Utah Geological Foundation
Utah Geological Foundation is a private foundation based in Sandy, Utah. Its 2024 filing describes support for undergraduate earth science students in Utah taking field geology courses, and for projects that interpret Utah geology for the public.
Utah Geological Foundation at a glance
In short: Utah Geological Foundation gave $15K across 13 grants in 2025 (avg $1K), mostly in Utah. 100% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $14,750
- -2.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 13
- -18.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,135
- +20.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $317,929
- +35.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 100% first-time grantees (13 of 13, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Utah (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Utah Geological Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The 2024 filing directs scholarship applicants to submit a written letter, transcripts, and a résumé to the Zach Anderson Scholarship Committee. For public geology interpretation projects, it asks for an explanation of the project, its expenses, and how it will benefit the public. The filing says scholarships are for students in undergraduate earth science programs in Utah. Projects may be proposed by an individual or group with geologic credentials and must educate about Utah geology, benefit the public, be viewable or usable on public lands, cover expenses rather than personal profit, and meet the foundation’s articles of incorporation.
- Review Cycle
- The filing lists January each year as the scholarship deadline; the January 2026 cycle has passed. It lists no deadline for projects and describes them as always open.
- Deadline
- The filing lists January each year as the scholarship deadline; the January 2026 cycle has passed.
- Contact
Application contact: Zach Anderson Scholarship Committee
Mailing address: PO Box 526356, Salt Lake City, UT 84152-0100
Phone: (801) 330-7879
Email: admin@utahgeologicalfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Utah Geological Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Preston Croshaw ($2K). Together the top 10 received $12K.
Grant Size Distribution
40 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 40 grants of 40 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars reported for 2025 went to recipients in Utah. The foundation’s 2024 filing specifies Utah for scholarship eligibility and requires projects to educate about Utah geology and be viewable or usable on public lands.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Utah Geological Foundation open to new grantees?
100%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 13 of 13 grantees (100%) were first-time recipients. With only 13 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $1K. How we count
- 0% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 93% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2023–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2023 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $7K (2023) to $15K (2024). In 2025 it made 13 grants totaling $15K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Preston Croshaw Kaysville, UT | Education | $1,500 |
| Halle Haudrich Logan, UT | Education | $1,250 |
| Colton Williamson West Jordan, UT | Education | $1,250 |
| ABI Conger Orem, UT | Education | $1,250 |
| Max McKell River Heights, UT | Education | $1,250 |
| Logan Peatross Provo, UT | Education | $1,250 |
| Levi Larson Cedar City, UT | Education | $1,000 |
| Devon Fischer Cedar City, UT | Education | $1,000 |
| Brain Angell St George, UT | Education | $1,000 |
| Ethan Mayfield Farmington, UT | Education | $1,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $317,929 | $99,447 | $15,521 | $14,750 | 13 | $15,521 | $7,026 | $16,609 |
| 2024 | $234,003 | $48,217 | $15,744 | $15,050 | 16 | $15,744 | $7,019 | $10,627 |
| 2023 | $201,530 | $153,978 | $8,335 | $7,300 | 11 | $8,335 | $3,443 | $6,528 |
| 2022 | $55,887 | $56,670 | $783 | — | — | — | — | $416 |
| 2021 | — | $2,500 | $2,500 | — | — | — | — | — |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Utah Geological Foundation reported a distributable amount of $17K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s 2024 filing describes two areas of support: scholarships for undergraduate earth science students in Utah taking field geology courses, and projects that interpret geology for the public, such as written guides and road signs. It does not state a broader mission.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 13 grants totaling $14,750. Awards ranged from $1,000 to $1,500, with a median of $1,000. The listed grants were for education and included $1,500 to Preston Croshaw and $1,250 each to Halle Haudrich, Colton Williamson, Abi Conger, Max McKell, and Logan Peatross.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Rick Ford as president; Juliette Lucy Jordan, Janae Wallace, and Robert Buehring as board members; Elise L Erler as secretary; and Grant Willis as treasurer.
Utah Geological Foundation is led by Rick Ford, President since 2025 (on filings since 2024); none of the 6 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Rick Ford
President
Board Member → President, 2025
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Grant Willis
Treasurer
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elise L. Erler
Secretary
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Janae Wallace
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Juliette Lucy Jordan
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert Buehring
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Marjorie Chan (2021–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Paul Anderson (2021–2024) — President
- Former: Leslie Heppler (2021–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Steven Schammel (2021–2022) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Utah Geological Foundation
How much does Utah Geological Foundation give each year?
Utah Geological Foundation gave $15K across 13 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $15K across 16 grants.
What is Utah Geological Foundation's typical grant size?
Utah Geological Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $1,135, across 13 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Utah Geological Foundation that year got $1K on average.
Where does Utah Geological Foundation give grants?
Utah Geological Foundation gives mostly in Utah: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Orem, UT (2 grants), Provo, UT (2 grants) and Cedar City, UT (2 grants).
Does Utah Geological Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 13 grants with a stated purpose on Utah Geological Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Education" (13 grants).
Who are Utah Geological Foundation's largest grantees?
Utah Geological Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Preston Croshaw ($1,500), Halle Haudrich ($1,250) and Colton Williamson ($1,250), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 27% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Utah Geological Foundation?
Utah Geological Foundation reported $318K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $16K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $17K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Utah Geological Foundation fund?
The foundation’s 2024 filing describes two areas of support: scholarships for undergraduate earth science students in Utah taking field geology courses, and projects that interpret geology for the public, such as written guides and road signs. It does not state a broader mission. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Utah Geological Foundation?
The 2024 filing directs scholarship applicants to submit a written letter, transcripts, and a résumé to the Zach Anderson Scholarship Committee. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Utah Geological Foundation's EIN?
Utah Geological Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-3778675. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 27, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 28, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 16, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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Figures come from Utah Geological Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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