Trailhead Institute is a public charity based in Denver, Colorado. Founded in 1993, it works with community-based partners, public health agencies, universities, and funders to improve health across Colorado.
Key facts about Trailhead Institute
In short: Trailhead Institute gave $2.7M across 72 grants in 2024 (avg $38K), mostly in Colorado. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 84-1267213
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,706,743
- Grants made (2024)
- 72
- Average grant
- $37,594
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $11,464,104
- Primary geography
- Colorado (98% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$11.5M
+11.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.7M
-42.5% YoY
Grant Count
72
-65.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$38K
+66.1% YoY
How Trailhead Institute gives
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
Trailhead’s mission is to advance innovation and collaboration in public and environmental health. Its stated vision is that everyone in Colorado has an opportunity to be healthy and live in a healthy environment.
Its website describes support for community-led solutions, public health programs, and workforce pathways, as well as administrative services such as financial, grant, contract, and compliance support. Its 2024 grants included community food grants, food pantry assistance, and farm equity support.
Examples of grantees’ work include Food Research & Action Center’s efforts to improve nutrition, health, and well-being through advocacy and policy solutions; Small Town Project’s work to advance health equity and quality of life in Rocky Ford; and The GrowHaus’s work to cultivate community-driven food justice through food access and education. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not Trailhead’s.
Grantmaking
In 2024, Trailhead reported 72 grants totaling $2,706,743. Itemized grants ranged from $6,000 to $1,611,500, with a median of $10,000.
The largest reported grant was $1,611,500 to Feeding Colorado for community food grants. Other notable grants included $60,000 to Food Research & Action Center for Mountain Plains regional anti-hunger coalition support; $50,000 to Front Line Farming for farm equity support; and $45,000 to Small Town Project for food pantry assistance. La Puente Home and Lift Up of Routt County each received $40,000 for food pantry assistance. The GrowHaus and Community Food Bank of Grand Junction each received $25,000 for food pantry assistance, while Food to Power received $22,500 for that purpose.
Trailhead’s website describes its Administrative Partnership Program as providing fiscal sponsorship, administrative services, and operational support. The website also lists a Food Pantry Assistance Grant Program for purchasing and distributing Colorado-grown produce and nutrient-dense foods. It says the program is open to food pantries across Colorado, with a focus on purchases of meat, dairy, and fresh produce from local farmers. The supplied program information does not specify application materials or a deadline. The 2024 filing states that grantees must submit mid-year and final reports on grant-fund use, with supporting documentation for expenditures.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Trailhead Institute
Ready to take the next step with Trailhead Institute?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Trailhead’s website describes its work as focused on improving health across Colorado. In 2024, 98% of its reported grant dollars went to recipients in Colorado and 2% to recipients in Washington, DC.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 72 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $195K (2019) to $5.6M (2020). In 2024 it made 72 grants totaling $2.7M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Feeding Colorado ($1.6M). Together the top 10 received $2.0M.
Grant Size Distribution
957 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 895 grants of 957 (94%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Feeding Colorado Denver, CO | Community Food Grants | $1,611,500 |
| Frac - Food Research & Action Center Washington, DC | Mountain Plains Regional Anti-Hunger Coalition Support | $60,000 |
| Front Line Farming Arvada, CO | Farm Equity Support | $50,000 |
| Small Town Projectcity of Roc Rocky Ford, CO | Food Pantry Assistance | $45,000 |
| La Puente Home Inc Alamosa, CO | Food Pantry Assistance | $40,000 |
| Lift up of Routt County Steamboat Springs, CO | Food Pantry Assistance | $40,000 |
| The Hadanou Collective Denver, CO | Regrant to Fiscal Sponsor | $39,243 |
| Mo Betta Green Marketplace Denver, CO | Farm Equity Support | $30,000 |
| Community Care Collective Crestone, CO | Food Pantry Assistance | $25,000 |
| Community Food Bank of Grand Junction Grand Junction, CO | Food Pantry Assistance | $25,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $11,464,104 | $23,208,772 | $22,163,157 | $2,706,743 | 72 |
| 2023 | $10,321,448 | $17,510,818 | $18,429,732 | $4,708,059 | 208 |
| 2022 | $10,482,186 | $16,671,934 | $13,247,499 | $3,470,276 | 145 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $11,464,104 | $10,321,448 | $10,482,186 |
| Revenue | $23,208,772 | $17,510,818 | $16,671,934 |
| Expenses | $22,163,157 | $18,429,732 | $13,247,499 |
| Net Investment Income | $124,029 | $115,895 | $18,688 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS September 9, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 3, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Tom Butts, MSC REHS, as chair; Jennifer Ludwig as vice chair as of August 2024; Jon Samet, MD, MS, as vice chair through August 2024; Meghan Guevara as secretary; and Susan Perrigo as treasurer. It also lists Kaia Gallagher, PhD, MFA; Jana Persky; Erica Snow; and Bruno Sobral as directors. Lauren Gearhart is listed as a director through August 2024.
