The Saccomanno Higher Education Foundation is a highly focused, place-based funder that directs its philanthropic dollars exclusively to higher education in Grand Junction, Colorado. All recorded grants support Colorado Mesa University, indicating the foundation exists primarily to sustain and strengthen that single regional public university through programmatic, scholarship, or institutional support. Its giving appears mission-specific rather than broad-based philanthropy.
Concentrated funding: three grants totaling the foundation's entire reported giving to one recurring grantee (Colorado Mesa University), indicating repeat, targeted investment in a single local higher-education institution rather than diversified grantmaking.
Saccomanno Higher Education Foundation’s giving is built around Colorado Mesa University, which received the largest recent grants in the record, including $377,808 in 2025 and $369,619 in 2024. That pattern points to a foundation that concentrates on one regional higher-education institution rather than spreading its support across many issue areas. The foundation also makes smaller awards to other colleges and universities in Colorado and nearby states, but the center of gravity remains higher education and student support tied to the Grand Junction area. Recent recipients include Utah State University, the University of Utah, Colorado School of Mines, and Intellitec College. The foundation’s scholarship program reinforces that focus: it offers awards to students in need of financial aid for use at accredited colleges, universities, and vocational schools, and it accepts applications from students regardless of age or prior academic achievement. With annual grants of $1,855,580 and total assets of $14,555,857, the foundation operates as a sustained institutional supporter of post-secondary education in western Colorado and surrounding regions.
The foundation’s largest recent awards support Colorado Mesa University, including a $124,800 grant in 2024 and a $377,808 grant in 2025. Beyond institutional support, it also funds student access through scholarships. Its active Saccomanno Higher Education Foundation Scholarship is for students in need of financial aid at accredited colleges, universities, and vocational schools, and it is open regardless of age or prior academic achievement. The grant geography also shows support for nearby post-secondary options. For example, Intellitec College in Grand Junction received $44,500 in 2024, while the University of Colorado Boulder received $41,000 in 2024 and $35,750 in 2025. This mix suggests a focus on both the flagship local university and broader higher-education pathways for students in the region.
Typical grants are modest relative to the foundation’s largest awards: the p25 grant size is $3,812, the median is $6,250, and the p75 is $11,250. The recent record shows repeat support to several institutions across multiple years, including Colorado Mesa University, Utah State University, the University of Utah, Colorado Christian University, Adams State University, Colorado State University, Southern Utah University, Utah Tech University, Western Colorado University, and Intellitec College. That repeated pattern fits a recurring institutional-giving model rather than one-off project grants. The foundation also runs a named scholarship program and accepts unsolicited applications through that program.
$1.9M
$14.6M
$1.4M
$1M
Most grants fall between $4K and $11K, with a median of $6K.
25th Percentile
$4K
Median
$6K
75th Percentile
$11K
About 39% of grants go to recipients in CO.
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Notable grantees: Colorado Mesa University
The foundation gives most often in Colorado, which accounts for 39% of grants by recipient location. Grand Junction appears repeatedly in the record through Colorado Mesa University and Intellitec College. Other Colorado recipient cities include Boulder, Golden, Fort Collins, Lakewood, Denver, Alamosa, Greeley, Gunnison, and Aurora. Outside Colorado, grants go to Utah recipients in Logan, Salt Lake City, Cedar City, St George, and Provo, with one grant to Aurora, Illinois. All recorded grants in the provided distribution are in the United States.
It funds higher education, with a strong concentration on Colorado Mesa University and related student support. The active scholarship program also supports students at accredited colleges, universities, and vocational schools.
The foundation’s typical grant sizes are relatively small compared with its largest awards: p25 is $3,812, median grant size is $6,250, and p75 is $11,250.
The recent record shows recurring support. Colorado Mesa University appears multiple times across 2024 and 2025, and several other institutions also receive repeated grants in both years.
Yes. The Saccomanno Higher Education Foundation Scholarship is open to students in need of financial aid for accredited colleges, universities, and vocational schools, and it accepts applications regardless of age or prior academic achievement.
