The Zions Bancorporation Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Zions Bancorporation, a financial institution based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Established in 1998 as a 501(c)(3) organization, the Foundation operates as a private foundation with a tradition of giving back to communities where the parent company operates. Zions Bancorporation itself was established in 1873 and maintains a network of 122 full-service financial centers across the Intermountain West.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$43.3M
+1.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.4M
-34.2% YoY
Grant Count
178
-23.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$8K
-14.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Zions Bancorporation Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation aims to be "actively involved in our communities and do our part to enhance and improve the quality of life for our customers and employees."
Primary funding areas include:
- Affordable housing
- Arts and culture
- Community service
- Diversity
- Economic development
- Education
- Health and human services
Grantmaking
Although the Foundation's tax documents state that no unsolicited requests will be accepted, grantseekers can reach out directly via email to discuss proposals. The Foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations according to its most recent filing.
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation funds organizations in multiple states, with primary focus on:
- Utah
- Texas
- California
- Wyoming
- Idaho
Additional funding reaches organizations in Colorado, Arizona, and Nevada. The Foundation's grantmaking reaches organizations across 16 states, with Utah, Texas, and California accounting for 46% of all grants.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total assets: $43,339,622
- Total revenues: $2,117,834
- Total expenses: $1,576,065
- Total giving: $1,427,860
Assets & Revenue (2023):
- Total assets: $42,797,853
- Total revenues: $581,124
- Total expenses: $2,240,629
Historical Growth:
- Total assets have grown from $2.5 million in 2011 to $43.3 million in 2024
- Annual giving grew from $2.2 million in 2021 to $4.2 million in 2022
Tax Status:
- Tax-exempt since August 1998
- EIN: 84-1411938
- Donations are tax-deductible
- Required to file IRS Form 990-PF
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $43,339,622 | $42,797,853 | $44,457,358 |
| Revenue | $2,117,834 | $581,124 | $1,008,502 |
| Expenses | $1,576,065 | $2,240,629 | $2,351,341 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,427,860 | $2,169,238 | $2,088,925 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,048,332 | $925,940 | $636,545 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,140,906 | $1,986,527 | $2,066,799 |
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
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Child Care Resource Center Inc ($35,000), Accessity ($34,000), Childrens Center ($33,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACCESSITY SAN DIEGO, CA | PROVIDE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS WITH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE | $34,000 |
| AMERICAN LEBANESE SYRIAN ASSOC CHARITIES INC MEMPHIS, TN | SUPPORT ST. JUDE'S | $1,500 |
| AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION GREENWOOD VILLAGE, CO | PREVENT LUNG DISEASE | $2,000 |
| AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS HOUSTON, TX | SUPPORT DISASTER RELIEF PROGRAM | $2,500 |
| AMERICAN-T URKISH ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED HOUSTON, TX | PROMOTE UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN USA AND TURKEY | $1,650 |
| ARIZONA ANTI-TRAFFICKING NETWORK MESA, AZ | ELIMINATE HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN ARIZONA | $2,500 |
| ARIZONA AUTISM UNITED INC PHOENIX, AZ | HELP FAMILIES CARE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM | $2,500 |
| ARIZONA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION INC PHOENIX, AZ | SUPPORT PREK-12TH GRADE PUBLIC EDUCATION | $2,500 |
| ASIA SOCIETY TEXAS CENTER HOUSTON, TX | FOSTER DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES | $1,500 |
| ASIA SOCIETY TEXAS CENTER HOUSTON, TX | FOSTER DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES AND PEOPLE | $2,300 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Principal Officer/Trustee: Harris H. Simmons
The Foundation is governed by 3 officers and trustees.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| HARRIS SIMMONS | TRUSTEE/PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| PAUL BURDISS | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| REBECCA ROBINSON | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Zions Bancorporation Foundation fund?
The Foundation aims to be "actively involved in our communities and do our part to enhance and improve the quality of life for our customers and employees." Primary funding areas include: • Affordable housing • Arts and culture • Community service • Diversity • Economic development • Education • Health and human services
How do I apply for a grant from The Zions Bancorporation Foundation?
**Grant Activity & Patterns:** • Annual giving averages approximately $1.5 million, spread across hundreds of organizations • The Foundation makes a high volume of small grants, with awards rarely reaching five figures • Recent grants include: $250,000 to Silicon Slopes (2023), $168,000 to Success in Education Foundation (2023), $100,000 to Fit To Recover (2023), $100,000 to Shelter the Homeless (2024), and $100,000 to United Way of Greater Houston (2024) • Historical grant data shows 663 grant…
Where does The Zions Bancorporation Foundation make grants?
The Foundation funds organizations in multiple states, with primary focus on: • Utah • Texas • California • Wyoming • Idaho Additional funding reaches organizations in Colorado, Arizona, and Nevada. The Foundation's grantmaking reaches organizations across 16 states, with Utah, Texas, and California accounting for 46% of all grants.
What size grants does The Zions Bancorporation Foundation award?
In 2024, The Zions Bancorporation Foundation awarded 178 grants totaling $1.4M — an average of about $8K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Zions Bancorporation Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Zions Bancorporation Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Zions Bancorporation Foundation's EIN?
The Zions Bancorporation Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-1411938. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Zions Bancorporation 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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