Trailhead Institute is led by Roger Low, CEO & Founder Ceemi since 2024 (on filings since 2023); 10 of 21 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Roger Low
CEO & Founder Ceemi
Founder Ceem → CEO & Founder Ceemi, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$130K (2023) → $136K (2024)
Sarah Lampe
President & Executive Director
CEO → President & Executive, 2021
President & Executive → President & Executive Director, 2024
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$108K (2019) → $34K (2024)
Joel McClurg
Executive Director Integration Cbeh
Executive Director Integrati → Executive Director Integration Cbeh, 2024
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$112K (2022) → $152K (2024)
Maria Delores Ramirez
Executive Director of Cbeh
Executive Director of Vision → Executive Director of Cbeh, 2024
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$102K (2022) → $155K (2024)
Michele Shimomura
President & Executive Director
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$49K (2024)
Michelle Strongwater
Executive Director Ncrhc
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$117K (2024)
Tom Butts Msc Rehs
Chair
Director → Secretary, 2020
Secretary → Chair, 2022
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Olcese
Senior Director of Operations
COO → Senior Director of Operations, 2024
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$70K (2019) → $134K (2024)
Benjamin Robb
Director Project & Partnerships
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$115K (2024)
Greta Allen
Policy Director
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$116K (2024)
Jennifer Edwards
Director Workforce Programs & Initiatives
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$111K (2024)
Bruno Sobral
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Erica Snow
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jana Persky
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lauren Gearhart
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Melanie Zeitler
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kaia Gallagher Phd Mfa
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jon Samet Md Ms
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2020
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Susan Perrigo
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2020
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Meghan Guevara
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Ludwig
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (14)
- Former: Justice Onwordi (2023) — Impact Director
- Former: Michelle Deland (2023) — Executive Director Ncrhc
- Former: Thomas Gonzales Mph Rehs (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Mary Davis (2022) — Director
- Former: Jeff Stoll MPH (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Mary Davis Drph Msph (2019–2021) — Board Chair
- Former: Patricia Dwyer (2019–2021) — Director of Finan
- Former: Stephanie Parnell CPA (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Erin Ulric (2020–2021) — Implementati
- Former: Lawrence Volmert JD (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Melvin Bush Cic (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Thomas Vernon MD (2019–2020) — Secretary
- Former: Vaishnavi Hariprasad (2020) — Diversity
- Former: Georgina Lucas Msw (2019) — Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $155K, to Maria Delores Ramirez (Ed of Cbeh). 10 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 1999 Broadway Suite 600, Denver, CO 80202
Phone: (303) 910-4682
Website: https://trailhead.institute
Frequently asked questions about Trailhead Institute
How much does Trailhead Institute give each year?
Trailhead Institute gave $2.7M across 72 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $4.7M across 208 grants.
What is Trailhead Institute's typical grant size?
Trailhead Institute's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $37,594, across 72 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does Trailhead Institute give grants?
Trailhead Institute gives mostly in Colorado: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Denver, CO (19 grants), Colorado Springs, CO (4 grants), Aurora, CO (4 grants) and Englewood, CO (3 grants).
Does Trailhead Institute give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 72 grants with a stated purpose on Trailhead Institute's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Food Pantry Assistance" (65 grants).
Who are Trailhead Institute's largest grantees?
Trailhead Institute's largest 2024 grantees include Feeding Colorado ($1,611,500), Frac - Food Research & Action Center ($60,000) and Front Line Farming ($50,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 64% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Trailhead Institute?
Trailhead Institute reported $11.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $23.2M.
What does Trailhead Institute fund?
Trailhead’s mission is to advance innovation and collaboration in public and environmental health. Its stated vision is that everyone in Colorado has an opportunity to be healthy and live in a healthy environment. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Trailhead Institute?
Trailhead Institute has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check trailhead.institute for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Trailhead Institute's EIN?
Trailhead Institute's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-1267213. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
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