Ernst and Wilma Martens Foundation
The Ernst and Wilma Martens Foundation is a private foundation based in Basalt, Colorado. Its 2024 filing reports grants to charitable organizations in Colorado, including organizations working in conservation, journalism, health care, recreation, education, and community support.
Ernst and Wilma Martens Foundation at a glance
In short: Ernst and Wilma Martens Foundation gave $63K across 22 grants in 2024 (avg $3K), mostly in Colorado. 5% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $62,500
- -28.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 22
- -15.4% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $2,841
- -15.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $2,500
- Total assets
- $1,809,593
- +0.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 5% first-time grantees (1 of 22, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Colorado (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Ernst and Wilma Martens Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 4590, Basalt, CO 81621
Phone: (970) 925-9560
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Ernst and Wilma Martens Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Wilderness Workshop ($8K). Together the top 10 received $42K.
Grant Size Distribution
133 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 133 grants of 133 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All reported 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in Colorado. The listed 2024 recipients include organizations in Basalt, Carbondale, Glenwood Springs, Snowmass Village, and Aspen.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 22 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Ernst and Wilma Martens Foundation open to new grantees?
5%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 1 of 22 grantees (5%) were first-time recipients. With only 22 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $3K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 95% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 28% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 100% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $63K (2024) to $89K (2020). In 2024 it made 22 grants totaling $63K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Wilderness Workshop Carbondale, CO | Donation. | $7,500 |
| Aspen Journalism Aspen, CO | Donation. | $5,000 |
| Hospice of the Valley Basalt, CO | Donation. | $5,000 |
| Challenge Aspen Snowmass Village, CO | Donation. | $4,000 |
| Roaring Fork Conservancy Basalt, CO | Donation. | $4,000 |
| Shining Stars Foundation Aspen, CO | Donation. | $4,000 |
| English in Action Carbondale, CO | Donation | $3,000 |
| Family Visitor Program Glenwood Springs, CO | Donation. | $3,000 |
| Independence Pass Foundation Aspen, CO | Donation. | $3,000 |
| Mt Sopris Nordic Council Carbondale, CO | Donation | $3,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Ernst and Wilma Martens Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,809,593 | $98,720 | $106,340 | $62,500 | 22 | $89,530 | $85,205 | $89,657 |
| 2023 | $1,808,342 | $73,943 | $135,295 | $87,500 | 26 | $119,364 | $58,012 | $91,253 |
| 2022 | $1,847,219 | $77,816 | $135,414 | $87,500 | 28 | $119,068 | $61,470 | $96,673 |
| 2021 | $1,907,444 | $135,988 | $145,352 | $86,500 | 27 | $125,902 | $116,538 | $104,441 |
| 2020 | $1,913,806 | $94,483 | $135,118 | $88,500 | 30 | — | $80,277 | $96,750 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ernst and Wilma Martens Foundation reported a distributable amount of $90K for 2024 — 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 for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included organizations whose own stated missions span several areas. Wilderness Workshop says it works to protect western Colorado’s public-land wilderness, water, and wildlife; Roaring Fork Conservancy says it aims to inspire people to explore, value, and protect the Roaring Fork watershed. Aspen Journalism describes its mission as producing investigative journalism to help citizens make informed decisions.
Other supported organizations describe work in hospice care and community education (Hospice of the Valley), recreational, educational, and cultural experiences for people with cognitive or physical challenges (Challenge Aspen), and support for children with cancer, young adult survivors, and their families (Shining Stars Foundation). Independence Pass Foundation says it works to restore and protect the Independence Pass corridor. English in Action says it helps immigrants learn English and develop skills to pursue their dreams.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 22 grants totaling $62,500. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $7,500, with a median of $2,500. Its largest reported grants included $7,500 to Wilderness Workshop; $5,000 each to Aspen Journalism and Hospice of the Valley; and $4,000 each to Challenge Aspen, Roaring Fork Conservancy, and Shining Stars Foundation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Michael McVoy as president and Michael Brimm as vice president.
