The Russell family foundation concentrates its giving on arts and cultural institutions—especially in northern Utah/Cache Valley—and on higher-education arts support. A large share of funding goes to a single repeat beneficiary (USU Caine College of the Arts) for scholarships and program support, while other sizable grants sustain regional performing arts groups, public media, and a local nature center. Their grants emphasize general operating and capacity support rather than project-restricted funding.
Marie Eccles Caine Foundation-russell Family’s largest recent commitments have gone to USU Caine College of the Arts in Logan, with repeated seven-figure-scale support spread across multiple years for scholarships and program support. That recurring pattern makes the college the clearest anchor in the foundation’s giving. The foundation also backs a broader arts and culture ecosystem in northern Utah through operating support for Cache Valley Center for the Arts, Chamber Music Society of Logan, Utah Symphony|Utah Opera, Music Theatre West, and PBS Utah. Beyond the arts, it has also supported the Allen and Alice Stokes Nature Center and Land to Hand Montana, showing that its portfolio extends to local environmental education and place-based community work. The grant list suggests a strong preference for institutional support rather than one-time project funding, with many awards described as general operating. Across the recent record, Logan, Salt Lake City, and Whitefish appear repeatedly, reflecting a regional grantmaker with a pronounced concentration in Cache Valley and neighboring Utah cultural institutions.
Higher education arts support is a defining theme. In 2025, Marie Eccles Caine Foundation-russell Family gave $497,000 to USU Caine College of the Arts for scholarships and program support, matching the same amount it awarded the college in 2024. Regional performing arts groups also receive sustained backing: Utah Symphony|Utah Opera received $100,000 in 2025 for general operating, while Chamber Music Society of Logan received $100,000 in 2025 for general operating. Community arts infrastructure is another clear thread. Cache Valley Center for the Arts was awarded $250,000 in 2025 for general operating, and Music Theatre West received $40,000 in 2025 for general operating. The foundation also funded PBS Utah with $150,000 in 2025 for general operating, indicating support for public media alongside live arts organizations.
Typical grant size centers around a relatively narrow band: the 25th percentile is $7,875, the median is $10,000, and the 75th percentile is $18,000. The recent record also shows a smaller number of much larger awards, especially to recurring recipients. USU Caine College of the Arts appears across multiple years, as do Cache Valley Center for the Arts, Chamber Music Society of Logan, Music Theatre West, and the Allen and Alice Stokes Nature Center. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. The grant descriptions are predominantly general operating or scholarship and program support, which points to an institutional, capacity-oriented grantmaking style.
$1.3M
$17.4M
$1.9M
$1.4M
Most grants fall between $8K and $18K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$8K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$18K
About 11% of grants go to recipients in UT.
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Concentrated, high-dollar giving to a small set of regional cultural beneficiaries with repeat multi-grant support for a flagship grantee; mostly large general operating grants rather than many small or geographically diverse awards.
Notable grantees: USU Caine College of the Arts, Cache Valley Center for the Arts, PBS Utah, Chamber Music Society of Logan, Utah Symphony | Utah Opera
Grant recipients are all in the United States, and the giving pattern is heavily weighted toward Utah. Logan appears most often, including grants to USU Caine College of the Arts, Cache Valley Center for the Arts, Chamber Music Society of Logan, Music Theatre West, and the Allen and Alice Stokes Nature Center. Salt Lake City is another recurring hub through PBS Utah, Utah Symphony|Utah Opera, and Ririe-Woodbury. Outside Utah, the recent list includes Whitefish, Montana, for Land to Hand Montana, showing that the foundation’s regional reach extends beyond its own headquarters state.
The recent grants show a clear emphasis on arts and cultural institutions, especially in Logan and Salt Lake City. Repeated recipients include USU Caine College of the Arts, Cache Valley Center for the Arts, Chamber Music Society of Logan, Music Theatre West, PBS Utah, and Utah Symphony|Utah Opera. The list also includes the Allen and Alice Stokes Nature Center and Land to Hand Montana.
