The Marriner S Eccles Foundation concentrates its recent giving on local higher education in Salt Lake City, directing large, targeted gifts to the University of Utah. Recent grants funded a major capital campaign for the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine and graduate student scholarships, indicating a priority on campus infrastructure for health professions and student support. The foundation gives few but substantial awards to established university programs rather than broad, diversified grantmaking.
A defining thread in Marriner S Eccles Foundation grantmaking is its repeated support for the University of Utah’s medical and graduate education pipeline. One of its largest recent awards went to the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine for capital campaign support, and the foundation also backed the school through capital support and student scholarships. That pattern points to a funder that favors targeted university investments with a clear institutional purpose. The foundation’s recent grants also extend beyond one campus office. It has supported the University of Utah Graduate School through fellowship and scholarship funding, and it has given to the University of Utah School of Medicine Alumni for student scholarships. These awards suggest an emphasis on training and advancement within established higher-education programs rather than broad, dispersed philanthropy. Its portfolio includes related local interests in Salt Lake City and nearby Utah institutions, with grants to arts organizations, youth-serving groups, and Utah State University programs. Even so, the core of the foundation’s recent activity remains tied to higher education, medical training, and student support in Utah.
Higher education is the clearest theme in the foundation’s grantmaking. In 2025, it gave $200,000 to the University of Utah Graduate School for the Marriner S. Eccles Fellowship and another $75,000 to University of Utah School of Medicine Alumni for scholarships. It also provided $125,000 to Utah State University for a faculty-student summer mentorship program, tying support to academic development and student preparation. Health professions appear as a second major area. The foundation awarded $200,000 to the University of Utah Spencer F Eccles School of Medicine for the Rural and Underserved Utah Training Experience Suite, and $100,000 to Utah State University-college of Education & Human Services for nursing simulation equipment. These grants show interest in training infrastructure as well as student learning. Its giving also reaches youth and community services. Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake received $80,000 for an afterschool program, and Neighborhood House received $55,000 for adult day services and support for aging and disabled adults in Utah.
$2.2M
$78.1M
$4M
$3.9M
Most grants fall between $5K and $20K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$20K
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Concentrated, high-dollar grants to a single local institution (University of Utah); mix of capital project funding and scholarship support; few awards overall rather than many small grants.
Notable grantees: University of Utah Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine, University of Utah Graduate School, University of Utah (institution-wide support/beneficiaries)
Typical grant size is modest-to-midrange: p25 is $5,000, median is $10,000, and p75 is $20,000. Recent activity shows a small number of larger awards paired with many grants at $50,000 to $200,000. The foundation is a regular funder, not a DAF, and it funds individuals, which aligns with scholarship grants in the record. The recent list also shows repeat support to the same institutions across multiple years, especially the University of Utah, Utah State University, Utah Symphony Utah Opera, and Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake, indicating recurring relationships rather than one-off grants.
Giving is entirely in Utah, with 100% of grants to recipients in the HQ state. The largest concentration is in Salt Lake City, where recipients include the University of Utah, Utah Symphony Utah Opera, Ballet West, and Wasatch Homeless Health Care. Other recurring recipient cities include Logan, home to Utah State University and the Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land Water & Air, Murray for Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake, and Park City for Alf Engen Ski Museum.
Recent grants center on higher education, especially the University of Utah and Utah State University, with support for medical training, fellowships, scholarships, faculty-student mentorship, and campus program infrastructure. The foundation also funds arts organizations, youth programs, and community services in Utah.
The recent grants record shows 402 grants, all to recipients in the US, and 100% of grants went to recipients in the HQ state of Utah. The recipient cities listed are all in Utah.
The foundation’s grant-size distribution is p25 $5,000, median $10,000, and p75 $20,000. Recent awards also include larger targeted grants, especially to university and program support recipients.
