Catalyst Foundation
Catalyst Foundation is a private foundation based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Its 2025 filing reports $253,395 in grants to eight organizations, including Utah Film Center, Foundation Fighting Blindness, and Salt Lake Arts Academy.
Catalyst Foundation at a glance
In short: Catalyst Foundation gave $253K across 8 grants in 2025 (avg $32K), mostly in Utah. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $253,395
- +46.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 8
- -63.6% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $31,674
- +301.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $7,500
- Total assets
- $8,506,378
- +35.9% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Utah (72% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Catalyst Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Its filing lists Diana Lady Dougan as the contact, says there is no application form and no deadline, and states there are no restrictions on awards.
- Contact
Application contact: Diana Lady Dougan
Mailing address: 19 East 200 South Ste 1000, Salt Lake City, UT 84111
Phone: (801) 532-7900
Website: https://catalystfn.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Catalyst Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Utah Film Center ($152K). Together the top 8 received $253K.
Grant Size Distribution
86 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 82 grants of 86 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 grants went to recipients in Utah (72% of grant dollars), Maryland (20%), California (4%), Washington, DC (2%), and Virginia (2%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Catalyst Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−10%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 42% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $38K (2023) to $805K (2020). In 2025 it made 8 grants totaling $253K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Utah Film Center Salt Lake City, UT | Free Community Films and Discussions | $151,895 |
| Foundation Fighting Blindness Owings Mills, MD | General Charitable Purpose | $50,000 |
| Salt Lake Arts Academy Salt Lake City, UT | General Charitable Purpose | $30,000 |
| Uc San Diego Foundation La Jolla, CA | General Charitable Purpose | $10,000 |
| Arthur C Clarke Foundation Alexandria, VA | General Charitable Purpose | $5,000 |
| Institute of World Politics Washington, DC | General Charitable Purpose | $5,000 |
| Hogle Zoo Salt Lake City, UT | General Charitable Purpose | $1,000 |
| Wamu 885 Washington, DC | Public Radio | $500 |
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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 | $8,506,378 | $2,467,677 | $361,452 | $253,395 | 8 | $255,193 | $2,368,908 | $606,668 |
| 2024 | $6,260,811 | $575,876 | $271,004 | $173,400 | 22 | $177,189 | $510,241 | $603,934 |
| 2023 | $5,955,939 | $2,573,851 | $140,042 | $38,000 | 5 | $38,024 | $2,471,833 | $584,196 |
| 2022 | $6,131,162 | $374,322 | $424,564 | $282,228 | 26 | $284,157 | $251,915 | $677,324 |
| 2021 | $6,034,760 | $2,242,163 | $375,060 | $285,386 | 25 | $285,763 | $764,592 | $786,590 |
| 2020 | $5,867,115 | $351,147 | $888,844 | $805,402 | 35 | — | $268,711 | $639,927 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Catalyst Foundation reported a distributable amount of $607K for 2025 — 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 is provided for this foundation. Its 2025 grants included support for Utah Film Center, whose mission is to engage diverse audiences and build community through film exhibition, education, and artist support. Salt Lake Arts Academy says it prepares students through arts and academics to shape their communities. Foundation Fighting Blindness says its mission is to advance retinal research toward clinical trials and patient therapies. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made eight grants totaling $253,395. Awards ranged from $500 to $151,895, with a median grant of $7,500. Its largest grants were $151,895 to Utah Film Center for free community films and discussions; $50,000 to Foundation Fighting Blindness for general charitable purposes; $30,000 to Salt Lake Arts Academy for general charitable purposes; and $10,000 to UC San Diego Foundation for general charitable purposes.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Diana Lady Dougan as chairman, president, and trustee; Gavin M Dougan as secretary and trustee; and Elena Lady Minton as treasurer and trustee.
Catalyst Foundation is led by Diana Lady Dougan, Chairman, President & Trustee on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Diana Lady Dougan
Chairman, President & Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elena Lady Minton
Treasurer & Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gavin M. Dougan
Secretary & Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about Catalyst Foundation
How much does Catalyst Foundation give each year?
Catalyst Foundation gave $253K across 8 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $173K across 22 grants.
What is Catalyst Foundation's typical grant size?
Catalyst Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $7,500, and its average grant was $31,674, across 8 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Catalyst Foundation give grants?
Catalyst Foundation gives mostly in Utah: 72% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Maryland (20%). The most frequent recipient cities were Salt Lake City, UT (3 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants).
Does Catalyst Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 75% of Catalyst Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (6 of 8) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Catalyst Foundation's largest grantees?
Catalyst Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Utah Film Center ($151,895), Foundation Fighting Blindness ($50,000) and Salt Lake Arts Academy ($30,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 92% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Catalyst Foundation?
Catalyst Foundation reported $8.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $255K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $607K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Catalyst Foundation fund?
No mission statement is provided for this foundation. Its 2025 grants included support for Utah Film Center, whose mission is to engage diverse audiences and build community through film exhibition, education, and artist support. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Catalyst Foundation?
The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Catalyst Foundation's EIN?
Catalyst Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-0666762. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 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 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 27, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 18, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 16, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
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