First Ascent Charitable Foundation concentrates its giving on outdoor recreation, safety, and access — with a strong Colorado/backcountry emphasis — and prioritizes programs that increase participation and leadership for women and underserved groups in mountain environments. Its grants consistently support avalanche forecasting and education, outdoor leadership training and scholarships, and advocacy for climber access and winter-sports climate action, often via multi-year or repeat awards to the same organizations.
First Ascent Charitable Foundation C/o Jpmorgan Attn Lauren Da Cunha is built around mountain access and safety, with grantmaking that repeatedly centers avalanche forecasting, women’s guide training, climbing conservation, and climate advocacy in the outdoor movement. A single large grant to National Philanthropic Trust appears alongside a consistent pattern of $30,000 awards to operating partners and program funds, suggesting a foundation that uses a small set of repeat recipients to support specific outdoor priorities over time. The foundation has backed Friends of the Colorado Avalanche Information Center for backcountry forecasting and avalanche safety, The Access Fund for climbing conservation, and Protect Our Winters for climate action in the outdoor sector. It also supports training and leadership pathways through American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education Inc, Colorado Outward Bound School, and Shejumps. Several awards are framed as unrestricted, matching, or general operating support, which points to flexible funding rather than narrowly project-tied grants. Its recent grants show a strong Colorado emphasis and a clear interest in women’s participation and leadership in mountain environments, especially through scholarships and instructor training. The same organizations appear across multiple years, reinforcing a recurring relationship model rather than one-off awards.
Avalanche safety is one of the clearest throughlines in the foundation’s giving. In 2025, it gave $30,000 to Friends of the Colorado Avalanche Information Center for avalanche safety for recreational backcountry users in Colorado, and in 2023 it made a $30,000 grant to the same organization for CAIC backcountry forecasting. Women’s mountain leadership also receives repeated support. The foundation awarded $30,000 to American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education Inc in 2025 for the First Ascent women’s scholarship for instructor training, and another $30,000 in 2024 for woman instructor training and overhead. Outdoor participation and access show up through climbing and youth-adult development. The Access Fund received $30,000 in both 2023 and 2025 for its grants program and climbing conservation grant program, while Colorado Outward Bound School received $30,000 in 2024 and 2025 for field staff development programs provided by third parties.
$265K
$4M
$408K
$354K
Most grants fall between $30K and $30K, with a median of $30K.
25th Percentile
$30K
Median
$30K
75th Percentile
$30K
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Concentrated, mid-to-large grants with multiple repeat/series payments to a small set of core grantees; funding mixes program-specific support (scholarships, forecasting) and unrestricted/operating grants, primarily focused on Colorado and national outdoor nonprofits.
Notable grantees: Friends of the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, Protect Our Winters, American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education, Colorado Outward Bound School, The Access Fund
The typical grant size is $30,000 at the 25th percentile, median, and 75th percentile, which shows a highly standardized grant pattern. Most recent awards are repeat $30,000 grants, often across multiple years, with a smaller number of larger pass-through gifts such as the $167,866 grant to National Philanthropic Trust in 2023 and a $5,500 grant in 2025. The foundation is a Bank DAF Program, and the grant list includes unrestricted, matching, and general operating support, alongside program-specific awards. Recipients recur across years, especially organizations tied to avalanche safety, climbing access, and outdoor leadership.
Giving is local and heavily concentrated in Colorado, where 81% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. Colorado recipients appear in Denver, Boulder, Evergreen, Aspen, Vail, and Telluride, showing a strong front-range and mountain-community footprint. Outside Colorado, grants in the recent list also went to Salt Lake City, Utah, and Jenkintown, Pennsylvania. All of the listed recent grants are to U.S. recipients.
The foundation repeatedly funds avalanche forecasting and safety, women’s mountain guide training and scholarships, climbing conservation, outdoor leadership development, and climate advocacy within the outdoor movement. Recent grants to Friends of the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education Inc, The Access Fund, Colorado Outward Bound School, and Protect Our Winters show those themes clearly.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years, often at the same $30,000 level. Examples include The Access Fund in 2023 and 2025, Colorado Outward Bound School in 2023, 2024, and 2025, Friends of the Colorado Avalanche Information Center in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and Protect Our Winters in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
The grant-size distribution is unusually tight: the 25th percentile, median, and 75th percentile are all $30,000. That means most of the recent awards cluster at the same amount, with only a small number of grants falling outside that level.
