Mountain America Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Sandy, Utah. Established in 2020, the foundation is funded by Mountain America Credit Union and its members. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to supporting nonprofit work across multiple states.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.2M
-22.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.1M
-37.3% YoY
Grant Count
186
+19.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$6K
-47.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Mountain America Foundation reported a distributable amount of $183K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The mission of Mountain America Foundation is to promote the health, education and overall well-being of youth and families in their communities.
Primary funding focus areas include:
- Education
- Philanthropy and grantmaking
- Human services
- Youth and family services
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s:** Typical awards range from $200,000 to $600,000. The foundation also awards smaller grants through specific programs, such as $1,000 grants distributed through community voting initiatives.
How to Apply
** Nonprofits are nominated by Mountain America Credit Union team members, and community members vote to determine grant recipients in certain programs.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds organizations across the credit union's five-state footprint, with primary focus on Utah, Washington, and Idaho.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Data (2024):
- Total assets: $3,183,079
- Total giving: $1,139,582
Prior Year Data (2023):
- Total assets: $4.13 million
- Total revenue: $690,000
- Total expenses: $1.86 million
- Total liabilities: $0
The foundation has been tax-exempt since September 2023 (EIN: 84-3574217).
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,183,079 | $4,125,090 | $5,295,650 |
| Revenue | $244,142 | $690,051 | $6,009,429 |
| Expenses | $1,193,153 | $1,860,611 | $713,779 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,154,207 | $1,836,673 | $705,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $181,393 | $148,836 | $649 |
| Distributable Amount | $183,004 | $235,685 | $230,094 |
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
104 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Good Shepherd Lutheran Church ($50,000), Young Caring for Our Young Inc ($12,500), Eagle Bay Elementary ($3,900).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Sandy, UT | To promote worship services and religious education programs. | $50,000 |
| The Backyard Artists Boise, ID | To empower emerging artists in Idaho's Treasure Valley by providing professional opportunities through community-driven exhibits, literary events, project grants, and strategic partnerships. | $1,000 |
| Children's Service Society of Utah Salt Lake City, UT | To ensure that every child has a safe place and someone who cares through Adoption, Building Blocks, Grandfamilies, Care About Childcare and Home Visitation programs. | $1,000 |
| Girls on the Run - Sierras Reno, NV | To promote fun, evidence-based programs that inspire participants to recognize their inner strength, and increase their level of physical activity. | $1,000 |
| Image Reborn Inc Salt Lake City, UT | To provide no cost renewal retreats to those diagnosed with breast cancer and to support them in living rich and fulfilling lives. | $1,000 |
| Call To Give 20 Inc Kaysville, UT | To provide meals to support communities in need. | $1,000 |
| Young Caring for Our Young Inc Layton, UT | To provide for those without access to food through pantry pack initiatives and events. | $12,500 |
| 4 Paws 4 Patriots - Utah Ogden, UT | To pair disabled American veterans and an untrained dog, and then train them together to become a service dog team. | $1,000 |
| Child Crisis Arizona Mesa, AZ | To provide children and youth in Arizona a safe environment, free from neglect, by creating strong and successful families. | $1,000 |
| Friends of Switchpoint Inc St George, UT | To address the complex issues leading to families, seniors, veterans, and individuals experiencing homelessness, food insecurity, and poverty. | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Suzanne Oliver serves as Executive Director of Mountain America Foundation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sterling Nielsen | President | — | — |
| Chad Curtis | Director | — | — |
| Scott Burt | Director | — | — |
| Tony Rasmussen | Secretary | — | — |
| Suzanne Oliver | Executive Dir. | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation maintains active community engagement through several signature initiatives:
**Swing for the Kids Challenge:** An annual golf tournament benefiting Primary Children's Hospital that has raised over $2,000,000 since 2004.
**Make-A-Wish Partnership:** The foundation matches employee donations to support wishes for children across Utah, Idaho, and Arizona.
Mountain America Foundation Delivers $28,000 in Surprise Donations for GivingTuesday**Ronald McDonald House Charities:** Ongoing partnership supporting families with sick children.
**Month of Caring:** Community service initiative extending beyond charitable donations.
**GivingTuesday Campaigns:** Annual community voting programs that distribute grants to local nonprofits.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Mountain America Foundation fund?
The mission of Mountain America Foundation is to promote the health, education and overall well-being of youth and families in their communities. Primary funding focus areas include: • Education • Philanthropy and grantmaking • Human services • Youth and family services
How do I apply for a grant from Mountain America Foundation?
**Grant Sizes:** Typical awards range from $200,000 to $600,000. The foundation also awards smaller grants through specific programs, such as $1,000 grants distributed through community voting initiatives. **Recent Activity:** • The 2025 GivingTuesday campaign awarded $28,000 in grants ($1,000 each) to 28 nonprofits across the credit union's five-state footprint, with recipients selected through community voting. • The foundation operates an Elevate Scholarship Program for youth, now in its sec…
Where does Mountain America Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds organizations across the credit union's five-state footprint, with primary focus on Utah, Washington, and Idaho.
What size grants does Mountain America Foundation award?
In 2024, Mountain America Foundation awarded 186 grants totaling $1.1M — an average of about $6K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Mountain America Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Mountain America Foundation reported a distributable amount of $183K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Mountain America Foundation's EIN?
Mountain America Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-3574217. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2022–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Mountain America 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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