Bright futures provides resources to improve the lives of children and families. Bright futures works to increase the quality, accessibility and availability for early care and education in san miguel, ouray, montrose, delta and san juan counties. Bright futures offers aligned, collaborative and integrated services across key systems of family support and early childhood care and education.
Key facts about Bright Futures
In short: Bright Futures gave $766K across 9 grants in 2025 (avg $85K), mostly in Colorado. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990 filing.
- EIN
- 20-2169766
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990 filing, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $766,361
- Grants made (2025)
- 9
- Average grant
- $85,151
- Median grant
- $64,178
- Total assets
- $1,367,122
- Primary geography
- Colorado (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Next open deadline
- February 28, 2027 (Capacity Building Grants)
Data from IRS Form 990 filing, 2025; updated September 2026.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990 filing · View filing
Total Assets
$1.4M
+6.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$766K
+35.2% YoY
Grant Count
9
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$85K
+35.2% YoY
How Bright Futures gives
- Giving grew 72% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
About Bright Futures
Based on IRS filings
Bright Futures is a nonprofit organization focused on Human Services, based in Telluride, CO. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.4M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 9 grants totaling $766K. Net investment income was $21K.
Focus Areas
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Bright Futures
Ready to take the next step with Bright Futures?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 9 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
43 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| PRIMETIME EARLY LEARNING CENTER Norwood, CO | SEE COMMENT ABOVE. | $209,601 |
| MOUNTAIN MUNCHKINS Mountain Village, CO | SEE COMMENT ABOVE. | $156,938 |
| RAINBOW PRESCHOOL Telluride, CO | SEE COMMENT ABOVE. | $91,039 |
| TELLURIDE PRESCHOOL Telluride, CO | SEE COMMENT ABOVE. | $85,405 |
| MOUNTAIN SPROUTS Telluride, CO | SEE COMMENT ABOVE. | $64,178 |
| BEEHIVE FAMILY CHILD CARE Telluride, CO | SEE COMMENT ABOVE. | $58,310 |
| ELAINE'S PLACE TELLURIDE LLC Telluride, CO | FUNDS USED TO SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT , FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES FOR CHILDCARE, AS WELL AS CAPACITY BUILDING AND QUALITY IMPROVEMENT TO CHILDCARE PROVIDERS. | $46,643 |
| RASCALS TODDLER PROGRAM Telluride, CO | SEE COMMENT ABOVE. | $27,184 |
| TELLURIDE DISTRICT PRESCHOOL Telluride, CO | SEE COMMENT ABOVE. | $27,063 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,367,122 | $1,289,151 | $1,290,369 |
| Revenue | $2,592,249 | $2,665,718 | $2,535,134 |
| Expenses | $2,623,772 | $2,465,921 | $2,362,053 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $20,875 | $16,740 | $3,729 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Bright Futures is led by Kathleen Merritt, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 6 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Kathleen Merritt
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$99K (2020) → $156K (2025)
Matthew Bayma
Board Chair
Board Secretary → Board Treasurer, 2022
Board Treasurer → Board Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Susan Altman
Board Member
Board Chair → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$1K (2024) → $0 (2025)
Alison Wright
Board Treasurer & Secretary
Board Treasurer → Board Secretary, 2022
Board Secretary → Board Treasurer & Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gloria Chavira
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Heather Young
Board Vice Chair
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Mark Betts (2020–2022) — Board Vice Chair
- Former: Kritsen O'Brien (2021) — Board Member · Filing note: Resigned 3/2021
- Former: Kristen O'Brian (2020) — Board Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
Frequently asked questions about Bright Futures
How much does Bright Futures give each year?
Bright Futures gave $766K across 9 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990 filing. In 2024 it gave $567K across 9 grants.
What is Bright Futures's typical grant size?
Bright Futures's median grant in 2025 was $64,178, and its average grant was $85,151, across 9 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990 filing.
Where does Bright Futures give grants?
Bright Futures gives mostly in Colorado: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 filing went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Telluride, CO (7 grants).
Does Bright Futures give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 9 grants with a stated purpose on Bright Futures's 2025 IRS Form 990 filing were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "See Comment Above." (8 grants).
Who are Bright Futures's largest grantees?
Bright Futures's largest 2025 grantees include Primetime Early Learning Center ($209,601), Mountain Munchkins ($156,938) and Rainbow Preschool ($91,039), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990 filing. Together they received 60% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Bright Futures?
Bright Futures reported $1.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990 filing. Its revenue that year was $2.6M.
What is Bright Futures?
Bright Futures is a nonprofit organization focused on Human Services, based in Telluride, CO. It holds $1.4M in total assets as of 2025.
What is Bright Futures's EIN?
Bright Futures's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-2169766. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Here's the math on researching Bright Futures by hand.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Bright Futures's focus areas in our free grants database
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