Colorado is the top recipient state by grant count, with 39% of grants going to recipients in the foundation’s headquarters state. Utah also appears frequently among recipient locations.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COLORADO MESA UNIVERSITY | GRAND JUNCTION, CO | $377,808 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY | LOGAN, UT | $62,183 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO BOULDER | BOULDER, CO | $35,750 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES | GOLDEN, CO | $34,500 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| UNIVERSITY OF UTAH | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $31,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY | FORT COLLINS, CO | $23,500 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| COLORADO CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY | LAKEWOOD, CO | $23,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| INTELLITEC COLLEGE | GRAND JUNCTION, CO | $15,500 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER | DENVER, CO | $14,500 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| WESTERN GOVERNERS UNIVERSITY | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $14,500 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| SOUTHERN UTAH UNIVERSITY | CEDAR CITY, UT | $14,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| UTAH TECH UNIVERSITY | ST GEORGE, UT | $13,500 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| AURORA UNIVERSITY | AURORA, IL | $13,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN COLORADO | GREELEY, CO | $12,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| ADAMS STATE UNIVERSITY | ALAMOSA, CO | $12,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| WESTERN COLORADO UNIVERSITY | GUNNISON, CO | $10,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY | PROVO, UT | $9,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| NATIONAL UNIVERSITY | SAN DIEGO, CA | $7,250 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER | ROCHESTER, NY | $7,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT | STORRS, CT | $7,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME | SOUTH BEND, IN | $7,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| FORT LEWIS COLLEGE | DURANGO, CO | $7,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| SAMFORD UNIVERSITY | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $7,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY | APPLETON, WI | $7,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| DARTMOUTH UNIVERSITY | HANOVER, NH | $7,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| COLORADO NORTHWESTERN | RANGELY, CO | $7,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| OTERO COLLEGE | LA JUNTA, CO | $7,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| SEATTLE UNIVERSITY | SEATTLE, WA | $6,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| CALIFORNIA BAPTIST UNIVERSTIY | RIVERSIDE, CA | $6,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN | MILWAUKEE, WI | $6,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY | PORTLAND, OR | $6,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| DUKE UNIVERSITY | DURHAM, NC | $5,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| BAYLOR UNIVERSITY | WACO, TX | $5,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| METROPOLITAN STATE UNIVERSITY | DENVER, CO | $5,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| BROWN UNIVERSITY | PROVIDENCE, RI | $5,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON | SEATTLE, WA | $5,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA LINCOLN | LINCOLN, NE | $4,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY | OMAHA, NE | $4,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| WEBER STATE UNIVERSITY | OGDEN, UT | $4,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING | LARAMIE, WY | $3,620 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| LIBERTY UNIVERSITY | LYNCHBURG, VA | $3,500 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| OZARK CHRISTIAN COLLEGE | JOPLIN, MO | $3,500 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY | BELLINGHAM, WA | $3,500 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO COLORADO SPRINGS | COLORADO SPRINGS, CO | $3,500 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| NEW YORK UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $3,500 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| PERU STATE COLLEGE | PERU, NE | $3,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| UNIVERSITY OF DENVER | DENVER, CO | $3,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| CANISIUS UNIVERSITY | BUFFALO, NY | $3,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY | HUNTSVILLE, TX | $3,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA | LOS ANGELES, CA | $3,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
COLORADO MESA UNIVERSITY
$377,808EDUCATION
UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY
$62,183EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO BOULDER
$35,750EDUCATION
COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES
$34,500EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
$31,000EDUCATION
COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY
$23,500EDUCATION
COLORADO CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
EDUCATION
INTELLITEC COLLEGE
$15,500EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER
$14,500EDUCATION
WESTERN GOVERNERS UNIVERSITY
$14,500EDUCATION
SOUTHERN UTAH UNIVERSITY
$14,000EDUCATION
UTAH TECH UNIVERSITY
$13,500EDUCATION
AURORA UNIVERSITY
$13,000EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN COLORADO
$12,000EDUCATION
ADAMS STATE UNIVERSITY
$12,000EDUCATION
WESTERN COLORADO UNIVERSITY
$10,000EDUCATION
BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY
$9,000EDUCATION
NATIONAL UNIVERSITY
$7,250EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER
$7,000EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT
$7,000EDUCATION
THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME
$7,000EDUCATION
FORT LEWIS COLLEGE
$7,000EDUCATION
SAMFORD UNIVERSITY
$7,000EDUCATION
LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY
$7,000EDUCATION
DARTMOUTH UNIVERSITY
$7,000EDUCATION
COLORADO NORTHWESTERN
$7,000EDUCATION
OTERO COLLEGE
$7,000EDUCATION
SEATTLE UNIVERSITY
$6,000EDUCATION
CALIFORNIA BAPTIST UNIVERSTIY
$6,000EDUCATION
MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN
$6,000EDUCATION
PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY
$6,000EDUCATION
DUKE UNIVERSITY
$5,000EDUCATION
BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
$5,000EDUCATION
METROPOLITAN STATE UNIVERSITY
$5,000EDUCATION
BROWN UNIVERSITY
$5,000EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
$5,000EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA LINCOLN
$4,000EDUCATION
CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY
$4,000EDUCATION
WEBER STATE UNIVERSITY
$4,000EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING
$3,620EDUCATION
LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
$3,500EDUCATION
OZARK CHRISTIAN COLLEGE
$3,500EDUCATION
WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
$3,500EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO COLORADO SPRINGS
$3,500EDUCATION
NEW YORK UNIVERSITY
$3,500EDUCATION
PERU STATE COLLEGE
$3,000EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF DENVER
$3,000EDUCATION
CANISIUS UNIVERSITY
$3,000EDUCATION
SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY
$3,000EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
$3,000EDUCATION