Montrose Community Foundation
Montrose Community Foundation is a public charity based in Montrose, Colorado. Founded in 1989, it says it connects charitable donors with community causes, manages endowment funds, provides grants and other support, and facilitates community projects.
Montrose Community Foundation at a glance
In short: Montrose Community Foundation gave $953K across 26 grants in 2024 (avg $37K), mostly in Colorado. 36% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $953,453
- +45.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 26
- +18.2% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $36,671
- +23.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $18,250
- Total assets
- $7,225,786
- +13.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 36% first-time grantees (9 of 25, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Colorado (77% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Montrose Community Foundation
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 3020, Montrose, CO 81402
Phone: (970) 249-3900
Website: https://montrosecf.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
6 open opportunities from Montrose Community Foundation
Carl Bivens Memorial Scholarship
Montrose Community Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
MCF Impact Grant
Montrose Community Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
MCF Scholarships (General Program)
Montrose Community Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Montrose Community Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Colorado State University ($144K). Together the top 10 received $728K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($9,433), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
106 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 92 grants of 106 (87%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The MCF Impact Grant and Montrose Emergency Relief Fund cover Montrose County, Colorado. In 2024, 77% of grant dollars went to recipients in Colorado; the other listed recipient-state shares were Arizona, 8%; Montana, 4%; Oregon, 4%; and Idaho, 2%. The Carl Bivens Memorial Scholarship is geographically tied to North Eastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 26 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Montrose Community Foundation open to new grantees?
36%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 9 of 25 grantees (36%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $27K; repeat grants $44K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $30K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2024). 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 $201K (2022, 18 months) to $953K (2024). In 2024 it made 26 grants totaling $953K.
*2022: Covers 18 months (fiscal year-end changed).
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado State University Ft Collins, CO | Scholarships | $144,181 |
| Magic Circle Players Montrose, CO | Grant funding for improvements | $140,000 |
| CMU Foundation Grand Junction, CO | Scholarships | $129,997 |
| Grand Canyon University Phoenix, AZ | Scholarships | $74,093 |
| Black Canyon Boys and Girls Club Montrose, CO | Youth support program | $51,000 |
| CASA of the 7th Judicial District Montrose, CO | Program support | $50,050 |
| Montana State University Billings, MT | Scholarships | $42,472 |
| Pacific University Forest Grove, OR | Scholarships | $35,752 |
| Regis University Denver, CO | Scholarships | $32,946 |
| University of Denver Denver, CO | Scholarships | $27,956 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $7,225,786 | $2,223,927 | $1,675,699 | $953,453 | 26 | $235,385 |
| 2023 | $6,380,253 | $1,731,907 | $1,298,391 | $655,531 | 22 | $151,448 |
| 2022* | $5,549,233 | $2,411,534 | $1,545,392 | $200,890 | 20 | $382,140 |
| 2021 | $5,671,195 | $1,369,036 | $1,126,295 | $289,165 | 9 | $267,771 |
| 2020 | $4,660,122 | $1,232,979 | $1,195,403 | $482,486 | 29 | $191,019 |
| 2019 | $4,718,996 | $1,584,619 | $911,441 | $238,844 | 12 | $320,236 |
*2022: Covers 18 months (fiscal year-end changed).
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to seek and embrace innovative ideas, connect charitable donors to community causes, and promote worthwhile community projects and partnerships. Its filing also describes a role in growing and managing permanent endowment funds, providing grants and other support, and facilitating estate and legacy giving.
In 2024, grant purposes included scholarships, improvements to a local theater, youth support, and program support. The foundation’s program descriptions identify local nonprofits and their programs as a focus of the MCF Impact Grant, and essential human needs as the focus of the Montrose Emergency Relief Fund. The Carl Bivens Memorial Scholarship is for students attending North Eastern State University.
Among the grantees, Magic Circle Players describes its mission as presenting live theater to entertain, educate, and involve an individual recipient residents. The Shepherd’s Hand describes its work as meeting the physical, spiritual, and emotional needs of low-income or homeless people in an individual recipient State University’s affiliated organization CSU STRATA says it supports research and educational efforts at institutions in the Colorado State University System.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 26 grants totaling $953,453. Grants ranged from $5,764 to $144,181, with a median of $18,250. The largest listed awards included $144,181 to Colorado State University for scholarships, $140,000 to Magic Circle Players for improvements, $129,997 to CMU Foundation for scholarships, $74,093 to Grand Canyon University for scholarships, and $51,000 to Black Canyon Boys and Girls Club for a youth support program. CASA of the 7th Judicial District received $50,050 for program support.