Most of the named awards in the recent list are labeled general operating. Examples include Cache Valley Center for the Arts, PBS Utah, Utah Symphony|Utah Opera, Chamber Music Society of Logan, Ririe-Woodbury, and the Allen and Alice Stokes Nature Center. The foundation also makes scholarships and program support grants, especially to USU Caine College of the Arts.
The distribution is centered on modest grants: the 25th percentile is $7,875, the median is $10,000, and the 75th percentile is $18,000. The recent data also includes larger institutional awards, but most grants cluster around that lower range.
The top state by grant count is Montana, even though many of the largest grants go to Utah recipients. Within the recent list, Logan, Utah, is the most frequent city, followed by Salt Lake City, Utah, and Whitefish, Montana appears through grants to local organizations there.
Yes. USU Caine College of the Arts appears in multiple years, including 2023, 2024, and 2025. Other repeated recipients in the recent record include Cache Valley Center for the Arts, Chamber Music Society of Logan, Music Theatre West, and the Allen and Alice Stokes Nature Center, suggesting ongoing support rather than isolated one-time awards.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USU CAINE COLLEGE OF THE ARTS | LOGAN, UT | $497,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS & PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CACHE VALLEY CENTER FOR THE ARTS | LOGAN, UT | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| PBS UTAH | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| UTAH SYMPHONYUTAH OPERA | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY OF LOGAN | LOGAN, UT | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| ALLEN AND ALICE STOKES NATURE CENTE | LOGAN, UT | $75,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| RIRIE-WOODBURY | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| MUSIC THEATRE WEST | LOGAN, UT | $40,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| BRIGHAM CITY FINE ARTS COUNCIL | BRIGHAM CITY, UT | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| BOX ELDER SCHOOL DISTRICT FOUNDATIO | BRIGHAM CITY, UT | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| LAKE BONNEVILLE SYMPHONIC SOCIETY | BRIGHAM CITY, UT | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| NORTH CACHE MIDDLE SCHOOL | RICHMOND, UT | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| USU CAINE COLLEGE OF THE ARTS | LOGAN, UT | $497,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS & PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| UTAH STATE UNIV - CAINE LYRIC THEATRE | LOGAN, UT | $60,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| CACHE VALLEY CENTER FOR THE ARTS | LOGAN, UT | $26,500 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY OF LOGAN | LOGAN, UT | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| MUSIC THEATRE WEST | LOGAN, UT | $18,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| PBS UTAH | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $15,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| ALLEN AND ALICE STOKES NATURE CENTE | LOGAN, UT | $15,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| RIRIE-WOODBURY | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| CACHE VALLEY SKI TEAM | NORTH LOGAN, UT | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| UTAH SYMPHONYUTAH OPERA | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER | MONTGOMERY, AL | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| BRIGHAM CITY FINE ARTS COUNCIL | BRIGHAM CITY, UT | $8,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| BOX ELDER SCHOOL DISTRICT FOUNDATIO | BRIGHAM CITY, UT | $7,500 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| LAKE BONNEVILLE SYMPHONIC SOCIETY | BRIGHAM CITY, UT | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| NORTH CACHE MIDDLE SCHOOL | RICHMOND, UT | $4,500 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| GLACIER NORDIC CLUB | WHITEFISH, MT | $4,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| DREAM ADAPTIVE RECREATION | WHITEFISH, MT | $4,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| DISCOVERY DEVELOPMENT CENTER | KALISPELL, MT | $2,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| USU CAINE COLLEGE OF THE ARTS | LOGAN, UT | $488,832 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIPS & PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| USU CAINE COLLEGE OF THE ARTS | LOGAN, UT | $486,000 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIPS & PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CACHE VALLEY CENTER FOR THE ARTS | LOGAN, UT | $26,500 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| CACHE VALLEY CENTER FOR THE ARTS | LOGAN, UT | $26,500 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| WORLD FOOD PROGRAM USA | BOONE, IA | $20,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| LAND TO HAND MONTANA | WHITEFISH, MT | $20,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY OF LOGAN | LOGAN, UT | $20,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER | MONTGOMERY, AL | $20,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY OF LOGAN | LOGAN, UT | $20,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| MUSIC THEATRE WEST | LOGAN, UT | $18,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| MUSIC THEATRE WEST | LOGAN, UT | $18,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| ALLEN AND ALICE STOKES NATURE CENTE | LOGAN, UT | $15,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| PBS UTAH | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $15,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| PBS UTAH | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $15,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| ALLEN AND ALICE STOKES NATURE CENTE | LOGAN, UT | $15,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| BRIGHAM CITY FINE ARTS COUNCIL | BRIGHAM CITY, UT | $10,500 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| RIRIE-WOODBURY | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| COMMON GROUND OUTDOOR ADVENTURES | LOGAN, UT | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| UTAH SYMPHONYUTAH OPERA | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| JUMP THE MOON | LOGAN, UT | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING |
USU CAINE COLLEGE OF THE ARTS
$497,000SCHOLARSHIPS & PROGRAM SUPPORT
PBS UTAH
$150,000GENERAL OPERATING
CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY OF LOGAN
$100,000GENERAL OPERATING
ALLEN AND ALICE STOKES NATURE CENTE
$75,000GENERAL OPERATING
RIRIE-WOODBURY
$50,000GENERAL OPERATING
MUSIC THEATRE WEST
$40,000GENERAL OPERATING
BRIGHAM CITY FINE ARTS COUNCIL
$30,000GENERAL OPERATING
BOX ELDER SCHOOL DISTRICT FOUNDATIO
$30,000GENERAL OPERATING
LAKE BONNEVILLE SYMPHONIC SOCIETY
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING
NORTH CACHE MIDDLE SCHOOL
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING
USU CAINE COLLEGE OF THE ARTS
$497,000SCHOLARSHIPS & PROGRAM SUPPORT
UTAH STATE UNIV - CAINE LYRIC THEATRE
$60,000GENERAL OPERATING
CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY OF LOGAN
$20,000GENERAL OPERATING
MUSIC THEATRE WEST
$18,000GENERAL OPERATING
PBS UTAH
$15,000GENERAL OPERATING
ALLEN AND ALICE STOKES NATURE CENTE
$15,000GENERAL OPERATING
RIRIE-WOODBURY
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING
CACHE VALLEY SKI TEAM
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING
BRIGHAM CITY FINE ARTS COUNCIL
$8,000GENERAL OPERATING
BOX ELDER SCHOOL DISTRICT FOUNDATIO
$7,500GENERAL OPERATING
LAKE BONNEVILLE SYMPHONIC SOCIETY
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING
NORTH CACHE MIDDLE SCHOOL
$4,500GENERAL OPERATING
GLACIER NORDIC CLUB
$4,000GENERAL OPERATING
DREAM ADAPTIVE RECREATION
$4,000GENERAL OPERATING
DISCOVERY DEVELOPMENT CENTER
$2,000GENERAL OPERATING
USU CAINE COLLEGE OF THE ARTS
$488,832SCHOLARSHIPS & PROGRAM SUPPORT
USU CAINE COLLEGE OF THE ARTS
$486,000SCHOLARSHIPS & PROGRAM SUPPORT
LAND TO HAND MONTANA
$20,000GENERAL OPERATING
CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY OF LOGAN
$20,000GENERAL OPERATING
CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY OF LOGAN
$20,000GENERAL OPERATING
MUSIC THEATRE WEST
$18,000GENERAL OPERATING
MUSIC THEATRE WEST
$18,000GENERAL OPERATING
ALLEN AND ALICE STOKES NATURE CENTE
$15,000GENERAL OPERATING
PBS UTAH
$15,000GENERAL OPERATING
PBS UTAH
$15,000GENERAL OPERATING
ALLEN AND ALICE STOKES NATURE CENTE
$15,000GENERAL OPERATING
BRIGHAM CITY FINE ARTS COUNCIL
$10,500GENERAL OPERATING
RIRIE-WOODBURY
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING
COMMON GROUND OUTDOOR ADVENTURES
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING
JUMP THE MOON
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING