The Sturm Family Foundation is a private, non-operating foundation based in Denver, Colorado. Founded in 2000 by Donald L. Sturm and Susan M. Sturm, the foundation operates as a family-led philanthropic organization with approximately $110-159 million in assets. Donald L. Sturm, an Army veteran and former owner of American National Bank (now ANB Bank), established the foundation based on values shaped by his immigrant parents and a belief that individuals can change the world for the better.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$159.1M
+44.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$4.2M
-45.9% YoY
Grant Count
38
+18.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$112K
-54.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sturm Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $7.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's core mission centers on supporting services and programs that provide value and positive effect on local communities while holding true to the Sturm family's values. Originally, the foundation focused on:
- Quality education for low- and moderate-income children
- Strong, centrally-located universities
- Affordable housing
- Vibrant Jewish community life
While the foundation has evolved to support a broader range of organizations, these foundational values remain central to its philanthropic approach. Recent grant activity indicates support across education, human services, cultural institutions, and health-related initiatives.
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications or proposals. Contact should only be initiated if invited by the foundation.
Grant Range
$1,000 to $4,000,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Colorado, with emphasis on Denver. However, recent grants indicate broader geographic reach, including support for organizations in Minnesota, California, Washington, and other states.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets:
- Total assets: $110-159 million (figures vary by reporting year)
Annual Activity (2024):
- Total giving: $7.8 million
- Total expenses: $6.4 million
- Total revenues: $13.9 million
Historical Giving Trends:
| Year | Assets | Total Giving | Number of Grants | Median Grant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $110.0M | $7.8M | 32 | $100K |
| 2023 | $102.3M | $4.2M | 48 | $50K |
| 2022 | $102.9M | $4.7M | 33 | $50K |
| 2021 | $97.7M | $3.6M | 38 | $38K |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $159,131,870 | $109,970,533 | $102,342,439 |
| Revenue | $13,945,982 | $5,907,526 | $11,006,600 |
| Expenses | $6,357,150 | $9,776,421 | $5,545,239 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $4,560,891 | $8,135,611 | $4,541,443 |
| Net Investment Income | $4,228,675 | — | $5,001,668 |
| Distributable Amount | $7,827,574 | $6,620,906 | $6,047,060 |
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
189 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include National Jewish Health (njh) ($1,000,000), National Jewish Health (njh) ($600,000), Denver Museum of Nature & Science (dmns) ($596,399).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE (AEI) NORTH WEST, WA | FURTHER TAX EXEMPT PURPOSE | $25,000 |
| ARAPAHOE COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION (ACCF) LITTLETON, CO | FURTHER TAX EXEMPT PURPOSE | $74,930 |
| ARAPAHOE COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION (ACCF) LITTLETON, CO | FURTHER TAX EXEMPT PURPOSE | $135,930 |
| ARAPAHOE COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION (ACCF) LITTLETON, CO | FURTHER TAX EXEMPT PURPOSE | $24,359 |
| CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF DENVER (CHILDREN) DENVER, CO | FURTHER TAX EXEMPT PURPOSE | $100,000 |
| DENVER ART MUSEUM (DAM) DENVER, CO | FURTHER TAX EXEMPT PURPOSE | $15,000 |
| DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS (DBG) DENVER, CO | FURTHER TAX EXEMPT PURPOSE | $50,000 |
| DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE (DMNS) DENVER, CO | FURTHER TAX EXEMPT PURPOSE | $298,419 |
| DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE (DMNS) DENVER, CO | FURTHER TAX EXEMPT PURPOSE | $596,399 |
| DSST PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION (DSST) DENVER, CO | FURTHER TAX EXEMPT PURPOSE | $2,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Donald L. Sturm – Chairman (1931-2024)
- Susan M. Sturm – Vice Chairman
- Stephen F. Sturm – Vice President and Treasurer
- Emily Sturm Ehrens – President and CEO
All family members serve without compensation. Emily Sturm Ehrens, the founders' daughter, currently leads the foundation as President and CEO, continuing the family's legacy of high-impact philanthropy.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DONALD L STURM | CHAIRMAN | 1 | — |
| SUSAN M STURM | VICE CHAIRMAN | 1 | — |
| STEPHEN F STURM | VICE PRESIDENT AND TREASURER | 15 | — |
| EMILY STURM EHRENS | PRESIDENT AND CEO | 30 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has made significant contributions to major cultural and educational institutions in the Denver area, including:
A $20 million gift to support museum renovation projects
$20 million gift for museum renovation from Sue Sturm and family \u2013\A $6 million gift to the Denver Art Museum's North Building Renovation Project
$20 million gift for museum renovation from Sue Sturm and family \u2013\Support for scholarships at the University of Denver's Sturm College of Law
Scholarships | Sturm College of Law - University of DenverGrants providing scholarships and equipment for students at Western Colorado Community College
Scholarships | Sturm College of Law - University of DenverThe foundation continues to support a diverse range of charitable organizations across education, health, culture, and community development sectors.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Sturm Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's core mission centers on supporting services and programs that provide value and positive effect on local communities while holding true to the Sturm family's values. Originally, the foundation focused on: • Quality education for low- and moderate-income children • Strong, centrally-located universities • Affordable housing • Vibrant Jewish community life While the foundation has evolved to support a broader range of organizations, these foundational values remain central to its…
How do I apply for a grant from Sturm Family Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Annual giving: $7.8 million (2024) • Grant range: $1,000 to $4,000,000 • Median grant size: $100,000 • Number of grants: 32 (2024) **Application Process:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications or proposals. Contact should only be initiated if invited by the foundation. **Recent Grant Recipients (2023-2024):** • Denver Museum of Nature & Science: $4,000,000 • University of Minnesota Foundation: $1,000,000 • National Jewish Health: $406,000 • Univer…
Where does Sturm Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Colorado, with emphasis on Denver. However, recent grants indicate broader geographic reach, including support for organizations in Minnesota, California, Washington, and other states.
What size grants does Sturm Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Sturm Family Foundation awarded 38 grants totaling $4.2M — an average of about $112K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Sturm Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Sturm Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $7.8M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Sturm Family Foundation's EIN?
Sturm Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-1483429. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Sturm 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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