First Descents

Denver, CO ·EIN 81-0539964 ·Grant funding profile from IRS 990 filings

$7.9M received 100 funders 200 grants · 2020–2025

Who funds First Descents?

First Descents is funded by 100 grantmakers, led by Wend II Inc ($2.9M), Charities Aid Foundation America ($1.3M), The Joe & Sandy Samberg Foundation Inc ($581K). In total, IRS Form 990 filings record $7.9M in grants to First Descents between 2020–2025.

FunderTotal givenGrantsYears
Wend II Inc$2,889,50052020–2024
Charities Aid Foundation America$1,319,81842021–2024
The Joe & Sandy Samberg Foundation Inc$581,14642021–2025
Anahata Foundation Xxxxx5004$425,00042021–2024
Michael Gross Family Foundation$325,00032020–2023
The VF Foundation$175,00042021–2024
Bitcoin Gives Foundation$150,00012020
Haymakers for Hope Inc$149,75332020–2025
Impactassetsinc$135,00032022–2024
Tappan Easton Foundation$112,00042021–2024
Greater Houston Community Foundation$100,00022022–2024
Willard L & Ruth P Eccles Foundation$90,00012023
I'm Not Done Yet Foundation Inc$84,81022022–2023
Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program$77,49042021–2024
Gray Foundation$75,00032022–2024
Triford Foundation$62,50042021–2024
The Seabury Foundation$50,00022023–2024
Arie and Ida Crown Memorial$50,00062021–2024
Herbert R Mayer and Jeanne C Mayer$50,00012023
Gracias Family Foundation$45,00022023–2024
The Delaski Family Foundation$45,00042021–2024
Community Foundation of New Jersey$40,00032022–2024
Epperson Family Foundation$40,00042021–2024
National Philanthropic Trust$39,50022022–2024
The Tuffli Family Foundation$35,00012024

Showing top 25 of 100 funders by total given.

What grants has First Descents received?

Individual grants from IRS Form 990 filings, newest first

YearFunderPurposeAmount
2025The Joe & Sandy Samberg Foundation IncCHARITABLE$250,000
2025Haymakers for Hope IncTO AID IN FIRSTS MISSION$87,993
2024Wend II IncTO SUPPORT GENERAL OPERATIONS$250,000
2024Anahata Foundation Xxxxx5004GENERAL$250,000
2024Greater Houston Community FoundationHEALTH$50,000
2024ImpactassetsincGENERAL SUPPORT$45,000
2024Tappan Easton FoundationFIRST DESCENTS (FD) PROVIDES LIFE-CHANGING OUTDOOR ADVENTURES FOR YOUNG ADULTS IMPACTED BY CANCER AND OTHER SERIOUS HEALTH CONDITIONS. SINCE 2001, FD HAS SERVED MORE THAN 10,150 PARTICIPANTS AT OVER 1,100 PROGRAMS NATIONWIDE TO PROVIDE ONGOING PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORTIVE CARE. BEGINNING IN 2020, FD EXPANDED PROGRAMMING TO HEALTHCARE WORKERS ON THE FRONTLINES OF COVID-19. RECOGNIZED FOR ITS COMMITMENT TO OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE, FIRST DESCENTS IS A PROUD NONPROFIT PARTNER OF 1% FOR THE PLANET AND WAS HONORED AS A CNN HERO IN 2016.$37,000
2024The Tuffli Family Foundationto support young adults impacted by cancer and other serious health conditions$35,000
2024The Char and Chuck Fowler FamilyGO BEYOND CAPITAL CAMPAIGN, 1 OF 3$34,000
2024Rose Community FoundationGeneral operating support$30,000
2024National Philanthropic TrustHUMAN SERVICES$27,500
2024The VF FoundationFirst Descents I Expanding Participation and Access to Outdoor Adventure and Psychosocial Support$25,000
2024Gray FoundationNYC PROGRAMS$25,000
2024The Seabury FoundationFIRST DESCENTS CORE PROGRAM SUPPORT$25,000
2024Gracias Family FoundationGENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES IN ITS ENTIRETY.$20,000
2024Silicon Valley Community FoundationHealth$20,000
2024Natl Christian Charitable Fdn IncSPORTS AND RECREATION$17,100
2024Triford FoundationCHARITABLE$15,000
2024Joy In Childhood Foundation IncSupport Sick and Hungry Kids$15,000
2024Bennett Thrasher Foundation IncGENERAL OPERATING FUND$15,000
2024The Ayco Charitable FoundationCOMMUNITY & HUMAN SERVICES$12,500
2024Colorado Gives FoundationGENERAL PURPOSE$10,476
2024RK FoundationGeneral & Unrestricted$10,011
2024Community Foundation of New JerseySPORTS & RECREATION$10,000
2024Mounsey Family FoundationTO SUPPORT GENERAL MISSION.$10,000
2024Usher Family Foundationexempt function of charity$10,000
2024Epperson Family FoundationTO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION TO PROVIDE LIFE-CHANGING OUTDOOR ADVENTURES FOR YOUNG ADULTS IMPACTED BY CANCER.$10,000
2024The Precourt Foundation501(c)(3) Qualified Organization$10,000
2024The Delaski Family FoundationTO SUPPORT GENERAL OPERATIONS$10,000
2024Murray Foundation IncPROVIDES LIFE CHANGING OUTDOOR ADVENTURES FOR YOUNG ADULTS IMPACTED BY CANCER AND OTHER SERIOUS HEALTH CONDITIONS$8,000

Showing 30 most recent of 200 recorded grants.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who funds First Descents?

First Descents is funded by 100 grantmakers, led by Wend II Inc ($2.9M), Charities Aid Foundation America ($1.3M), The Joe & Sandy Samberg Foundation Inc ($581K). In total, IRS Form 990 filings record $7.9M in grants to First Descents between 2020–2025.

Who is First Descents's largest funder?

Wend II Inc is the largest recorded funder of First Descents, with $2.9M across 5 grants (2020–2024).

How much grant funding has First Descents received?

IRS 990 filings record $7.9M in grants to First Descents across 200 grants from 100 funders between 2020–2025. Filings are published on a delay, so recent grants may not appear yet.

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Grant data is drawn from IRS Form 990 filings via Grantable's GrantGraph™. Filings are published on a delay; recent grants may not appear yet.