Colorado Plateau Foundation
Colorado Plateau Foundation is a public charity based in Flagstaff, Arizona. It is a Native-led, place-based funder that connects philanthropy with Native-led organizations and tribal entities working to protect the Colorado Plateau’s lands, waters, and cultures.
Colorado Plateau Foundation at a glance
In short: Colorado Plateau Foundation gave $1.0M across 26 grants in 2024 (avg $39K), top state New Mexico. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,007,500
- -3.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 26
- +4.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $38,750
- -6.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $6,499,608
- -8.9% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- New Mexico (41% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Colorado Plateau Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The website invites eligible organizations to apply for capacity-building grants through its grant application process. Rapid Response applicants apply through the foundation’s application portal, provide the requested amount and intended use, and receive a decision by email; recipients must report outcomes within six months. Rapid Response eligibility includes Native-led and Native-controlled organizations serving tribal nations on the Plateau, eligible nonprofit or tribal entities, applicants in good standing on prior reports, and an unforeseen urgent need.
- Review Cycle
- The listed September 5, 2026 capacity-building deadline has passed.
- Deadline
- The listed September 5, 2026 capacity-building deadline has passed.
- Contact
Mailing address: 113 E Birch Ave, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Phone: (520) 548-6337
Website: https://coloradoplateaufoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
4 open opportunities from Colorado Plateau Foundation
Colorado Plateau Foundation Rapid Response Grants
Colorado Plateau Foundation
Amount
Up to $10K
Deadline
Rolling
CPF Capacity Building Grant
Colorado Plateau Foundation
Amount
US $1,000 - US $25,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
CPF Rapid Response Grant
Colorado Plateau Foundation
Amount
Up to US $10,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Colorado Plateau Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Black Mesa Trust ($60K). Together the top 10 received $573K.
Grant Size Distribution
51 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 29 grants of 51 (57%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports work on the Colorado Plateau in the American Southwest. Its website describes its focus as Native communities and organizations across the Plateau, including work related to tribal nations in the region. In its 2024 grantmaking, 41% of grant dollars went to recipients in New Mexico, 31% in Arizona, 17% in California, 8% in Colorado, and 2% in Utah.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 26 itemized grants.
Cities
How Colorado Plateau Foundation gives
- 73% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $489K (2019) to $1.0M (2023). In 2024 it made 26 grants totaling $1.0M.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Black Mesa Trust Kykotsmovi Village, AZ | — | $60,000 |
| Conservation Legacy Durango, CO | — | $60,000 |
| Covenant Pathways Vanderwagen, NM | — | $60,000 |
| Keres Childrens Learning Center Cochiti Pueblo, NM | — | $60,000 |
| Ndee Bikiyaa Albuquerque, NM | — | $60,000 |
| Zuni Youth Enrichment Program Zuni, NM | — | $60,000 |
| Hopi Tutskwa Permaculture Institute Kykotsmovi Village, AZ | — | $60,000 |
| Greenaction for Health and Environm San Francisco, CA | — | $60,000 |
| Hozho Voices of Healing Center Crownpoint, NM | — | $50,000 |
| Social and Environmental Entreprene Calabasas, CA | — | $43,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Colorado Plateau Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $6,499,608 | $1,529,958 | $2,160,133 | $1,007,500 | 26 | $17,324 |
| 2023 | $7,131,692 | $1,426,854 | $1,955,992 | $1,040,000 | 25 | $16,311 |
| 2022 | $7,668,500 | $5,407,288 | $1,824,331 | — | — | $7,353 |
| 2021 | $3,861,425 | $2,053,104 | $1,424,519 | — | — | $846 |
| 2020 | $3,075,223 | $3,242,498 | $1,103,735 | $592,500 | Total only | — |
| 2019 | $811,286 | $1,256,456 | $834,092 | $489,050 | Total only | — |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to combine grantmaking and programming to build Native-led organizational and community capacity on the Plateau, supporting work to protect water and sacred places, protect endangered landscapes, promote food security, and preserve Native languages.
Its website organizes its priorities as Culture, Environmental Stewardship, Community Foodways, and Leadership Innovation. It describes supporting cultural and language transmission, access to sacred places, hands-on stewardship that elevates tribal voices, sustainable regional food systems, and stronger Native-led organizations. The foundation says it funds Native-led organizations and tribal entities on the Colorado Plateau.
Examples from 2024 illustrate the range of grantees. Hopi Tutskwa Permaculture Institute describes its work as developing community-based solutions and learning projects to pass knowledge to future generations and revitalize Hopi culture and traditions. Keres Children’s Learning Center describes a Keres-language immersion program that teaches language and culture with elders. Covenant Pathways describes Spirit Farm as combining traditional farming and spiritual practices with modern practices to build resilience. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own work.
Grantmaking
The foundation’s 2024 filing reports 26 grants totaling $1,007,500. Grant amounts ranged from $25,000 to $60,000, with a median of $25,000. The largest listed awards were $60,000 each to Black Mesa Trust, Conservation Legacy, Covenant Pathways, Keres Children’s Learning Center, Ndee Bikiyaa, Zuni Youth Enrichment Program, Hopi Tutskwa Permaculture Institute, and Greenaction for Health and Environmental Justice.
The website describes one-year capacity-building grants of $1,000–$25,000. It also lists general operating grants for returning grantees; these are discretionary and not guaranteed. Rapid Response grants of up to $10,000 are for unforeseen urgent circumstances and are separate from the annual cycle. The rapid-response program is listed as closed until 2027.
