Bright Futures
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.
Bright Futures at a glance
In short: Bright Futures gave $766K across 9 grants in 2025 (avg $85K), mostly in Colorado. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $766,361
- +35.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 9
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $85,151
- +35.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $64,178
- Total assets
- $1,367,122
- +6.0% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Colorado (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Bright Futures
- Next open deadline
- February 28, 2027 (Capacity Building Grants)
Who Bright Futures funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Primetime Early Learning Center ($210K). Together the top 9 received $766K.
Grant Size Distribution
43 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 20 grants of 43 (47%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Bright Futures gives
- Giving grew 72% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $279K (2020) to $766K (2025). In 2025 it made 9 grants totaling $766K.
Grants by year
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 |
Ready to take the next step with Bright Futures?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,367,122 | $2,592,249 | $2,623,772 | $766,361 | 9 | $20,875 |
| 2024 | $1,289,151 | $2,665,718 | $2,465,921 | $566,865 | 9 | $16,740 |
| 2023 | $1,290,369 | $2,535,134 | $2,362,053 | $488,090 | 8 | $3,729 |
| 2022 | $880,786 | $1,938,155 | $1,927,869 | $445,681 | 8 | $8 |
| 2021 | $886,419 | $1,802,520 | $1,943,876 | $478,629 | 9 | $11 |
| 2020 | $943,089 | $1,265,803 | $1,581,421 | $279,162 | 1 | $67 |
About Bright Futures
Based on IRS filings
Bright Futures is a public charity 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
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
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $156K, to Kathleen Merritt (Executive Director).
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. 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.
Where does Bright Futures give grants?
Bright Futures gives mostly in Colorado: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 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 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. 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. Its revenue that year was $2.6M.
What is Bright Futures?
Bright Futures is a public charity 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.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 19, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS January 24, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 17, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 7, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 19, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS January 19, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Live grants for the work Bright Futures funds
Human Services Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Bright Futures's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Colorado
Just For Kids Foundation Inc
Telluride, CO
Just for Kids empowers the youth of the San Miguel Watershed through financial and developmental support.
Assets
$273K
Grants
1
Total Given
$5K
Le Sage Family Foundation
The Woodlands, TX
The Le Sage Family Foundation supports charitable organizations with general-purpose grants, typically $1,000–$2,000 (median $1,500). Its 2025 grants went to organizations in Texas, Colorado, Wisconsin, California, and Washington, DC; it funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$394K
Grants
12
Total Given
$18K
Region 10 League for Economic Assistance and Planning Inc
Montrose, CO
Region 10 funds local services for older adults, community development, and small-business support, with 2022 grants going to Colorado recipients, especially in its six-county western Colorado service area. Its 2022 grants ranged from $7,500 to $58,104, with a median of $15,000; the available information does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$16.3M
Grants
30
Total Given
$410K
Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation
Denver, CO
The Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation primarily funds early childhood education and development for children from birth to age five, along with related quality improvement and evaluation, especially in underserved communities and rural Colorado. Most grants are $10,000–$50,000, and funding is focused primarily on Colorado. It accepts unsolicited requests through its responsive grant cycles, though some targeted initiatives are by invitation.
Assets
$477.1M
Grants
486
Total Given
$19.8M
Telluride Foundation
Telluride, CO
The Telluride Foundation funds nonprofits and local government entities serving people who live or work in San Miguel County and nearby areas, supporting early childhood, education, climate and conservation, arts and culture, health, human services, and athletics and outdoor recreation. Community Grants are generally $500–$40,000, though some reported awards are larger. It accepts grant applications through its annual Community Grants program.
Assets
$18.6M
Grants
74
Total Given
$2.0M
Colorado Gives Foundation
Arvada, CO
Colorado Gives Foundation funds nonprofits serving Jefferson County in areas including food security, early care and education, workforce development, housing, health and convenient neighborhoods; it also offers statewide nonprofit capacity-building support. Typical giving varies widely: its 2024 median grant was $17,814, while Thriving Jeffco Responsive Grant awards ranged from $2,500 to $100,000. It accepts applications through listed grant opportunities, but whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$527.1M
Grants
2,211
Total Given
$91.0M
More similar funders
More Funders in Colorado
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Bright Futures'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.
Bright Futures down — hundreds of funders to go?