Yes. The foundation’s profile says it funds individuals, and the recent grants list includes multiple scholarship awards through the University of Utah Graduate School and University of Utah School of Medicine Alumni.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY OF UTAH SCHOOL OF MEDICINE | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $200,000 | 2026 | CAPITAL SUPPORT |
| UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY JANET QUINNEY LAWSON INSTITUTE FOR LAND WATER & AIR | LOGAN, UT | $100,000 | 2026 | STUDYING "WATERHOG" INVASIVE SPECIES IN THE GREAT SALT LAKE WATERSHED |
| UTAH SYMPHONY UTAH OPERA | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT & DEER VALLEY MUSIC FESTIVAL |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF GREATER SALT LAKE | MURRAY, UT | $80,000 | 2026 | AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM |
| UNIVERSITY OF UTAH SCHOOL OF MEDICINE ALUMNI | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $75,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $55,000 | 2026 | ADULT DAY SERVICES |
| ALF ENGEN SKI MUSEUM | PARK CITY, UT | $55,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION PROGRAM/GENERAL OPERATIONS/REMODEL /DEMOGRAPHICS COLLECTOR |
| UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY NORA ECCLES HARRISON MUSEUM OF ART | LOGAN, UT | $50,000 | 2026 | WANLASS CENTER FOR ART EDUCATION AND RESEARCH - ART COLLECTION COMPACT STORAGE |
| BALLET WEST | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $50,000 | 2026 | SPONSORSHIP |
| UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES & SOCIAL SCIENCE | LOGAN, UT | $50,000 | 2026 | MEDICAL INTERPRETER CERTIFICATION PROGRAM |
| INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE | WEST VALLEY, UT | $50,000 | 2026 | CASE MANAGEMENT AND LEGAL SUPPORT |
| WASATCH HOMELESS HEALTH CARE DBA FOURTH STREET CLINIC | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $50,000 | 2026 | GIVE ONE RAISE TWO |
| GUADALUPE CENTER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS INC | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $50,000 | 2026 | EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY BINGHAM RESEARCH CENTER | LOGAN, UT | $47,000 | 2026 | EQUIPMENT |
| UTAH'S ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $40,000 | 2026 | CAMERA SYSTEM |
| UNIVERSITY OF UTAH DAVID ECCLES SCHOOL OF BUSINESS | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $36,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD ASSOCIATION OF UTAH | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $33,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION PROGRAMS |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF UTAH | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $32,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| SALT LAKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $30,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF UTAH UTAH MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $30,000 | 2026 | CONSERVATION PROJECTS |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $25,000 | 2026 | SLC HOPE LODGE ADOPT-A-ROOM |
| UNITED WAY OF SALT LAKE | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $25,000 | 2026 | PROMISE SCHOLARSHIP |
| UNIVERSITY OF UTAH S J QUINNEY COLLEGE OF LAW | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $25,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF UTAH PIONEER THEATRE COMPANY | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $25,000 | 2026 | SPONSORSHIP |
| THE SHARING PLACE | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $25,000 | 2026 | GRIEF SUPPORT GROUPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF UTAH COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $25,000 | 2026 | MARCHING UTES INSTRUMENTS |
| YOUNG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF UTAH DBA YWCA UTAH | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $25,000 | 2026 | DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAMS |
| VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA UTAH | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| UTAH SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL (AS PART OF SOUTHERN UTAH UNIVERSITY) | CEDAR CITY, UT | $24,000 | 2026 | GREENSHOW SPONSORSHIP |
| WESTMINSTER UNIVERSITY | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $20,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF UTAH COLLEGE OF NURSING | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $20,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| THE ROAD HOME | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $20,000 | 2026 | EMERGENCY SHELTER PROGRAMS |
| UNIVERSITY OF UTAH LOWELL BENNION COMMUNITY SERVICE CENTER | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $20,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| COMMUNITY NURSING SERVICES | WEST VALLEY CITY, UT | $20,000 | 2026 | CHARITY CARE PROGRAM |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS IN UTAH | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $20,000 | 2026 | DISASTER CYLCE PROGRAM |
