First Ascent Charitable Foundation
First Ascent Charitable Foundation is a private foundation, based in Denver, CO. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $4.0M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 7 grants totaling $265K. Net investment income was $332K.
First Ascent Charitable Foundation at a glance
In short: First Ascent Charitable Foundation gave $265K across 7 grants in 2025 (avg $38K), mostly in Colorado. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $264,514
- +22.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 7
- -12.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $37,788
- +40.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $30,000
- Total assets
- $4,013,888
- +1.4% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Colorado (57% 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 First Ascent Charitable Foundation
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from First Ascent Charitable Foundation
Who First Ascent Charitable Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was National Philanthropic Trust ($85K). Together the top 7 received $265K.
Grant Size Distribution
35 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 32 grants of 35 (91%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How First Ascent Charitable Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−17%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 93% 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 $210K (2023) to $318K (2022). In 2025 it made 7 grants totaling $265K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| National Philanthropic Trust Jenkintown, PA | DAF Contribution | $84,514 |
| Friends of the Colorado Avalanche Information Center Evergreen, CO | 2025/2026 Avalanche Forecasting and Education Support | $30,000 |
| Protect Our Winters Boulder, CO | Mobilizing the outdoor community for climate action in 2026 | $30,000 |
| Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers Carbondale, CO | Building a sustainable funding model for rfov's young stewards program | $30,000 |
| Shejumps Salt Lake City, UT | Shejumps General Operating Grant + Fundraising Match | $30,000 |
| The Buddy Program Aspen, CO | Creating opportunities for youth to gain life skills in the outdoors with the leadership through exploration, action, and discovery (LEAD) program. | $30,000 |
| Wilderness Workshop Denver, CO | Wilderness Workshop Forest Watchdog Matching Campaign | $30,000 |
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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 | $4,013,888 | $408,372 | $353,743 | $264,514 | 7 | $275,186 | $331,601 | $294,814 |
| 2024 | $3,959,259 | $223,523 | $299,456 | $215,500 | 8 | $226,252 | $154,358 | $275,408 |
| 2023 | $4,046,878 | $249,774 | $281,227 | $210,000 | 7 | $217,908 | $181,189 | $241,778 |
| 2022 | $4,078,331 | $135,385 | $393,349 | $317,866 | 6 | $326,781 | $69,520 | $250,403 |
| 2021 | $4,336,295 | $403,143 | $303,520 | $228,879 | 7 | $236,479 | $336,618 | $275,466 |
| 2020 | $4,236,672 | $154,489 | $289,909 | $217,612 | 7 | — | $91,192 | $236,079 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, First Ascent Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $295K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
First Ascent Charitable Foundation is led by W. King Grant III, President & Secretary on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
W. King Grant III
President & Secretary
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Caroline Grant
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Katie Grant
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tracy H. Grant
Vice President & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/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 First Ascent Charitable Foundation
How much does First Ascent Charitable Foundation give each year?
First Ascent Charitable Foundation gave $265K across 7 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $216K across 8 grants.
What is First Ascent Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
First Ascent Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $30,000, and its average grant was $37,788, across 7 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does First Ascent Charitable Foundation give grants?
First Ascent Charitable Foundation gives mostly in Colorado: 57% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Pennsylvania (32%) and Utah (11%).
Does First Ascent Charitable Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 14% of First Ascent Charitable Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 7) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are First Ascent Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
First Ascent Charitable Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include National Philanthropic Trust ($84,514), Friends of the Colorado Avalanche Information Center ($30,000) and Protect Our Winters ($30,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 55% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is First Ascent Charitable Foundation?
First Ascent Charitable Foundation reported $4.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $275K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $295K (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 is First Ascent Charitable Foundation's EIN?
First Ascent Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-4550657. 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.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 13, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 17, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 1, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 9, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 1, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 22, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in First Ascent Charitable Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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