Sturm Zachary Family Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Aspen, CO EIN: 52-2098180

The Sturm Zachary Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Aspen, Colorado. In 2025, it reported making 21 grants totaling $99,600 to charitable organizations.

Sturm Zachary Family Foundation at a glance

In short: Sturm Zachary Family Foundation gave $100K across 21 grants in 2025 (avg $5K), top state Colorado. 67% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2025)
$99,600
+134.5% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
21
+133.3% vs 2024
Average grant
$4,743
+0.5% vs 2024
Median grant
$3,600
Total assets
$453,874
+18.0% vs 2024
New grantees (estimate)
67% first-time grantees (14 of 21, 2025; small sample)
Primary geography
Colorado (21% 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 Sturm Zachary Family Foundation

Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to Apply

The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Contact

Mailing address: PO Box 410, Aspen, CO 81612
Phone: (970) 948-3078

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Sturm Zachary Family Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Cleveland Clinic: $15KCleveland Clinic$15KBest Buddies: $12KBest Buddies$12KThe Washington Institute for Near East Policy: $10KThe Washington Institute forNear East Policy$10KPrager University Foundation: $10KPrager University Foundation$10KAspen Valley Hospital Foundation: $5KAspen Valley HospitalFoundation$5KOpendor Media: $5KOpendor Media$5KJewish Institute for National Security of America: $5KJewish Institute for NationalSecurity of America$5KClarion Project: $5KClarion Project$5KCenter for Peace Communications: $5KCenter for PeaceCommunications$5KBirthright Israel: $5KBirthright Israel$5K

The largest 2025 recipient was Cleveland Clinic ($15K). Together the top 10 received $77K.

Grant Size Distribution

69 grants across all recorded years

66<$50K3$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 66 grants of 69 (96%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2025, grant dollars were distributed among recipients in multiple states. The largest reported shares went to Colorado (21%), Florida (20%), Washington, DC (15%), Ohio (15%), and California (10%).

Grant Distribution by State

11states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 21 itemized grants.

Cities

AspenWashingtonDenverSunriseNew YorkRichardsonBasaltEast NorritonMiamiNew CastleCarbondaleCedarhurstChicagoClevelandCliftonCodyColorodo SpringsColumbusDillonJerico

Is Sturm Zachary Family Foundation open to new grantees?

67%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 14 of 21 grantees (67%) were first-time recipients. With only 21 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $5K. How we count

Medians: $4K first-time, $5K repeat.

  • 19% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−3%). Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 182% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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

$0$50K$100K$150K8 grants2019 8 grants2020 14 grants2021 11 grants2022 14 grants2023 9 grants2024 21 grants2025

From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $42K (2024) to $115K (2021). In 2025 it made 21 grants totaling $100K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Cleveland Clinic Cleveland, OHThe Cleveland Clinic Caregiver Catalyst Awards Fund$15,000
Best Buddies Miami, FLHelps People with Disabilities$11,800
The Washington Institute for Near East Policy Washington, DCAdvance understanding of American interest in the middle east$10,000
Prager University Foundation Sherman Oaks, CAPromote Digital Media$10,000
Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation Aspen, COSupport Aspen Valley Hospital$5,250
Opendor Media Sunrise, FLJewish Culture Education Through Various Media Sources$5,000
Jewish Institute for National Security of America Washington, DCPromote Strong Relationship with Israel$5,000
Clarion Project Richardson, TXExpose, Reduce and Prevent Online Violent Extremism$5,000
Center for Peace Communications New York, NYEmpower Civilians Across the Arab Region$5,000
Birthright Israel New York, NYEmpower Jewish Young Adults to Claim Their Birthright$5,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2025$453,874$333,448$111,623$99,60021$104,784$167,247$57,440
2024$384,691$702,346$50,849$42,4759$46,510$83,023$23,596
2023$238,743$116,255$105,502$104,56014$104,560$17,307$14,935
2022$319,571$13,119$113,364$102,85011$107,400$9,837$23,768
2021$419,816$486,863$123,616$114,50014$118,833$192,938$20,313
2020$296,269$464,039$102,035$95,6508—$132,259$9,624
2019$91,766$90,433$83,024$81,3508—$26,086$2,446

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sturm Zachary Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $57K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations working in varied fields. For example, Prager University Foundation describes its mission as promoting American and Judeo-Christian values through digital media; Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation raises philanthropic support for Aspen Valley Hospital; and Opendor Media says it works to strengthen young people’s connection to Israel, Judaism, and the Jewish people.

Other 2025 recipients describe work in areas including reducing violent extremism (Clarion Project), providing in-school and after-school dance programs (Celebrate the Beat), and health care, research, and education (National Jewish Health).

Grantmaking

In 2025, the foundation reported 21 grants totaling $99,600. Grants ranged from $250 to $15,000, with a median grant of $3,600.

Among the largest reported grants were $15,000 to Cleveland Clinic for its Caregiver Catalyst Awards Fund; $11,800 to Best Buddies to help people with disabilities; and $10,000 each to the Washington Institute for Near East Policy to advance understanding of American interests in the Middle East and to Prager University Foundation to promote digital media. Other notable grants included $5,250 to Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation, $5,000 each to Opendor Media, the Jewish Institute for National Security of America, Clarion Project, Center for Peace Communications, and Birthright Israel, and $3,600 each to Chabad - JCC Aspen and Celebrate the Beat.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Melanie L Sturm as president and Marc G Zachary as vice president.

Sturm Zachary Family Foundation is led by Melanie L. Sturm, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Melanie L. Sturm

    President

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Marc G. Zachary

    Vice President

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Sturm Zachary Family Foundation

How much does Sturm Zachary Family Foundation give each year?

Sturm Zachary Family Foundation gave $100K across 21 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $42K across 9 grants.

What is Sturm Zachary Family Foundation's typical grant size?

Sturm Zachary Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $3,600, and its average grant was $4,743, across 21 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Sturm Zachary Family Foundation that year got $5K on average.

Where does Sturm Zachary Family Foundation give grants?

Sturm Zachary Family Foundation's top state is Colorado, with 21% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Florida (20%) and District of Columbia (15%). The most frequent recipient cities were Aspen, CO (4 grants), Washington, DC (2 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants).

Does Sturm Zachary Family Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 21 grants with a stated purpose on Sturm Zachary Family Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.

Who are Sturm Zachary Family Foundation's largest grantees?

Sturm Zachary Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Cleveland Clinic ($15,000), Best Buddies ($11,800) and The Washington Institute for Near East Policy ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 37% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Sturm Zachary Family Foundation?

Sturm Zachary Family Foundation reported $454K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $105K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $57K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Sturm Zachary Family Foundation fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations working in varied fields. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Sturm Zachary Family Foundation?

The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Sturm Zachary Family Foundation's EIN?

Sturm Zachary Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-2098180. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

Does Sturm Zachary Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?

No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑

Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

Data update history

(8)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 11, 2020)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 1, 2021)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 9, 2022)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS June 14, 2023)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 31, 2024)
  6. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 20, 2025)
  7. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 2, 2026)
  8. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Sturm Zachary Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/sturm-zachary-family-foundation-morg_9512120325c2420a95312b21ce817120

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_522098180_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Sturm Zachary Family Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/sturm-zachary-family-foundation-morg_9512120325c2420a95312b21ce817120},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 Sturm Zachary Family 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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