Bright Mountain Foundation
Bright Mountain Foundation is a private foundation, based in Evergreen, CO. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $321K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 6 grants totaling $85K. Net investment income was $866.
Bright Mountain Foundation at a glance
In short: Bright Mountain Foundation gave $85K across 6 grants in 2025 (avg $14K), mostly in Colorado. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $85,000
- +30.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 6
- +20.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $14,167
- +9.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $321,079
- -16.9% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Colorado (82% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Bright Mountain Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 6 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Community Resource Center ($15K). Together the top 6 received $85K.
Grant Size Distribution
31 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 31 grants of 31 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 6 itemized grants.
Cities
How Bright Mountain Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+12%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 545% 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $53K (2019) to $85K (2025). In 2025 it made 6 grants totaling $85K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Community Resource Center Denver, CO | Gen Oper - Strengthen Co Communities | $15,000 |
| Colorado Health Network Denver, CO | Gen Oper-HIV Prevent, Care, Advocacy | $15,000 |
| Care and Share Food Bank Colorado Springs, CO | Gen Oper-Food for CHILDREN,FAMILIES | $15,000 |
| Latino Community Foundation of Colo Denver, CO | Gen Oper - Ayuda (Refugees Assist) | $15,000 |
| Life Quest Foundation Parowan, UT | Scholarships to Young Women | $15,000 |
| Blue Sky Bridge Boulder, CO | Gen Oper Support - Children Victims | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $321,079 | $4,118 | $106,686 | $85,000 | 6 | $103,422 | $866 | $18,960 |
| 2024 | $386,279 | $7,505 | $89,602 | $65,000 | 5 | $85,819 | $7,731 | $21,075 |
| 2023 | $411,628 | $7,474 | $106,142 | $81,000 | 7 | $102,288 | $7,017 | $22,887 |
| 2022 | $471,574 | $1,937 | $105,068 | $76,000 | 7 | $98,418 | $2,398 | $28,657 |
| 2021 | $600,800 | $4,962 | $103,608 | $62,500 | 6 | — | $1,550 | $31,681 |
| 2020 | $628,996 | $4,524 | $105,687 | $62,500 | 6 | — | $9,263 | $34,785 |
| 2019 | $735,729 | $17,184 | $96,184 | $53,000 | 6 | — | $11,454 | $38,070 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Bright Mountain Foundation reported a distributable amount of $19K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Bright Mountain Foundation is led by Leonard P. Wessell, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Leonard P. Wessell
President
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amy P. Wessell
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tony Tapia
Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Bright Mountain Foundation
How much does Bright Mountain Foundation give each year?
Bright Mountain Foundation gave $85K across 6 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $65K across 5 grants.
What is Bright Mountain Foundation's typical grant size?
Bright Mountain Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $15,000, and its average grant was $14,167, across 6 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Bright Mountain Foundation give grants?
Bright Mountain Foundation gives mostly in Colorado: 82% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Utah (18%). The most frequent recipient cities were Denver, CO (3 grants).
Does Bright Mountain Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 6 grants with a stated purpose on Bright Mountain Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Bright Mountain Foundation's largest grantees?
Bright Mountain Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Community Resource Center ($15,000), Colorado Health Network ($15,000) and Care and Share Food Bank ($15,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 53% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Bright Mountain Foundation?
Bright Mountain Foundation reported $321K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $103K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $19K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Bright Mountain Foundation's EIN?
Bright Mountain Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-1524099. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 7, 2026)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 8, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 5, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 2, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS January 8, 2024)
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