| ENVISION UTAH | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $20,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION PROJECT |
| THE CHILDREN'S CENTER | WEST VALLEY CITY, UT | $20,000 | 2026 | THERAPUTIC PRESCHOOL SUPPORT |
| OGDEN-WEBER APPLIED TECHNOLOGY COLLEGE | OGDEN, UT | $15,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| KOSTOPULOS DREAM FOUNDATION | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $15,000 | 2026 | CAMP KOSTOPULOS |
| GINA BACHAUER INTERNATIONAL PIANO FOUNDATION | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $15,000 | 2026 | SPONSORSHIP |
| SOUTHERN UTAH UNIVERSITY | CEDAR CITY, UT | $15,000 | 2026 | LIBRARY SUPPORT |
| PEOPLE'S HEALTH CLINIC | PARK CITY, UT | $15,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF WEBER-DAVIS | OGDEN, UT | $15,000 | 2026 | AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM |
| MALIHEH FREE CLINIC | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $15,000 | 2026 | HEALTHY FAMILIES SUPPORT PROGRAM |
| UTAH COUNCIL OF THE BLIND | WOOD CROSS, UT | $15,000 | 2026 | TRANSPORATION VOUCHERS |
| UNIVERSITY OF UTAH NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF UTAH | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $15,000 | 2026 | SPONSORSHIP |
| FRIENDS FOR SIGHT | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $15,000 | 2026 | VISION SCREENINGS |
| FIT TO RECOVER | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $15,000 | 2026 | YOUTH SUBSTANCE USE PREVENTION |
| ONSTAGE OGDEN | OGDEN, UT | $12,000 | 2026 | SUMMER CONCERT SERIES |
| UTAH FOOD BANK | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $11,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
UNIVERSITY OF UTAH SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
$200,000CAPITAL SUPPORT
UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY JANET QUINNEY LAWSON INSTITUTE FOR LAND WATER & AIR
$100,000STUDYING "WATERHOG" INVASIVE SPECIES IN THE GREAT SALT LAKE WATERSHED
UTAH SYMPHONY UTAH OPERA
$100,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT & DEER VALLEY MUSIC FESTIVAL
UNIVERSITY OF UTAH SCHOOL OF MEDICINE ALUMNI
$75,000SCHOLARSHIPS
ADULT DAY SERVICES
ALF ENGEN SKI MUSEUM
$55,000EDUCATION PROGRAM/GENERAL OPERATIONS/REMODEL /DEMOGRAPHICS COLLECTOR
UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY NORA ECCLES HARRISON MUSEUM OF ART
$50,000WANLASS CENTER FOR ART EDUCATION AND RESEARCH - ART COLLECTION COMPACT STORAGE
UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES & SOCIAL SCIENCE
$50,000MEDICAL INTERPRETER CERTIFICATION PROGRAM
INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE
$50,000CASE MANAGEMENT AND LEGAL SUPPORT
GIVE ONE RAISE TWO
EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM SUPPORT
UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY BINGHAM RESEARCH CENTER
$47,000EQUIPMENT
UTAH'S ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY
$40,000CAMERA SYSTEM
UNIVERSITY OF UTAH DAVID ECCLES SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
$36,000SCHOLARSHIPS
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF UTAH
$32,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
SALT LAKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
$30,000SCHOLARSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF UTAH UTAH MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS
$30,000CONSERVATION PROJECTS
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY
$25,000SLC HOPE LODGE ADOPT-A-ROOM
UNITED WAY OF SALT LAKE
$25,000PROMISE SCHOLARSHIP
UNIVERSITY OF UTAH S J QUINNEY COLLEGE OF LAW
$25,000SCHOLARSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF UTAH PIONEER THEATRE COMPANY
$25,000SPONSORSHIP
THE SHARING PLACE
$25,000GRIEF SUPPORT GROUPS
UNIVERSITY OF UTAH COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS
$25,000MARCHING UTES INSTRUMENTS
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAMS
VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA UTAH
$25,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
UTAH SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL (AS PART OF SOUTHERN UTAH UNIVERSITY)
$24,000GREENSHOW SPONSORSHIP
UNIVERSITY OF UTAH COLLEGE OF NURSING
$20,000SCHOLARSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF UTAH LOWELL BENNION COMMUNITY SERVICE CENTER
$20,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
AMERICAN RED CROSS IN UTAH
$20,000DISASTER CYLCE PROGRAM
THE CHILDREN'S CENTER
$20,000THERAPUTIC PRESCHOOL SUPPORT
KOSTOPULOS DREAM FOUNDATION
$15,000CAMP KOSTOPULOS
GINA BACHAUER INTERNATIONAL PIANO FOUNDATION
$15,000SPONSORSHIP
SOUTHERN UTAH UNIVERSITY
$15,000LIBRARY SUPPORT
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF WEBER-DAVIS
$15,000AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM
UTAH COUNCIL OF THE BLIND
$15,000TRANSPORATION VOUCHERS
UNIVERSITY OF UTAH NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF UTAH
$15,000SPONSORSHIP