The regular cycle described on the website opens in July, with applications due in mid-August, followed by review in early September, board approval in October, award announcements in early November, and agreements and disbursements in late November. The capacity-building opportunity’s listed September 5, 2026 deadline has passed.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists James Enote as CEO; Eileen Egan as Secretary; Josh Lucio as Treasurer; Angela Gonzales as Board President; and Aretta Begay, Sonja Swift, Monica Nuvamsa, Franco Lee, and Tsianina Lomawaima as members.
Colorado Plateau Foundation is led by James Enote, CEO on the 2024 filing; 1 of 9 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
James Enote
CEO
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$150K (2024)
Angela Gonzales
Board President
Member → Board President, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Aretta Begay
Member
Secretary → Member, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Josh Lucio
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sonja Swift
Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eileen Egan
Secretary
President → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Franco Lee
Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Monica Nuvamsa
Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tsianina Lomawaima
Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (8)
- Former: Alina Enggist (2019–2023) — Member
- Former: Jessica Stago (2019–2023) — Member
- Former: Jim Enote (2019–2023) — CEO
- Former: Dawley Martina (2022–2023) — Member
- Former: Lee Franco (2022–2023) — Member
- Former: Charles Wilkinson (2019–2022) — Member
- Former: Jim Egan (2019) — President
- Former: Winona Laduke (2019) — Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $150K, to James Enote (CEO).
Frequently asked questions about Colorado Plateau Foundation
How much does Colorado Plateau Foundation give each year?
Colorado Plateau Foundation gave $1.0M across 26 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $1.0M across 25 grants.
What is Colorado Plateau Foundation's typical grant size?
Colorado Plateau Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $38,750, across 26 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does Colorado Plateau Foundation give grants?
Colorado Plateau Foundation's top state is New Mexico, with 41% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Arizona (31%) and California (17%). The most frequent recipient cities were Albuquerque, NM (3 grants), Kykotsmovi Village, AZ (2 grants), Flagstaff, AZ (2 grants) and Polacca, AZ (2 grants).
Who are Colorado Plateau Foundation's largest grantees?
Colorado Plateau Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Black Mesa Trust ($60,000), Conservation Legacy ($60,000) and Covenant Pathways ($60,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 18% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Colorado Plateau Foundation?
Colorado Plateau Foundation reported $6.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.5M.
What does Colorado Plateau Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to combine grantmaking and programming to build Native-led organizational and community capacity on the Plateau, supporting work to protect water and sacred places, protect endangered landscapes, promote food security, and preserve Native languages. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Colorado Plateau Foundation?
The website invites eligible organizations to apply for capacity-building grants through its grant application process. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Colorado Plateau Foundation's EIN?
Colorado Plateau Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-0959411. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 15, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 25, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 2, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 13, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Colorado Plateau Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Wend II Inc
Bentonville, AR
Wend II Inc funds racial justice, youth, river stewardship, and community-support initiatives, with 2025 grants ranging from $23,050 to $724,972 and a median of $174,713. Its 2025 grants went to organizations in Virginia, Arizona, Wisconsin, Colorado, and Massachusetts. The foundation funds only preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$153.6M
Grants
5
Total Given
$1.2M
Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company
Winston-Salem, NC
Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company Foundation funds specific projects that support American Indian self-sufficiency and culture in the United States, including education, community building, entrepreneurship, and arts and culture; it does not fund general operating expenses. Grants generally range from $10,000 to $20,000, and the foundation accepts applications from eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofits.
Assets
$2.9M
Grants
39
Total Given
$439K
NDN Collective Inc
Rapid City, SD
NDN Collective funds Indigenous-led organizations, Tribes, groups, projects, and individuals advancing Indigenous self-determination and community-based solutions across Turtle Island, including North America and specified island territories. Its 2024 listed grants ranged from $5,600 to $1 million, with a median of $50,000; it does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$49.7M
Grants
72
Total Given
$10.3M
Chamiza Foundation
Santa Fe, NM
The Chamiza Foundation funds projects that sustain New Mexico Pueblo culture, including language revitalization, traditional arts, agriculture, youth education, and environmental stewardship; it generally does not fund economic development or health programs. Its website reports average awards of $4,000–$8,000, though recent grants ranged from $5,000 to $15,000, for Pueblo communities and organizations serving them in New Mexico. It says it does not accept unsolicited requests and makes grants to preselected charitable organizations.
Assets
$3.9M
Grants
16
Total Given
$206K
First Nations Development Institute
Longmont, CO
First Nations Development Institute funds tribes, Native nonprofits, and Native individuals working to strengthen Native communities, including projects focused on youth, financial empowerment, institutions, food and health, and land stewardship. Its 2025 grants ranged from $6,000 to $750,000, with a median of $50,000, supporting work across 46 states, Washington, D.C., American Samoa, and Guam. It does not accept unsolicited requests; applications are submitted through specific Requests for Proposals.
Assets
$116.2M
Grants
279
Total Given
$14.6M
The Hopi Foundation Lomasumi'nangwtukwsiwmani
Kykotsmovi, AZ
The Hopi Foundation funds community-led emergency relief, food and agriculture, culture, community well-being, and capacity building, with a focus on Hopi and Tewa communities and some support for other Indigenous communities. Its 2024 grants ranged from $10,000 to $60,000, with a median of $10,000; most grant dollars went to Arizona. The profile describes specific grant programs but does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$4.5M
Grants
10
Total Given
$190K
More similar funders
More Funders in Arizona
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Colorado Plateau Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/colorado-plateau-foundation-morg_ec4e9012fc104ae9a881b9da49fcb08d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_830959411_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Colorado Plateau Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/colorado-plateau-foundation-morg_ec4e9012fc104ae9a881b9da49fcb08d},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Colorado Plateau 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.
Colorado Plateau Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?