The giving is local, and 81% of grants go to recipients in Colorado. Recent Colorado recipients include organizations in Denver, Boulder, Evergreen, Aspen, Vail, and Telluride, while a smaller number of grants went to Salt Lake City, Utah, and Jenkintown, Pennsylvania.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NATIONAL PHILANTHROPIC TRUST | JENKINTOWN, PA | $84,514 | 2026 | DAF CONTRIBUTION |
| THE BUDDY PROGRAM | ASPEN, CO | $30,000 | 2026 | CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH TO GAIN LIFE SKILLS IN THE OUTDOORS WITH THE LEADERSHIP THROUGH EXPLORATION, ACTION, AND DISCOVERY (LEAD) PROGRAM. |
| SHEJUMPS | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $30,000 | 2026 | SHEJUMPS GENERAL OPERATING GRANT + FUNDRAISING MATCH |
| ROARING FORK OUTDOOR VOLUNTEERS | CARBONDALE, CO | $30,000 | 2026 | BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE FUNDING MODEL FOR RFOV'S YOUNG STEWARDS PROGRAM |
| FRIENDS OF THE COLORADO AVALANCHE INFORMATION CENTER | EVERGREEN, CO | $30,000 | 2026 | 2025/2026 AVALANCHE FORECASTING AND EDUCATION SUPPORT |
| PROTECT OUR WINTERS | BOULDER, CO | $30,000 | 2026 | MOBILIZING THE OUTDOOR COMMUNITY FOR CLIMATE ACTION IN 2026 |
| WILDERNESS WORKSHOP | DENVER, CO | $30,000 | 2026 | WILDERNESS WORKSHOP FOREST WATCHDOG MATCHING CAMPAIGN |
| COLORADO OUTWARD BOUND SCHOOL | DENVER, CO | $30,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT FIELD STAFF DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS PROVIDED BY THIRD PARTIES |
| THE BUDDY PROGRAM | ASPEN, CO | $30,000 | 2025 | BUDDY PROGRAM LEAD PROGRAM |
| FRIENDS OF THE COLORADO AVALANCHE INFORMATION CENTER | EVERGREEN, CO | $30,000 | 2025 | AVALANCHE SAFETY FOR RECREATIONAL BACKCOUNTRY USERS IN COLORADO |
| SHEJUMPS | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $30,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED MATCHING FUNDS FOR SHEJUMPS FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGNS |
| AMERICAN INSTITUTE FOR AVALANCHE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION INC | TELLURIDE, CO | $30,000 | 2025 | FIRST ASCENT WOMEN'S SCHOLARSHIP FOR INSTRUCTOR TRAINING |
| PROTECT OUR WINTERS | BOULDER, CO | $30,000 | 2025 | PROTECT OUR WINTERS LEADING THE OUTDOOR MOVEMENT FOR CLIMATE ACTION |
| THE ACCESS FUND | BOULDER, CO | $30,000 | 2025 | CLIMBING CONSERVATION GRANT PROGRAM |
| NATIONAL PHILANTHROPIC TRUST | JENKINTOWN, PA | $5,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| PROTECT OUR WINTERS | BOULDER, CO | $30,000 | 2024 | TAKE BACK WINTER MATCH AND UNRESTRICTED |
| FRIENDS OF THE COLORADO AVALANCHE INFORMATION CENTER | EVERGREEN, CO | $30,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT AVALANCHE SAFETY FOR RECREATIONAL BACKCONTRY USERS |
| AMERICAN INSTITUTE FOR AVALANCHE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION INC | TELLURIDE, CO | $30,000 | 2024 | 27K FOR WOMAN INSTRUCTOR TRAINING & $3K FOR OVERHEAD |
| THE BUDDY PROGRAM | ASPEN, CO | $30,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING FOR LEAD PROGRAM & SUPPORT FOR GROWING LEAD PROGRAM TO GLENWOOD SPRINGS (2ND INSTALLMENT OF TWO YEARS COMMITTMENT) |
| SHEJUMPS | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $30,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE NEXT MATCHING FUNDRAISER AND UNRESTRICTED USE |
| THE ACCESS FUND | BOULDER, CO | $30,000 | 2024 | FOR THE GRANTS PROGRAM |
| COLORADO OUTWARD BOUND SCHOOL | DENVER, CO | $30,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT FIELD STAFF DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS PROVIDED BY THIRD PARTIES |
| NATIONAL PHILANTROPIC TRUST | JENKINTOWN, PA | $167,866 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT THE MISSION |
| COLORADO OUTWARD BOUND SCHOOL | DENVER, CO | $30,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT FIELD STAFF DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS PROVIDED BY THIRD PARTIES |
| THE ACCESS FUND | BOULDER, CO | $30,000 | 2023 | CLIMBING CONSERVATION GRANT PROGRAM |
| FRIENDS OF THE COLORADO AVALANCHE INFORMATION CENTER | EVERGREEN, CO | $30,000 | 2023 | CAIC BACKCOUNTRY FORECASTING |
| PROTECT OUR WINTERS | BOULDER, CO | $30,000 | 2023 | TAKE BACK WINTER INITIATIVE AND GENERAL OPERATING |
| AMERICAN INSTITUTE FOR AVALANCHE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION INC | VAIL, CO | $30,000 | 2023 | WOMEN'S MOUNTAIN GUIDE PROGRAM SCHOLARSHIPS ($24K) AND $6K UNRESTRICTED |
NATIONAL PHILANTHROPIC TRUST
$84,514DAF CONTRIBUTION
THE BUDDY PROGRAM
$30,000CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH TO GAIN LIFE SKILLS IN THE OUTDOORS WITH THE LEADERSHIP THROUGH EXPLORATION, ACTION, AND DISCOVERY (LEAD) PROGRAM.
