Well Told Grants

Foundations / Texas

The Backcountry Charitable Trust

Preselected recipients only Austin, Texas · EIN 261214808

The Backcountry Charitable Trust is a private foundation in Austin, Texas. In tax year 2025 it gave $626,952 in 8 grants; the typical grant was $37,500 and the largest $414,952. It only gives to organizations it selects itself and does not accept unsolicited applications.

From its IRS Form 990-PF for tax year 2025.

Giving in 2025 was down from $666,300 the year before.

57% of its 2025 grantees had not received a grant from it the year before, a sign it is open to new organizations.

Giving by year

Tax yearGrants paidNumber of grantsAssets
2023$335,0005$9.8 million
2024$666,3004$11.7 million
2025$626,9528$13.0 million

How to apply

The Backcountry Charitable Trust says in its IRS filing that it only makes contributions to preselected organizations, so unsolicited applications are unlikely to be considered. Organizations it funds are usually invited.

IRS filings on ProPublica

Where it gives

Its grants went to recipients in 7 states, the most to Utah.

StateGrantsAmount
Utah1$414,952
Washington1$72,000
District of Columbia1$50,000
Pennsylvania1$50,000
New York1$25,000
Texas2$10,000
New Hampshire1$5,000

Grants paid in 2025

All 8 grants
RecipientPurposeAmount
USA Nordic Sport
Park City, UT
General$414,952
Innerscience Research Fund
Yelm, WA
General$72,000
Individual
PA
General$50,000
Nuclear Threat Initiative
Washington, DC
General$50,000
Let It Grow
New York, NY
General$25,000
St Stephens Episcopal School
Austin, TX
General$5,000
Nansen Ski Club
Berlin, NH
General$5,000
Casa Montessori CDC Inc
Austin, TX
General$5,000

Officers and trustees

As listed in Part VIII of the 2025 filing.

Questions people ask

Does The Backcountry Charitable Trust accept grant applications?

No. Its IRS filing says it only makes contributions to preselected organizations.

How much does The Backcountry Charitable Trust give?

$626,952 in tax year 2025, across 8 grants, with a typical grant of $37,500.

Who runs The Backcountry Charitable Trust?

Its 2025 filing lists James H Holland (Trustee) and Joseph J Holland (Trustee).

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