Saccomanno Higher Education Foundation
The Saccomanno Higher Education Foundation is a private foundation based in Grand Junction, Colorado. It supports educational opportunities for students with financial need who are residents of Mesa County, Colorado, or Carbon County, Utah, through scholarships usable at accredited colleges, universities, and vocational schools.
Saccomanno Higher Education Foundation at a glance
In short: Saccomanno Higher Education Foundation gave $888K across 52 grants in 2025 (avg $17K), mostly in Colorado. 33% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $887,611
- -8.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 52
- +13.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $17,069
- -18.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $7,000
- Total assets
- $14,555,857
- +2.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 33% first-time grantees (17 of 52, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Colorado (67% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Saccomanno Higher Education Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Submit the online application and required attachments. Students must be residents of Mesa County, Colorado, or Carbon County, Utah, and prove financial need.
- Review Cycle
- The website states that applications are accepted annually from October 1 through April 30, with award notifications by May 31. The filing specifies April 30 as the deadline for the following school year.
- Deadline
- The website states that applications are accepted annually from October 1 through April 30, with award notifications…
- Contact
Application contact: The Colorado Mesa University Founda
Mailing address: 1450 N 12Th St, Grand Junction, CO 81501
Phone: (970) 248-1080
Email: saccomanno@coloradomesa.edu
Website: https://saccomannoed.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Saccomanno Higher Education Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Colorado Mesa University ($378K). Together the top 10 received $632K.
Grant Size Distribution
242 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 230 grants of 242 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Scholarship applicants must reside in Mesa County, Colorado, or Carbon County, Utah. Scholarships may be used at accredited in-state or out-of-state colleges, universities, and vocational schools. In 2025, 67% of grant dollars went to recipients in Colorado and 17% to recipients in Utah.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 52 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Saccomanno Higher Education Foundation open to new grantees?
33%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 17 of 52 grantees (33%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $23K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $7K repeat.
- 58% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+1%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 96% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $674K (2020) to $968K (2024). In 2025 it made 52 grants totaling $888K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado Mesa University Grand Junction, CO | Education | $377,808 |
| Utah State University Logan, UT | Education | $62,183 |
| University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, CO | Education | $35,750 |
| Colorado School of Mines Golden, CO | Education | $34,500 |
| University of Utah Salt Lake City, UT | Education | $31,000 |
| Colorado State University Fort Collins, CO | Education | $23,500 |
| Colorado Christian University Lakewood, CO | Education | $23,000 |
| Intellitec College Grand Junction, CO | Education | $15,500 |
| University of Colorado Denver Denver, CO | Education | $14,500 |
| Western Governers University Salt Lake City, UT | Education | $14,500 |
Ready to take the next step with Saccomanno Higher Education Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $14,555,857 | $1,391,428 | $1,000,844 | $887,611 | 52 | $926,171 | $1,316,755 | $964,857 |
| 2024 | $14,175,273 | $706,851 | $1,093,203 | $967,969 | 46 | $1,028,808 | $628,856 | $891,916 |
| 2023 | $14,561,625 | $540,403 | $954,872 | $836,964 | 47 | $883,565 | $472,770 | $851,485 |
| 2022 | $14,976,094 | $1,459,425 | $1,008,703 | $875,754 | 42 | $919,637 | $1,390,133 | $940,937 |
| 2021 | $14,525,372 | $1,508,065 | $890,112 | $773,810 | 55 | — | $1,446,587 | $885,688 |
| 2020 | $13,907,419 | $781,431 | $788,473 | $674,322 | 69 | — | $722,638 | $821,228 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Saccomanno Higher Education Foundation reported a distributable amount of $965K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation says it was created to promote educational pursuits by students in need of financial aid, helping them improve their lives and those of their families and communities. Its scholarship policy welcomes applicants regardless of age or academic accomplishments. Awards may cover tuition, reasonable allowances for books and fees, and room and board.
The 2025 filing lists education as the purpose for the foundation’s largest grants, including support for Colorado Mesa University and Utah State University. Grantees describe their own work in varied terms: Colorado Mesa University’s foundation says it administers property for the university’s benefit, while Colorado State University’s research organization says it aids research and educational efforts across the Colorado State University System. Western Colorado University’s foundation describes its mission as aiding the university in fulfilling its educational purposes.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 52 grants totaling $887,611. Grants ranged from $1,500 to $377,808, with a median grant of $7,000. The largest awards included $377,808 to Colorado Mesa University, $62,183 to Utah State University, $35,750 to the University of Colorado Boulder, $34,500 to Colorado School of Mines, and $31,000 to the University of Utah.
The foundation’s website says students apply online, must reapply each year, and are notified by email if awarded. Awards are paid directly to the institution. Applicants are responsible for arranging institutional billing; unused award funds are returned to the foundation. A change of school may affect the award amount. The website provides separate application routes for Colorado Mesa University students and students attending other institutions.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Lenna Watson as president, Terrance Farina as vice president, and Gena Cooper as secretary/treasurer. Directors listed are Linda Siedow, Bryan Johnson, Nicole Darrow, Jay Seaton, Karen Bland, John Marshall, and Doug Miller, PhD.
Saccomanno Higher Education Foundation is led by Lenna Watson, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 11 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Lenna Watson
President
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bryan Johnson
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jay Seaton
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Linda Siedow
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nicole Darrow
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Marshall
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Karen Bland
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brian Hill
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Doug Miller PhD
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gena Cooper
Secretary & Treasurer
Secretary-Treasurer → Secretary & Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Terrance Farina
Vice President
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (5)
- Former: Greg Dart (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Diana Sirko (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Carol Murphy (2020) — Director
- Former: Tim Foster (2020) — Director
- Former: William R. Patterson MD (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Saccomanno Higher Education Foundation
How much does Saccomanno Higher Education Foundation give each year?
Saccomanno Higher Education Foundation gave $888K across 52 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $968K across 46 grants.
What is Saccomanno Higher Education Foundation's typical grant size?
Saccomanno Higher Education Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $7,000, and its average grant was $17,069, across 52 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Saccomanno Higher Education Foundation that year got $5K on average.
Where does Saccomanno Higher Education Foundation give grants?
Saccomanno Higher Education Foundation gives mostly in Colorado: 67% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Utah (17%). The most frequent recipient cities were Denver, CO (3 grants), Grand Junction, CO (2 grants), Salt Lake City, UT (2 grants) and Seattle, WA (2 grants).
Does Saccomanno Higher Education Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 52 grants with a stated purpose on Saccomanno Higher Education Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Education" (52 grants).
Who are Saccomanno Higher Education Foundation's largest grantees?
Saccomanno Higher Education Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Colorado Mesa University ($377,808), Utah State University ($62,183) and University of Colorado Boulder ($35,750), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 54% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Saccomanno Higher Education Foundation?
Saccomanno Higher Education Foundation reported $14.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $926K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $965K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Saccomanno Higher Education Foundation fund?
The foundation says it was created to promote educational pursuits by students in need of financial aid, helping them improve their lives and those of their families and communities. Its scholarship policy welcomes applicants regardless of age or academic accomplishments. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Saccomanno Higher Education Foundation?
Submit the online application and required attachments. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Saccomanno Higher Education Foundation's EIN?
Saccomanno Higher Education Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-1164982. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Saccomanno Higher Education Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/saccomanno-higher-education-foundation-morg_42130c0b96fc4f2094afb4167b79a2b1
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_841164982_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Saccomanno Higher Education Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/saccomanno-higher-education-foundation-morg_42130c0b96fc4f2094afb4167b79a2b1},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 Saccomanno Higher Education 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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