Big Blue Sky Foundation concentrates its giving in higher education and health, primarily supporting major university programs and a children’s hospital. Grants are few but sizable and include repeat support to University of California entities, suggesting an emphasis on university-led research, scholarships or campus initiatives alongside pediatric health care in Colorado.
Highly concentrated giving: a small number of large grants (including repeat awards to UCLA/U. of California), focused on institutional recipients rather than many small nonprofits.
Big Blue Sky Foundation’s largest recent grants point to a clear pattern of support for established institutions: $100,000 to UCLA Foundation in 2023, another $100,000 to UCLA Foundation in 2024, and $100,000 to Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation in 2024. Those awards sit alongside repeated general-support gifts to university and hospital partners, indicating a preference for flexible funding rather than project-only grants. The foundation’s recent giving also reaches beyond those anchors into higher education, arts, conservation, and local Colorado nonprofits. University-linked support appears especially important, with the Regents of the University of California at Santa Cruz also receiving a $50,000 general-support grant. In Colorado, the foundation backs community organizations and health-related institutions, including Aspen-based and Aurora-based recipients. Across the recent grant list, the pattern is less about one-off experimentation and more about steady support for organizations with existing programs, research, or service capacity. The grant descriptions repeatedly use general support, reinforcing that Big Blue Sky Foundation often funds the core work of recipient institutions.
Higher education is one of the foundation’s clearest priorities. In 2024, Big Blue Sky Foundation gave $100,000 in general support to UCLA Foundation, and in 2023 it gave $50,000 to the Regents of the University of California at Santa Cruz for general support. The grant record also includes $5,000 to College Outreach in Aspen, showing that education support is not limited to major universities. Health care is another visible thread. The foundation awarded $100,000 to Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation in Aurora for general support and also made general-support grants to Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation in both 2023 and 2024. Beyond those sectors, the foundation supported arts and environmental work through gifts such as $20,000 to La Jolla Playhouse and $20,000 to Clean Water Fund, both in 2024.
Typical grants are modest relative to the largest awards: p25 is $2,500, median is $5,000, and p75 is $10,000. That distribution shows a mix of smaller community grants and a limited number of larger institutional commitments. The recent record includes repeat support to several recipients across 2023 and 2024, including UCLA Foundation, Aspen Education Foundation, Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation, Greenpeace Fund Inc, Trout Unlimited Inc, Help US Adopt, and Warriors & Quiet Waters Foundation Inc. The foundation appears to operate as a private grantmaker rather than a public charity running an application-based program, and the recent grants are consistently labeled general support.
$297K
$1.6M
$193K
$323K
Most grants fall between $3K and $10K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$3K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$10K
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Notable grantees: UCLA Foundation, Regents of the University of California, Children's Hospital Colorado Foundation
Most recent grants go to U.S. organizations, and California is the top state by grant count. Los Angeles appears twice through UCLA Foundation, while La Jolla also appears through La Jolla Playhouse and Sanford Burnham Prebys. Colorado is a major recipient state as well, with grants to Aspen, Aurora, Snowmass Village, and Glenwood Springs. The recipient list is regional rather than national in reach, with 39% of grants going to organizations in Colorado and additional grants concentrated in California.
The recent grants point to higher education, children’s health, arts, conservation, and community services. Examples include UCLA Foundation, Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation, La Jolla Playhouse, Clean Water Fund, and Aspen Education Foundation, with most awards labeled general support.
The grant-size distribution centers on smaller awards: p25 is $2,500, median is $5,000, and p75 is $10,000. Larger gifts do appear, including $100,000 awards to UCLA Foundation and Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation.
Yes. The recent record shows repeat support to several groups across 2023 and 2024, including UCLA Foundation, Aspen Education Foundation, Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation, Greenpeace Fund Inc, Trout Unlimited Inc, Help US Adopt, and Warriors & Quiet Waters Foundation Inc.
California is the top state by grant count, with multiple recent grants going to Los Angeles and La Jolla organizations. Colorado also receives a substantial share, and 39% of grants go to recipients in Colorado.
