Joan and Tim Fenton Family Foundation
The Joan and Tim Fenton Family Foundation is a private independent foundation established in 2016 and based in Midvale, Utah. The foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization created by Joan and Tim Fenton to improve the lives of others and the world in which they live.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$92.4M
+10.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.2M
-24.5% YoY
Grant Count
29
-40.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$77K
+27.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Joan and Tim Fenton Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to improve the lives of others and the world in which we live through support for a wide range of endeavors. Primary funding areas include:
- Community development
- Education
- Healthcare
- Scientific pursuits
- Artistic pursuits
- Religious endeavors
- Literary endeavors
- Charitable endeavors
Grantmaking
Applications must be submitted by the first day of the month prior to a calendar quarter.
Grant Range
$25,000
Average Grant
$77,000 to $82,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Utah, with secondary activity in California and North Carolina. Grantmaking reaches organizations across multiple states, with the majority of grants concentrated in Utah.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $92.4 million
- Total Revenue: $7.98 million
- Total Expenses: $3.21 million
- Total Liabilities: $16,000
- Net Investment Income: $7.23 million
- Qualifying Distributions: $2.89 million
Financial Growth: Assets have grown from $78.6 million in 2022 to $84.0 million in 2023 to $92.4 million in 2024, representing a 10% year-over-year increase.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $92,396,091 | $84,002,602 | $78,627,623 |
| Revenue | $7,980,523 | $2,967,366 | $3,736,034 |
| Expenses | $3,210,323 | $3,806,042 | $19,278,874 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,893,262 | $3,538,513 | $5,006,804 |
| Net Investment Income | $7,232,376 | $2,833,727 | $3,652,485 |
| Distributable Amount | $4,756,111 | $4,300,652 | $4,090,954 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
187 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Joan and Tim Fenton Family Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Aerial Recovery ($300,000), Saprea (younique) ($250,000), U of U - Eccles School of Business ($250,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| RON MCBRIDE FOUNDATION INC SALT LAKE CITY, UT | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| UTAH AUTISM ACADEMY OREM, UT | GENERAL SUPPORTGENERAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| UTAH INFERTILITY RESOURCE CENTER SALT LAKE CITY, UT | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| CHRISTMAS BOX INTERNATIONAL SALT LAKE CITY, UT | GENERAL SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| SALT LAKE DONATED DENTAL SERVICES SALT LAKE CITY, UT | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| NATIONAL CENTER ON SEXUAL EXPLOITATION WASHINGTON DC, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| ALL ABILITIES UTAH LINDON, UT | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| AERIAL RECOVERY NASHVILLE, TN | GENERAL SUPPORT | $300,000 |
| SUMMIT JOURNEYS INC HOLLADAY, UT | GENERAL SUPPORT | $98,000 |
| SALT LAKE CITY POLICE FOUNDATION SALT LAKE CITY, UT | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is governed by nine officers and trustees:
- Joan Fenton (Director/President)
- Tim Fenton (Director/Vice President)
- Melissa Fenton Hiller (Director)
- Emily Gustafson (Director)
- Adam Fenton (Director)
- Ann Marie Durrant (Director)
- Mark Fenton (Director)
- Matthew Fenton (Director)
- Michael Fenton (Director)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOAN FENTON | DIRECTOR/PRESIDENT | 4 | $32,500 |
| TIM FENTON | DIRECTOR/VICE PRESIDENT | 3 | $19,500 |
| MELISSA FENTON HILLER | DIRECTOR | 3 | $19,500 |
| EMILY GUSTAFSON | DIRECTOR | 3 | $19,500 |
| ADAM FENTON | DIRECTOR | 3 | $18,000 |
| ANN MARIE DURRANT | DIRECTOR | 3 | $19,500 |
| MARK FENTON | DIRECTOR | 3 | $19,500 |
| MATTHEW FENTON | DIRECTOR | 3 | $18,000 |
| MICHAEL FENTON | DIRECTOR | 3 | $19,500 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation made a $5 million investment in the University of Utah to create the "Fenton Founders Fund," an evergreen fund designed to support student-founded startups. This initiative was unveiled through the Sorenson Impact Institute and represents the foundation's commitment to entrepreneurship and education in Utah.
University of Utah Unveils \u201CFounders Fund\u201D Created Through an\Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Joan and Tim Fenton Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to improve the lives of others and the world in which we live through support for a wide range of endeavors. Primary funding areas include: • Community development • Education • Healthcare • Scientific pursuits • Artistic pursuits • Religious endeavors • Literary endeavors • Charitable endeavors
How do I apply for a grant from Joan and Tim Fenton Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 49 grants in 2024 • Total giving of approximately $2.3 million to $2.9 million annually • Median grant size: $25,000 • Average grant size: $77,000 to $82,000 • Grant range: $370,000 to $700,000 **Recent Grant Examples (2024):** • Aerial Recovery: $300,000 • Atlantis USA Foundation: $250,000 • Intermountain Healthcare Foundation: $215,000 **Application Process:** Applications must be submitted by the first day of the month prior to a calendar quarter.
Where does Joan and Tim Fenton Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Utah, with secondary activity in California and North Carolina. Grantmaking reaches organizations across multiple states, with the majority of grants concentrated in Utah.
What size grants does Joan and Tim Fenton Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Joan and Tim Fenton Family Foundation awarded 29 grants totaling $2.2M — an average of about $77K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Joan and Tim Fenton Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Joan and Tim Fenton Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.8M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Joan and Tim Fenton Family Foundation's EIN?
Joan and Tim Fenton Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-1409665. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Joan and Tim Fenton Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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