Ernst and Wilma Martens Foundation is led by Michael McVoy, President on every filing since 2020; 1 of 2 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Michael McVoy
President
On filings since 2020
9 hrs/week
$40K (2020) → $40K (2024)
Michael Brimm
Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 $40K, to Michael McVoy (President).
Frequently asked questions about Ernst and Wilma Martens Foundation
How much does Ernst and Wilma Martens Foundation give each year?
Ernst and Wilma Martens Foundation gave $63K across 22 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $88K across 26 grants.
What is Ernst and Wilma Martens Foundation's typical grant size?
Ernst and Wilma Martens Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $2,500, and its average grant was $2,841, across 22 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Ernst and Wilma Martens Foundation that year got $1K on average.
Where does Ernst and Wilma Martens Foundation give grants?
Ernst and Wilma Martens Foundation gives mostly in Colorado: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Carbondale, CO (9 grants), Aspen, CO (5 grants), Basalt, CO (4 grants) and Glenwood Springs, CO (2 grants).
Does Ernst and Wilma Martens Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 22 grants with a stated purpose on Ernst and Wilma Martens Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Donation." (22 grants).
Who are Ernst and Wilma Martens Foundation's largest grantees?
Ernst and Wilma Martens Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Wilderness Workshop ($7,500), Aspen Journalism ($5,000) and Hospice of the Valley ($5,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 28% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Ernst and Wilma Martens Foundation?
Ernst and Wilma Martens Foundation reported $1.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $90K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $90K (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 Ernst and Wilma Martens Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included organizations whose own stated missions span several areas. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Ernst and Wilma Martens Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Ernst and Wilma Martens Foundation's EIN?
Ernst and Wilma Martens Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-1323791. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Ernst and Wilma Martens Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Ernst and Wilma Martens Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Ernst and Wilma Martens Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
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
Aspen Community Foundation
Basalt, CO
Aspen Community Foundation supports nonprofits serving the Aspen-to-Parachute region, with recent priorities including early childhood and youth empowerment, as well as broader community needs. Its 2024 median grant was $15,000; its 2026 focus-area awards were set at $10,000–$35,000, and that cycle accepted applications but has ended.
Assets
$62.3M
Grants
466
Total Given
$17.4M
Brady Foundation
Salisbury, NC
Assets
$1.5M
Grants
119
Total Given
$308K
Alpenglow Foundation
Aspen, CO
Alpenglow Foundation supports humanitarian response, food access, immigrant services, arts and culture, and community safety, with most 2024 grant dollars going to Colorado and others reaching organizations in several states. Its 2024 grants ranged from $75 to $75,000, with a median of $5,000. It funds only preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$16.7M
Grants
131
Total Given
$989K
Arches Foundation
Aspen, CO
The Arches Foundation supports arts, civil rights, natural-resource preservation, journalism, and other organizations, with most 2024 grant dollars going to Colorado and additional funding reaching organizations in several other states. Its 2024 grants had a median of $1,000, though awards ranged from $200 to $226,000; it funds only preselected charities and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$2.6M
Grants
83
Total Given
$454K
Castaways Foundation
Chicago, IL
The foundation supports a varied range of charitable causes, including poverty relief, food security, health, animal welfare, immigrant rights, and higher education, with most 2025 funding going to Colorado and Illinois. Its 77 grants ranged from $250 to $20,000, with a median of $1,000. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$2.6M
Grants
77
Total Given
$180K
More similar funders
More Funders in Colorado
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Ernst and Wilma Martens Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/ernst-and-wilma-martens-foundation-morg_8b12e37ce855448aa2a2fdb5c6241f78
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_841323791_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Ernst and Wilma Martens Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/ernst-and-wilma-martens-foundation-morg_8b12e37ce855448aa2a2fdb5c6241f78},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. 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 Ernst and Wilma Martens 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.
Ernst and Wilma Martens Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?