First Ascent Charitable Foundation

DENVER, CO EIN: 81-4550657

First Ascent Charitable Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in DENVER, CO. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $4.0M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 8 grants totaling $216K. Net investment income was $154K.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$4.0M

-2.2% YoY

Annual Giving

$216K

+2.6% YoY

Grant Count

8

+14.3% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$27K

-10.2% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, First Ascent Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $275K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

About First Ascent Charitable Foundation

Based on IRS filings

First Ascent Charitable Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in DENVER, CO. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $4.0M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 8 grants totaling $216K. Net investment income was $154K.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

3states

Cities

AspenBasaltBoulderDenverEvergreenJenkintownSalt Lake CityTellurideVail

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$111K$222K$333K$443K20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$3,959,259$4,046,878$4,078,331
Revenue$223,523$249,774$135,385
Expenses$299,456$281,227$393,349
Qualifying Distributions$226,252$217,908$326,781
Net Investment Income$154,358$181,189$69,520
Distributable Amount$275,408$241,778$250,403

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$79K$159K$238K$318K7 grants20207 grants20216 grants20227 grants20238 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 8 recipients in 2024

THE BUDDY PROGRAM$30KTHE ACCESS FUND$30KSHEJUMPS$30KPROTECT OUR WINTERS$30KFRIENDS OF THE COLORADO …$30KCOLORADO OUTWARD BOUND S…$30KAMERICAN INSTITUTE FOR A…$30KNATIONAL PHILANTHROPIC T…$6K

Grant Size Distribution

35 grants across all recorded years

31<$50K3$50–100K1$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Open Grants

1 open opportunity from First Ascent Charitable Foundation

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include The Buddy Program ($30,000), The Access Fund ($30,000), Shejumps ($30,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
THE BUDDY PROGRAM ASPEN, COBUDDY PROGRAM LEAD PROGRAM$30,000
THE ACCESS FUND BOULDER, COCLIMBING CONSERVATION GRANT PROGRAM$30,000
SHEJUMPS SALT LAKE CITY, UTUNRESTRICTED MATCHING FUNDS FOR SHEJUMPS FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGNS$30,000
PROTECT OUR WINTERS BOULDER, COPROTECT OUR WINTERS LEADING THE OUTDOOR MOVEMENT FOR CLIMATE ACTION$30,000
FRIENDS OF THE COLORADO AVALANCHE INFORMATION CENTER EVERGREEN, COAVALANCHE SAFETY FOR RECREATIONAL BACKCOUNTRY USERS IN COLORADO$30,000
COLORADO OUTWARD BOUND SCHOOL DENVER, COTO SUPPORT FIELD STAFF DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS PROVIDED BY THIRD PARTIES$30,000
AMERICAN INSTITUTE FOR AVALANCHE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION INC TELLURIDE, COFIRST ASCENT WOMEN'S SCHOLARSHIP FOR INSTRUCTOR TRAINING$30,000
NATIONAL PHILANTHROPIC TRUST JENKINTOWN, PACHARITABLE$5,500

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
W KING GRANT IIIPRESIDENT, SECRETARY4
TRACY H GRANTVICE-PRESIDENT, TREASURER3
CAROLINE GRANTDIRECTOR1
KATIE GRANTDIRECTOR1

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Frequently Asked Questions

What is First Ascent Charitable Foundation?

First Ascent Charitable Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in DENVER, CO. It holds $4.0M in total assets as of 2024.

How large is First Ascent Charitable Foundation?

As of 2024, First Ascent Charitable Foundation holds $4.0M in total assets with $224K in annual revenue. It awarded 8 grants totaling $216K in 2024.

Where does First Ascent Charitable Foundation operate?

First Ascent Charitable Foundation has awarded grants in Colorado, Pennsylvania, Utah.

What size grants does First Ascent Charitable Foundation award?

In 2024, First Ascent Charitable Foundation awarded 8 grants totaling $216K — an average of about $27K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is First Ascent Charitable Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, First Ascent Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $275K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

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 2020–2024.

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in First Ascent Charitable Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database

Related Funders

Similar funders by location and focus area

Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

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