The Summit Foundation
The Summit Foundation is a community public foundation established in 1984 and based in Breckenridge, Colorado. As a 501(c)(3) organization, it operates as a public foundation dedicated to inspiring people and mobilizing resources to improve and enrich the lives of individuals in Summit County and neighboring communities. The Foundation maintains a donor-advised fund and serves as a philanthropic leader in its region.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$24.9M
+14.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.2M
-20.4% YoY
Grant Count
96
+11.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$23K
-28.6% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Summit Foundation's mission centers on making Summit County a better place for everyone through strong leadership, innovative solutions, and essential resources to address community needs.
The Foundation seeks to partner with nonprofit organizations operating programs that:
- Create bright futures for children and youth
- Promote environmental stewardship
- Foster healthy and safe communities
- Create thriving adult communities
Grantmaking
The Summit Foundation has provided nearly $53 million in grants, scholarships, and community initiatives over its 40+ year history. The Foundation supports over 200 nonprofit organizations operating programs in Summit, Lake, Park, and Grand Counties.
Grant Range
$5,250–$410,833
Review Cycle
throughout the year
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation primarily funds nonprofit organizations operating in:
- Summit County
- Lake County
- Park County
- Grand County
These are mountain communities in Colorado.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023 (Most Recent Filing):
- Total Assets: $21.8 million
- Total Revenue: $7.22 million
- Total Expenses: $5.16 million
- Total Liabilities: $299,000
- Number of Employees: 11
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $24.9 million
- Total Giving: $4.5 million
Tax Status: Tax-exempt since January 1985 (EIN: 74-2341399)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $24,933,878 | $21,789,741 | $18,397,790 |
| Revenue | $6,381,865 | $7,224,766 | $4,939,479 |
| Expenses | $6,001,722 | $5,163,813 | $4,887,496 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $978,435 | $446,097 | $401,908 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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 Summit Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Theatre Silco ($93,000), Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center (boec) ($82,500), Advocates for Victims of Assault Inc ($81,965).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| THEATRE SILCO SILVERTHORNE, CO | GENERAL OPERATING | $93,000 |
| BRECKENRIDGE OUTDOOR EDUCATION CENTER (BOEC) BRECKENRIDGE, CO | GENERAL OPERATING | $82,500 |
| ADVOCATES FOR VICTIMS OF ASSAULT INC FRISCO, CO | GENERAL OPERATING | $81,965 |
| BRECKENRIDGE CREATIVE ARTS BRECKENRIDGE, CO | GENERAL OPERATING | $80,000 |
| BUILDING HOPE SUMMIT COUNTY FRISCO, CO | GENERAL OPERATING | $70,455 |
| HIGH COUNTRY CONSERVATION CENTER FRISCO, CO | GENERAL OPERATING | $62,000 |
| STARTING HEARTS AVON, CO | GENERAL OPERATING | $58,067 |
| SMART BELLIES BRECKENRIDGE, CO | GENERAL OPERATING | $57,500 |
| MOUNTAIN MENTORS FRISCO, CO | GENERAL OPERATING | $52,500 |
| BRECK FILM BRECKENRIDGE, CO | GENERAL OPERATING | $51,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Ellen Reid: Executive Director
- James Beckmann: Board Member
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BARB RANKIN | PRESIDENT | 2 | — |
| DAVID PREAUS | VICE PRESIDENT | 2 | — |
| ANDY AERENSON | PAST PRESIDENT | 2 | — |
| NICK BRINKMAN | TREASURER | 2 | — |
| SHANNON HAYNES | SECRETARY | 2 | — |
| CHRIS BANAS | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| BRIAN BINGE | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| JOSH BLANCHARD | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| JAMES KBECKMANN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| TONY BYRD | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| TONY CAMMARATA | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| LUELLA CHAVEZ D'ANGELO | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| JON COPELAND | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| DON DANKNER | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| STEVE DEPPE | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| MIKE DUDICK | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| PEGGY HILLER | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| DAVID HUGHES | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| BOB KOPP | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| MEG LASS | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| DUSTIN LYMAN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| JULIE MAGLIOCCHETTI | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| ROBBINS MANLEY | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| EMILY MESSEGEE | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| TONY PESTELLO | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| YIRKA PLATT | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| KELLY RENOUX | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| LOLI RESPINI-POLLARD | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| MIKE SCHILLING | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| CHRIS SORENSEN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| DAVID STELZER | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| GINNY VIETTI | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| NELL WAREHAM | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| JACK WOLFE | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| JEANNE BISTRANIN | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 45 | $179,167 |
| CHAD COVELL | DIRECTOR OF FINANCE | 45 | $64,809 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Foundation has announced multiple grant cycles in recent periods, awarding funds to nearly 60-68 nonprofits in individual cycles. Recent grant announcements include awards of $727,000 and $379,000 during spring and December grant cycles respectively.
The Summit Foundation awards 68 nonprofits with funds in its fall ...The Foundation is currently focused on the Bright Futures Campaign, a donor-supported initiative reshaping education in the region. This campaign has resulted in measurable impact, with first cohorts of Bright Futures scholarship recipients beginning their university studies and significant investments made in expanding career-connected learning pathways.
Contact Information
Physical Address: 103 S Harris St, Suites 201 Breckenridge, Colorado 80424
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 4000 Breckenridge, Colorado 80424
Phone: 970-453-5970
Email: info@summitfoundation.org
Website: summitfoundation.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Summit Foundation fund?
The Summit Foundation's mission centers on making Summit County a better place for everyone through strong leadership, innovative solutions, and essential resources to address community needs. The Foundation seeks to partner with nonprofit organizations operating programs that: • Create bright futures for children and youth • Promote environmental stewardship • Foster healthy and safe communities • Create thriving adult communities
How do I apply for a grant from The Summit Foundation?
The Summit Foundation has provided nearly $53 million in grants, scholarships, and community initiatives over its 40+ year history. The Foundation supports over 200 nonprofit organizations operating programs in Summit, Lake, Park, and Grand Counties. **Grant Activity:** • Annual grants awarded: Over $4 million annually • Typical grant range: $5,250–$410,833 • Recent major grants include: Family and Intercultural Resource Center ($410,833), Summit Community Care Clinic ($233,000), and Colorado M…
Where does The Summit Foundation make grants?
The Foundation primarily funds nonprofit organizations operating in: • Summit County • Lake County • Park County • Grand County These are mountain communities in Colorado.
What size grants does The Summit Foundation award?
In 2024, The Summit Foundation awarded 96 grants totaling $2.2M — an average of about $23K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Summit Foundation's EIN?
The Summit Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-2341399. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Summit 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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