The Morgridge Family Foundation
The Morgridge Family Foundation is a private family foundation headquartered in Denver, Colorado, with administrative offices in Wilmington, Delaware. Established in 2008, the foundation invests in organizations and leaders that reimagine solutions to significant societal challenges. The foundation operates with a philosophy of bringing different sectors together to create meaningful connections and foster innovation.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$243.9M
-0.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$13.0M
+8.0% YoY
Grant Count
158
-20.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$83K
+35.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Morgridge Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $16.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Morgridge Family Foundation invests in the transformation of education for both students and educators. Primary funding areas include:
- Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)
- Environmental stewardship
- Broadband access
- Educational inclusion for hospitalized children
- Innovative instructional practices
- Educator development
- Access to education, particularly in rural communities
The foundation's approach is rooted in investing to solve the root causes of long-standing societal issues, with commitments that typically extend well beyond the initial grant.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s and Activity:**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds in:
- Colorado
- Florida
- District of Columbia
The foundation has a particular emphasis on rural communities for educational access initiatives.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets and Revenue (2024):
- Total assets: $243,913,282
- Total revenue: $93,000,000 (reported)
- Total expenses: $19,400,000
Assets and Revenue (2023):
- Total assets: $244,345,023
- Total revenues: $29,584,556
- Total expenses: $18,667,585
Historical Growth: Total assets have grown from $33.2 million in 2011 to $243.9 million in 2024.
Tax Status:
- Tax-exempt since June 2009
- EIN: 26-2336633
- 501(c)(3) organization
- Contributions are tax deductible
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $243,913,282 | $244,345,023 | $233,339,044 |
| Revenue | $18,995,436 | $29,584,556 | $19,232,985 |
| Expenses | $19,442,149 | $18,667,585 | $19,495,416 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $15,865,497 | $15,515,843 | $15,108,294 |
| Net Investment Income | $14,008,032 | $27,120,129 | $18,113,467 |
| Distributable Amount | $16,413,368 | $13,851,635 | $16,534,030 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Morgridge Family Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Colorado State University Foundation ($1,000,000), Colorado Mountain College Foundation Inc ($350,000), Arizona State University Foundation for a New Amer ($250,777).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A PRECIOUS CHILD INC BROOMFIELD, CO | General & Unrestricted | $560 |
| ACCION INTERNATIONAL WASHINGTON, DC | General & Unrestricted | $926 |
| ACHIEVEABILITY PHILADELPHIA, PA | General & Unrestricted | $401 |
| ACTION FOR HEALTHY KIDS INC CHICAGO, IL | General Support for implementation of the FY25-FY27 Strategic Plan | $50,000 |
| ADVENTURE CYCLING ASSOCIATION MISSOULA, MT | General & Unrestricted | $519 |
| ALLIANCE FOR CHOICE IN EDUCATION GREENWOOD VILLAGE, CO | General & Unrestricted | $250,000 |
| ALTA VISTA CENTER FOR AUTISM LAKEWOOD, CO | Public Affairs investment to increase fund raising capacity | $30,000 |
| ALTA VISTA CENTER FOR AUTISM LAKEWOOD, CO | Firefly Autism Sensory Gym Installation & Playground upgrades | $35,000 |
| ALTA VISTA CENTER FOR AUTISM LAKEWOOD, CO | General & Unrestricted | $12,500 |
| AMERICAN RIVERS INC WASHINGTON, DC | MAP Fellowship Support | $6,400 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The Morgridge Family Foundation was founded by John P. Morgridge, former Chairman of Cisco Systems, and his wife Carrie Morgridge. John Morgridge serves on several corporate and charity boards of directors, including the Nature Conservancy and the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation. He was featured in the 2011 documentary film "Something Ventured."
John and Tashia Morgridge have committed to The Giving Pledge, pledging to give away at least half of their wealth to philanthropy.
The foundation is governed by 4 officers and trustees and employs 8 staff members.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carrie Morgridge | VP, Dir | 40 | $40,000 |
| John Conrad Morgridge | Dir | 30 | $40,000 |
| John D Morgridge | Pres, Dir | 30 | $40,000 |
| Michelle N Morgridge | Dir | 30 | $40,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has been active in several key areas:
**COVID-19 Response:** Pledged $1 million for COVID-19 emergency response efforts
MFF pledges $1 million for COVID-19 emergency response efforts**Interactive Learning Tools:** Awarded $1.3 million in interactive tools for Colorado classrooms
**Higher Education Support:** Committed $70 million to the University of Wisconsin School of Education as a one-for-one match gift
New John and Tashia Morgridge gift: $70 million committed to one-for-one**Medical Research:** Established the Tashia and John Morgridge Scholars in Pediatric Translational Medicine at Stanford University
Tashia and John Morgridge Scholars in Pediatric Translational MedicineThe foundation's work demonstrates a sustained commitment to educational transformation and community impact across multiple sectors and geographic regions.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Morgridge Family Foundation fund?
The Morgridge Family Foundation invests in the transformation of education for both students and educators. Primary funding areas include: • Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) • Environmental stewardship • Broadband access • Educational inclusion for hospitalized children • Innovative instructional practices • Educator development • Access to education, particularly in rural communities The foundation's approach is rooted in investing to solve the root causes of long-standi…
How do I apply for a grant from The Morgridge Family Foundation?
**Grant Sizes and Activity:** • Typical grant awards range from $5 to $2,500,000 • Total giving in 2023: $11,135,035 • Total giving in 2024: $13,046,292 • To date, the foundation has granted more than $160 million to hundreds of nonprofits **Recent Grants:** • Shedd Aquarium: $2,000,000 (2023) for the Dive Deeper Campaign and educational spaces including a Learning Commons, Aquatic Education Wing, and Marine Munchroom **Active Programs:** • Morgridge Acceleration Program (MAP) Fellowship • Morg…
Where does The Morgridge Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds in: • Colorado • Florida • District of Columbia The foundation has a particular emphasis on rural communities for educational access initiatives.
What size grants does The Morgridge Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The Morgridge Family Foundation awarded 158 grants totaling $13.0M — an average of about $83K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Morgridge Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Morgridge Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $16.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Morgridge Family Foundation's EIN?
The Morgridge Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-2336633. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Morgridge 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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