia O’Keeffe Museum for an intern program, and $20,000 to Wilderness Land Trust for its Wilderness Opportunity Fund.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists David D Chase as chairman, Katherin L Chase as vice president and secretary, Sarah C Shaw as president and executive director, and Richard W Shaw as treasurer.
BF Foundation is led by Sarah C. Shaw, President & Executive Director since 2024 (on filings since 2020); none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Sarah C. Shaw
President & Executive Director
Secretary → President & Executive Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David D. Chase
Chairman
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Katherin L. Chase
Vice President & Secretary
President & Executive Director → Vice President & Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Richard W. Shaw
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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 BF Foundation
How much does BF Foundation give each year?
BF Foundation gave $240K across 12 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $146K across 9 grants.
What is BF Foundation's typical grant size?
BF Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $20,000, and its average grant was $20,000, across 12 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does BF Foundation give grants?
BF Foundation gives mostly in Arizona: 52% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Colorado (27%) and Washington (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Flagstaff, AZ (4 grants), Carbondale, CO (2 grants) and Bainbridge Island, WA (2 grants).
Does BF Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 12 grants with a stated purpose on BF Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Operations" (3 grants).
Who are BF Foundation's largest grantees?
BF Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Lowell Observatory ($60,000 across 2 grants), Aspen Valley Land Trust ($45,000 across 2 grants) and Grand Canyon Trust ($40,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 60% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is BF Foundation?
BF Foundation reported $3.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $242K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $239K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does BF Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for education and conservation-related work. For example, Lowell Observatory describes its mission as pursuing astronomical research and public education and outreach. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from BF Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is BF Foundation's EIN?
BF Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-6141070. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does BF Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 10, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 2, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 12, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 12, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in BF Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). BF Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/bf-foundation-morg_57fcd630d42e45a1aea77e18bec7932b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_366141070_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{BF Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/bf-foundation-morg_57fcd630d42e45a1aea77e18bec7932b},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from BF Foundation'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.
BF Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?