Most recent grants are labeled general support, which suggests flexible funding for core operations or institutional priorities. That pattern appears across university, hospital, arts, and environmental recipients.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL COLORADO FOUNDATION | AURORA, CO | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UCLA FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JAZZ ASPEN - SNOWMASS | ASPEN, CO | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SANFORD BURNHAM PREBYS | LA JOLLA, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ANDERSON RANCH ARTS CENTER | SNOWMASS VILLAGE, CO | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| LA JOLLA PLAYHOUSE | LA JOLLA, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BEST BUDDIES | MIAMI, FL | $7,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HELP US ADOPT | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CLEAN WATER FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GREENPEACE FUND INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| A WAY OUT | COUDERSPORT, PA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WARRIORS & QUIET WATERS FOUNDATION INC | BOZEMAN, MT | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE BUDDY PROGRAM | ASPEN, CO | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ASPEN OUT | ASPEN, CO | $3,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| RIVER BRIDGE REGIONAL CENTER | GLENWOOD SPRINGS, CO | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ASPEN VALLEY HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | ASPEN, CO | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| COMPUTERS TO KIDS SAN DIEGO | SAN DIEGO, CA | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FOREVER OUR RIVERS | GRAND JUNCTION, CO | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE SURFRIDER | SAN CLEMENTE, CA | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ATHENAEUM MUSIC & ART LIBRARY | LA JOLLA, CA | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NEW CREATION PRESCHOOL | ASPEN, CO | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE ARMORY FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA AT LAYAFETTE | LAFAYETTE, LA | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ASPEN YOUTH CENTER | ASPEN, CO | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DELTA DELTA DELTA FOUNDATION | DALLAS, TX | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| TROUT UNLIMITED INC | ARLINGTON, VA | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL COLORADO FOUNDATION | AURORA, CO | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UCLA FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ASPEN EDUCATION FOUNDATION | ASPEN, CO | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| LA JOLLA PLAYHOUSE | LA JOLLA, CA | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SANFORD BURNHAM PREBYS | LA JOLLA, CA | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CLEAN WATER FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AVSC | ASPEN, CO | $15,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JAZZ ASPEN - SNOWMASS | ASPEN, CO | $12,210 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ANDERSON RANCH ARTS CENTER | SNOWMASS VILLAGE, CO | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| COMPUTERS TO KIDS SAN DIEGO | SAN DIEGO, CA | $6,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE BUDDY PROGRAM | ASPEN, CO | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ASPEN VALLEY HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | ASPEN, CO | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| COLLEGE OUTREACH | ASPEN, CO | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GREENPEACE FUND INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MOUNTAIN RESCUE ASPEN | ASPEN, CO | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| TROUT UNLIMITED INC | ARLINGTON, VA | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WARRIORS & QUIET WATERS FOUNDATION INC | BOZEMAN, MT | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HELP US ADOPT | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY | BOSTON, MA | $3,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| TEENS RISE FOUNDATION | LA JOLLA, CA | $2,500 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| VALLEY SETTLEMENT | CARBONDALE, CO | $2,500 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ASPEN YOUTH CENTER | ASPEN, CO | $2,500 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UPLIFT YOGA FOUNDATION | LAGUNA BEACH, CA | $2,500 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| RIVER BRIDGE REGIONAL CENTER | GLENWOOD SPRINGS, CO | $2,500 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL COLORADO FOUNDATION
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
SANFORD BURNHAM PREBYS
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
LA JOLLA PLAYHOUSE
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
BEST BUDDIES
$7,000GENERAL SUPPORT
HELP US ADOPT
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
A WAY OUT
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ASPEN OUT
$3,000GENERAL SUPPORT
RIVER BRIDGE REGIONAL CENTER
$2,500GENERAL SUPPORT
COMPUTERS TO KIDS SAN DIEGO
$2,000GENERAL SUPPORT
FOREVER OUR RIVERS
$2,000GENERAL SUPPORT
THE SURFRIDER
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ATHENAEUM MUSIC & ART LIBRARY
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
NEW CREATION PRESCHOOL
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA AT LAYAFETTE
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
LA JOLLA PLAYHOUSE
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT
SANFORD BURNHAM PREBYS
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT
AVSC
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT
COMPUTERS TO KIDS SAN DIEGO
$6,000GENERAL SUPPORT
COLLEGE OUTREACH
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
MOUNTAIN RESCUE ASPEN
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
HELP US ADOPT
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
UPLIFT YOGA FOUNDATION
$2,500GENERAL SUPPORT
RIVER BRIDGE REGIONAL CENTER
$2,500GENERAL SUPPORT