Mountain America Foundation
Preselected recipients only
Mountain America Foundation is a private foundation in Sandy, Utah. In tax year 2025 it gave $1.5 million in 237 grants; the typical grant was $2,000 and the largest $600,000. It only gives to organizations it selects itself and does not accept unsolicited applications.
From its IRS Form 990-PF for tax year 2025.
- Grants paid, 2025$1.5 million
- Number of grants237
- Typical grant$2,000
- Largest grant$600,000
- Assets$2.0 million
- New grantees97%
Giving in 2025 was up from $1.1 million the year before.
97% 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 year | Grants paid | Number of grants | Assets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $705,000 | 4 | $5.3 million |
| 2023 | $1.8 million | 156 | $4.1 million |
| 2024 | $1.1 million | 186 | $3.2 million |
| 2025 | $1.5 million | 237 | $2.0 million |
How to apply
Mountain America Foundation 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.
What Mountain America Foundation funds
Where it gives
Its grants went to recipients in 17 states, the most to Utah.
| State | Grants | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Utah | 145 | $1.3 million |
| Washington | 17 | $34,000 |
| Arizona | 17 | $27,000 |
| Idaho | 17 | $27,000 |
| Montana | 15 | $27,000 |
| Nevada | 5 | $9,000 |
| California | 3 | $6,000 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $6,000 |
| Texas | 3 | $6,000 |
| Colorado | 4 | $5,000 |
Grants paid in 2025
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Hale Centre Theatre | To provide affordable, world-class family theater and education. | $600,000 |
| Fullmer Legacy Foundation | To assist at-risk youth to build physical and mental strength for the world outside the ring. | $250,000 |
| Ronald McDonald House Charities | To create, fund, and support programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children and their families. | $200,000 |
| University of Utah School of Medici | To advance health sciences and practice by pursuing excellence in the discovery and application of informatics innovations, the education of the next generation of a biomedical workforce, and the establishment, development, and building of collaborative partnerships. | $40,000 |
| USANA Kids Eat | To eliminate childhood hunger in Utah by providing nutritious, easy-to-prepare food to at-risk students, especially over weekend and holidays. | $14,000 |
| Individual | $2,000 | |
| United Food Bank | To fight hunger statewide. | $2,000 |
| Individual | $2,000 | |
| Springville High School | To support a public high school located in Springville, UT. | $2,000 |
| Individual | To provide an academic scholarship to attend Arizona State University. | $2,000 |
| Individual | To provide an academic scholarship to attend Arizona State University. | $2,000 |
| Individual | To provide an academic scholarship to attend Arizona State University. | $2,000 |
| Individual | To provide an academic scholarship to attend Arizona State University. | $2,000 |
| Individual | To provide an academic scholarship to attend Arizona State University. | $2,000 |
| Individual | To provide an academic scholarship to attend Biola University. | $2,000 |
| Individual | To provide an academic scholarship to attend Boise State University. | $2,000 |
| Individual | To provide an academic scholarship to attend Boise State University. | $2,000 |
| Individual | To provide an academic scholarship to attend Southern Utah University. | $2,000 |
| Individual | To provide an academic scholarship to attend Brigham Young University. | $2,000 |
| Individual | To provide an academic scholarship to attend Brigham Young University. | $2,000 |
| Individual | To provide an academic scholarship to attend Brigham Young University. | $2,000 |
| Individual | To provide an academic scholarship to attend Brigham Young University. | $2,000 |
| Individual | To provide an academic scholarship to attend Brigham Young University. | $2,000 |
| Individual | To provide an academic scholarship to attend Brigham Young University. | $2,000 |
| Individual | To provide an academic scholarship to attend Brigham Young University. | $2,000 |
| Individual | To provide an academic scholarship to attend Brigham Young University. | $2,000 |
| Individual | To provide an academic scholarship to attend Brigham Young University. | $2,000 |
| Hanah Park | To provide an academic scholarship to attend Brigham Young University. | $2,000 |
| Individual | To provide an academic scholarship to attend Brigham Young University. | $2,000 |
| Individual | To provide an academic scholarship to attend Brigham Young University. | $2,000 |
| Individual | To provide an academic scholarship to attend Brigham Young University. | $2,000 |
| Individual | To provide an academic scholarship to attend Brigham Young University. | $2,000 |
| Individual | To provide an academic scholarship to attend Brigham Young University. | $2,000 |
| Individual | To provide an academic scholarship to attend Brigham Young University. | $2,000 |
| Individual | To provide an academic scholarship to attend Brigham Young University. | $2,000 |
| Individual | To provide an academic scholarship to attend Brigham Young University. | $2,000 |
| Individual | To provide an academic scholarship to attend Brigham Young University. | $2,000 |
| Individual | To provide an academic scholarship to attend Brigham Young University. | $2,000 |
| Individual | To provide an academic scholarship to attend Brigham Young University. | $2,000 |
| Individual | To provide an academic scholarship to attend Brigham Young University. | $2,000 |
Officers and trustees
- Sterling Nielsen
- Chad Curtis
- Scott Burt
- Tony Rasmussen
- Suzanne Oliver
Questions people ask
Does Mountain America Foundation accept grant applications?
No. Its IRS filing says it only makes contributions to preselected organizations.
How much does Mountain America Foundation give?
$1.5 million in tax year 2025, across 237 grants, with a typical grant of $2,000.
Who runs Mountain America Foundation?
Its 2025 filing lists Sterling Nielsen (President), Chad Curtis (Director), Scott Burt (Director) and Tony Rasmussen (Secretary) among 5 officers and trustees.
What does Mountain America Foundation fund?
Based on its grants, mainly education, arts and culture and health.