SHEJUMPS
$30,000SHEJUMPS GENERAL OPERATING GRANT + FUNDRAISING MATCH
ROARING FORK OUTDOOR VOLUNTEERS
$30,000BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE FUNDING MODEL FOR RFOV'S YOUNG STEWARDS PROGRAM
FRIENDS OF THE COLORADO AVALANCHE INFORMATION CENTER
$30,0002025/2026 AVALANCHE FORECASTING AND EDUCATION SUPPORT
PROTECT OUR WINTERS
$30,000MOBILIZING THE OUTDOOR COMMUNITY FOR CLIMATE ACTION IN 2026
WILDERNESS WORKSHOP
$30,000WILDERNESS WORKSHOP FOREST WATCHDOG MATCHING CAMPAIGN
COLORADO OUTWARD BOUND SCHOOL
$30,000TO SUPPORT FIELD STAFF DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS PROVIDED BY THIRD PARTIES
THE BUDDY PROGRAM
$30,000BUDDY PROGRAM LEAD PROGRAM
FRIENDS OF THE COLORADO AVALANCHE INFORMATION CENTER
$30,000AVALANCHE SAFETY FOR RECREATIONAL BACKCOUNTRY USERS IN COLORADO
SHEJUMPS
$30,000UNRESTRICTED MATCHING FUNDS FOR SHEJUMPS FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGNS
AMERICAN INSTITUTE FOR AVALANCHE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION INC
$30,000FIRST ASCENT WOMEN'S SCHOLARSHIP FOR INSTRUCTOR TRAINING
PROTECT OUR WINTERS
$30,000PROTECT OUR WINTERS LEADING THE OUTDOOR MOVEMENT FOR CLIMATE ACTION
THE ACCESS FUND
$30,000CLIMBING CONSERVATION GRANT PROGRAM
NATIONAL PHILANTHROPIC TRUST
$5,500CHARITABLE
PROTECT OUR WINTERS
$30,000TAKE BACK WINTER MATCH AND UNRESTRICTED
FRIENDS OF THE COLORADO AVALANCHE INFORMATION CENTER
$30,000TO SUPPORT AVALANCHE SAFETY FOR RECREATIONAL BACKCONTRY USERS
AMERICAN INSTITUTE FOR AVALANCHE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION INC
$30,00027K FOR WOMAN INSTRUCTOR TRAINING & $3K FOR OVERHEAD
THE BUDDY PROGRAM
$30,000GENERAL OPERATING FOR LEAD PROGRAM & SUPPORT FOR GROWING LEAD PROGRAM TO GLENWOOD SPRINGS (2ND INSTALLMENT OF TWO YEARS COMMITTMENT)
SHEJUMPS
$30,000TO SUPPORT THE NEXT MATCHING FUNDRAISER AND UNRESTRICTED USE
THE ACCESS FUND
$30,000FOR THE GRANTS PROGRAM
COLORADO OUTWARD BOUND SCHOOL
$30,000TO SUPPORT FIELD STAFF DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS PROVIDED BY THIRD PARTIES
NATIONAL PHILANTROPIC TRUST
$167,866TO SUPPORT THE MISSION
COLORADO OUTWARD BOUND SCHOOL
$30,000TO SUPPORT FIELD STAFF DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS PROVIDED BY THIRD PARTIES
THE ACCESS FUND
$30,000CLIMBING CONSERVATION GRANT PROGRAM
FRIENDS OF THE COLORADO AVALANCHE INFORMATION CENTER
$30,000CAIC BACKCOUNTRY FORECASTING
PROTECT OUR WINTERS
$30,000TAKE BACK WINTER INITIATIVE AND GENERAL OPERATING
AMERICAN INSTITUTE FOR AVALANCHE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION INC
$30,000WOMEN'S MOUNTAIN GUIDE PROGRAM SCHOLARSHIPS ($24K) AND $6K UNRESTRICTED