The Ashton Family Foundation
The Ashton Family Foundation is a private family foundation based in Lehi, Utah, established in 1993. It operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and has been tax-exempt since July 1991. The foundation is a grantmaking organization that distributes funds to nonprofits across multiple states, with a primary focus on Utah-based organizations.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$372K
-38.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$207K
-4.2% YoY
Grant Count
36
-16.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$6K
+14.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Ashton Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $28K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation seeks to "build the kingdom of God; strengthen the family; safeguard and succor children; administer relief to the poor, needy, widowed and fatherless; prevent disease, malnutrition and hunger; eliminate suffering; promote education; benefit the arts; cultivate an appreciation for God's creations; and assist and work with other foundations in worthy causes."
Primary funding areas include:
- Religion
- Education (K-12)
- Arts and Culture
- Public Health and Access
- Human Services
Grantmaking
The foundation made 41 grants in 2024, with total giving of approximately $207,000 to $216,000. Grant sizes typically range from $500 to $33,000, with a median grant size of approximately $5,000 and an average grant size of approximately $5,000 to $22,000.
Grant Range
s typically range from $500 to $33,000, with a median grant size of approximately $5,000 and an average grant size of approximately $5,000 to $22,000.
Average Grant
of approximately $5,000 to $22,000.
Ready to take the next step with The Ashton Family Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports organizations primarily in:
- Utah (primary focus)
- California
- Idaho
- Pennsylvania
- Texas
- Washington, D.C.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Fiscal Year (2024):
- Total Assets: $371,573 to $601,545
- Total Revenue: $84,371 to $472,000
- Total Expenses: $313,343 to $323,469
- Total Giving: $207,000 to $216,000
- Number of Employees: 0
Financial Trend: The foundation has experienced significant asset depletion over the past decade, declining from over $10 million in assets approximately ten years ago to less than $1 million currently. Investment income and dividends declined 18.4% from 2023 to 2024.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $371,573 | $600,545 | $522,729 |
| Revenue | $84,371 | $401,285 | $472 |
| Expenses | $313,343 | $323,469 | $337,965 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $207,000 | $216,000 | $214,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $73,833 | $7,289 | $14,217 |
| Distributable Amount | $27,749 | $28,687 | $35,856 |
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
202 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include The Rise & Rebuild Foundation ($10,000), Crossroads Urban Center ($8,000), Pro-life Utah ($8,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ABILITY FOUND WEST VALLEY CITY, UT | UNRESTRICTED | $4,000 |
| ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF SALT LAKE CITY SALT LAKE CITY, UT | UNRESTRICTED | $7,500 |
| BUILDING YOUTH AROUND THE WORLD WEST JORDAN, UT | UNRESTRICTED | $6,000 |
| CROSSROADS URBAN CENTER SALT LAKE CITY, UT | UNRESTRICTED | $8,000 |
| EMPOWER MALI HIGHLAND, UT | UNRESTRICTED | $7,000 |
| ENGLISH LANGUAGE CTR OF CACHE VLY HIGHLAND, UT | UNRESTRICTED | $2,500 |
| EYE CARE 4 KIDS MIDVALE, UT | UNRESTRICTED | $5,000 |
| FAMILY HAVEN OREM, UT | UNRESTRICTED | $3,000 |
| FREE WHEELCHAIR MISSION IRVINE, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $5,000 |
| FRIENDS FOR SIGHT SALT LAKE CITY, UT | UNRESTRICTED | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key Personnel:
- Dave Harkness – Executive Director (receives no compensation)
- Alan C. Ashton – Trustee and co-founder of WordPerfect Corporation
- Karen Ashton – Co-founder
- Adam Ashton – Trustee
- Allison Norton – Trustee
Board members include members of the Ashton family, with trustee compensation ranging from $3,000 to $5,000.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADAM ASHTON | TRUSTEE | — | $4,000 |
| ALAN C ASHTON | TRUSTEE | — | $4,000 |
| ALLISON NORTON | TRUSTEE | — | $4,000 |
| AMY JO YOUNG | TRUSTEE | — | $4,000 |
| ANNIE ASHTON | TRUSTEE | — | $4,000 |
| BRIGHAM ASHTON | TRUSTEE | — | $4,000 |
| CHAD YOUNG | TRUSTEE | — | $4,000 |
| ELIZA SMITH | TRUSTEE | — | $4,000 |
| ELIZABETH ASHTON | TRUSTEE | — | $4,000 |
| EMILY ANN EDDINGTON | TRUSTEE | — | $4,000 |
| ERIN ASHTON | TRUSTEE | — | $4,000 |
| HEATH WESTFALL | TRUSTEE | — | $4,000 |
| KAREN ASHTON | TRUSTEE | — | $4,000 |
| MELISSA ASHTON | TRUSTEE | — | $4,000 |
| MICHAEL SMITH | TRUSTEE | — | $4,000 |
| MORGAN ASHTON | TRUSTEE | — | $4,000 |
| PAUL EDDINGTON | TRUSTEE | — | $4,000 |
| REBEKAH WESTFALL | TRUSTEE | — | $4,000 |
| SAMUEL ASHTON | TRUSTEE | — | $4,000 |
| SPENCER ASHTON | TRUSTEE | — | $4,000 |
| STEPHANIE ASHTON | TRUSTEE | — | $4,000 |
| STEPHEN ASHTON | TRUSTEE | — | $4,000 |
| TOBY NORTON | TRUSTEE | — | $4,000 |
| TRACI ASHTON | TRUSTEE | — | $4,000 |
| DAVE HARKNESS | EXECUTIVE DI | — | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Ashton Family Foundation fund?
The foundation seeks to "build the kingdom of God; strengthen the family; safeguard and succor children; administer relief to the poor, needy, widowed and fatherless; prevent disease, malnutrition and hunger; eliminate suffering; promote education; benefit the arts; cultivate an appreciation for God's creations; and assist and work with other foundations in worthy causes." Primary funding areas include: • Religion • Education (K-12) • Arts and Culture • Public Health and Access • Human Services
How do I apply for a grant from The Ashton Family Foundation?
The foundation made 41 grants in 2024, with total giving of approximately $207,000 to $216,000. Grant sizes typically range from $500 to $33,000, with a median grant size of approximately $5,000 and an average grant size of approximately $5,000 to $22,000. Recent grantees include: • Rise and Rebuild Foundation ($10,000) • Tuacahn Center for the Arts ($8,000) • Crossroads Urban Center ($8,000) The foundation accepts unsolicited grant requests and is open to new applicants.
Where does The Ashton Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports organizations primarily in: • Utah (primary focus) • California • Idaho • Pennsylvania • Texas • Washington, D.C.
What size grants does The Ashton Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The Ashton Family Foundation awarded 36 grants totaling $207K — an average of about $6K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Ashton Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Ashton Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $28K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Ashton Family Foundation's EIN?
The Ashton Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-0480108. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Ashton Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Pacificfund14
KAYSVILLE, UT
Assets
$25K
Grants
1
Total Given
$21K
Animal Concepts Foundation Inc
OGDEN, UT
Assets
$295
Grants
1
Total Given
$25
One Against Childhood Hunger
SALT LAKE CITY, UT
Assets
$235K
Grants
21
Total Given
$371K
MTC Foundation
CENTERVILLE, UT
Assets
$12K
Grants
3
Total Given
$70K
Northern Utah Charities
OGDEN, UT
Assets
$24K
Grants
0
Total Given
—
Ryan Lee Foundation
SANDY, UT
Assets
$72K
Grants
15
Total Given
$116K
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with The Ashton Family Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching The Ashton Family Foundation to a real strategy.