Promontory Foundation
Promontory Foundation is a Park City, Utah–based funder whose mission is to serve the Park City community and Summit County by providing matching dollars for programs in arts, culture, and social services. Its IRS filing type is Form 990-PF (a private foundation).
Promontory Foundation at a glance
In short: Promontory Foundation gave $437K across 30 grants in 2024 (avg $15K), mostly in Utah. 20% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $437,350
- +14.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 30
- +15.4% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $14,578
- -0.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $474,945
- +57.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 20% first-time grantees (6 of 30, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Utah (96% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Promontory Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Submit an application in writing with all pertinent information, such as social services or arts information. The filing names Meryl Van der Merwe as the application contact and states that awards are geographically restricted to the Park City, Utah area.
- Review Cycle
- July 5 each year.
- Deadline
- July 5 each year.
- Contact
Application contact: Meryl Van Der Merwe
Mailing address: 8758 N Promontory Ranch Rd, Park City, UT 84098
Phone: (435) 647-6831
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Promontory Foundation
Who Promontory Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Habitat for Humanity ($50K). Together the top 10 received $290K.
Grant Size Distribution
108 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 104 grants of 108 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation states that its work serves the Park City community and Summit County. Its filing specifies a geographic restriction to the Park City, Utah area. In 2024, 96% of grant dollars went to recipients in Utah and 4% to recipients in North Carolina.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 30 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Promontory Foundation open to new grantees?
20%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 30 grantees (20%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $8K; repeat grants $16K. How we count
Medians: $8K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 60% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 136% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $75K (2020) to $437K (2024). In 2024 it made 30 grants totaling $437K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Habitat for Humanity Park City, UT | Charitable Contribution | $50,000 |
| Park City Tots Park City, UT | Charitable Contribution | $50,000 |
| Christian Center of Park City Park City, UT | Charitable Contribution | $30,000 |
| The People's Health Clinic Park City, UT | Charitable Contribution | $30,000 |
| Kimball Arts Center Park City, UT | Charitable Contribution | $25,000 |
| Live Like Sam Foundation Park City, UT | Charitable Contribution | $25,000 |
| Mountain Town Music Park City, UT | Charitable Contribution | $25,000 |
| Youth Sports Alliance Park City, UT | Charitable Contribution | $20,000 |
| National Ability Center Park City, UT | Charitable Contribution | $17,500 |
| All American Entertainment Durham, NC | Charitable Contribution | $17,350 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $474,945 | $850,098 | $676,993 | $437,350 | 30 | $438,309 | $19,382 |
| 2023 | $301,840 | $463,384 | $442,216 | $381,000 | 26 | $383,632 | $14,129 |
| 2022 | $280,672 | $386,608 | $346,827 | $263,500 | 22 | $267,602 | $12,873 |
| 2021 | $245,392 | $398,060 | $301,255 | $185,000 | 17 | $186,318 | $10,902 |
| 2020 | $148,587 | $146,322 | $81,880 | $75,000 | 13 | — | $4,087 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Promontory Foundation reported a distributable amount of $19K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to serve the needs of the Park City community and Summit County through matching dollars for arts, culture, and social services programs. Its grant program lists arts and culture, education, and social services among its primary focus areas. Eligible applicants are nonprofit organizations based in Summit County.
Grantees illustrate the range of organizations supported. Park City Tots describes its work as providing affordable, safe childcare and early childhood education for local working families. The National Ability Center says it empowers people with disabilities through sport, recreation, and educational programs. Peace House describes its work as supporting survivors of interpersonal violence and abuse through services, safe housing, and prevention education. Ballet West says it promotes the art of ballet through exposure, training, and education.
Grantmaking
The foundation holds an annual fundraising event to benefit nonprofits. In 2025, it reported awarding $330,000 to 35 organizations serving the Wasatch Back. Its signature $40,000 Promontory Promise Grant went to Peace House for its children’s services program.
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 30 grants totaling $437,350. Grants ranged from $2,500 to $50,000, with a median of $10,000. Among the largest awards were $50,000 each to Habitat for Humanity and Park City Tots; $30,000 each to Christian Center of Park City and The People’s Health Clinic; and $25,000 each to Kimball Arts Center, Live Like Sam Foundation, and Mountain Town Music.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Kelli Brown as president, Francis Najafi as vice president, Stephen Lees as treasurer, Jordyn Torr as secretary, and Meryl Van der Merwe as executive director.
Promontory Foundation is led by Kelli Brown, President since 2021 (on filings since 2020); none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Kelli Brown
President
Advisory Committee Member → President, 2021
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Meryl Van Der Merwe
Executive Director
Exectuive Director → Executive Director, 2024
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Francis Najafi
Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephen Lees
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jordyn Torr
Secretary
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (22)
- Former: Nicole Barton (2020–2022) — Secretary
- Former: Barbara Caccese (2021–2022) — Advisory Committee Member
- Former: Ben Wiener (2021–2022) — Advisory Committee Member
- Former: Bonnie Kirkpatrick (2021–2022) — Advisory Committee Member
- Former: Denis Miller (2021–2022) — Advisory Committee Member
- Former: Gina Stryker (2021–2022) — Advisory Committee Member
- Former: Jennifer Simon (2021–2022) — Advisory Committee Member
- Former: Jeremy Shapiro (2021–2022) — Advisory Committee Member
- Former: Kimberly Wheeler (2021–2022) — Advisory Committee Member
- Former: Kodie Alder (2021–2022) — Advisory Committee Member
- Former: Rachel Alday (2021–2022) — Advisory Committee Member
- Former: Sarah Meindl (2021–2022) — Advisory Committee Member
- Former: Tom O' Leary (2021–2022) — Advisory Committee Member
- Former: Vicky Dyer-Smith (2021–2022) — Advisory Committee Member
- Former: Vicky Mar (2021–2022) — Advisory Committee Member
- Former: Bobbi Williams (2020) — Advisory Committee Member
- Former: Laura Arnold (2020) — Advisory Committee Member
- Former: Laura Flourens-Fanlo (2020) — Advisory Committee Member
- Former: Mare Piper (2020) — Advisory Committee Member
- Former: Peggy Bergmann (2020) — Advisory Committee Member
- Former: Robin Milne (2020) — President
- Former: Sue Grant (2020) — Advisory Committee Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Promontory Foundation
How much does Promontory Foundation give each year?
Promontory Foundation gave $437K across 30 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $381K across 26 grants.
What is Promontory Foundation's typical grant size?
Promontory Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $14,578, across 30 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Promontory Foundation that year got $8K on average.
Where does Promontory Foundation give grants?
Promontory Foundation gives mostly in Utah: 96% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Park City, UT (26 grants) and Salt Lake City, UT (3 grants).
Who are Promontory Foundation's largest grantees?
Promontory Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Habitat for Humanity ($50,000), Park City Tots ($50,000) and Christian Center of Park City ($30,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 30% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Promontory Foundation?
Promontory Foundation reported $475K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $438K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $19K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Promontory Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to serve the needs of the Park City community and Summit County through matching dollars for arts, culture, and social services programs. Its grant program lists arts and culture, education, and social services among its primary focus areas. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Promontory Foundation?
Submit an application in writing with all pertinent information, such as social services or arts information. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Promontory Foundation's EIN?
Promontory Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-5016814. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Promontory Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/promontory-foundation-morg_1b5fdaaceffc4e78b468eb40491d35b3
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_205016814_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Promontory Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/promontory-foundation-morg_1b5fdaaceffc4e78b468eb40491d35b3},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. 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 Promontory 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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