The MCF Impact Grant provides annual support for local nonprofits through an independent volunteer review committee. The foundation reports distributing $65,000 to 28 local nonprofits in 2024 and $70,300 to 28 local organizations in 2022–23. The Montrose Emergency Relief Fund, created in 2020, provides flexible grants to local nonprofit organizations for essential needs such as food, rent, utilities, health care, and emergency services. The Carl Bivens Memorial Scholarship supports students attending North Eastern State University and is intended to support a full educational experience, including social experiences as well as academic learning.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Diane Bridges as Executive Director; Scott Wittman as Chair; Sarah Abbott as Vice Chair and Secretary; Steve Ball as Vice Chair; Ross Valdez as Secretary/Treasurer; and Laird Landon, David Mize, Mark Smith, and Jenny Abbott as directors.
Montrose Community Foundation is led by Diane Bridges, Executive Director on every filing since 2023; 1 of 9 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Diane Bridges
Executive Director
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$24K (2023) → $60K (2024)
Scott Wittman
Chair
Treasurer → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Laird Landon
Director
Board Chairman → Former Chairman, 2023
Former Chairman → Director, 2024
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mark Smith
Director
Vice Chairman → Board Chairman, 2023
Board Chairman → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Mize
Director
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jenny Abbott
Director
New on the 2024 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sarah Abbott
Vice Chair & Secretary
Secretary → Vice Chair Secretary, 2023
Vice Chair Secretary → Vice Chair & Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ross Valdez
Secretary & Treasurer
Director → Secretary & Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Steve Ball
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (15)
- Former: Vin Singh (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Ian Atha (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Terry McCoige (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Sara Plumhoff (2019–2022) — Executive Director
- Former: Meredith Fishering (2022) — Director
- Former: Carol Freidrich (2019–2021) — Past President
- Former: Dave Frank (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: David Reed (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Tonya Maddox (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Lynn Schneider (2021) — Director
- Former: Chris Reichmann (2019–2020) — Secretary
- Former: Rob Omer (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Kaye Hotsenpiller (2019) — Past President
- Former: Leslie German (2019) — Director
- Former: Phil Harper (2019) — Director
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 $60K, to Diane Bridges (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Montrose Community Foundation
How much does Montrose Community Foundation give each year?
Montrose Community Foundation gave $953K across 26 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $656K across 22 grants.
What is Montrose Community Foundation's typical grant size?
Montrose Community Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $18,250, and its average grant was $36,671, across 26 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Montrose Community Foundation that year got $27K on average.
Where does Montrose Community Foundation give grants?
Montrose Community Foundation gives mostly in Colorado: 77% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was Arizona (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Montrose, CO (9 grants), Grand Junction, CO (2 grants) and Denver, CO (2 grants).
Does Montrose Community Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 26 grants with a stated purpose on Montrose Community Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Scholarships" (14 grants) and "Program support" (5 grants).
Who are Montrose Community Foundation's largest grantees?
Montrose Community Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Colorado State University ($144,181), Magic Circle Players ($140,000) and CMU Foundation ($129,997), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($9,433), which are not listed by name. Together they received 43% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Montrose Community Foundation?
Montrose Community Foundation reported $7.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.2M.
What does Montrose Community Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to seek and embrace innovative ideas, connect charitable donors to community causes, and promote worthwhile community projects and partnerships. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Montrose Community Foundation?
Montrose Community Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check montrosecf.com for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Montrose Community Foundation's EIN?
Montrose Community Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-1128761. 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 13, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS December 4, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 3, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Montrose Community Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Montrose Community Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 9, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/montrose-community-foundation-morg_75902a064e8e475fb1d716d1d3f804ff
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_841128761_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Montrose Community Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/montrose-community-foundation-morg_75902a064e8e475fb1d716d1d3f804ff},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-09. 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 Montrose Community 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.
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