
The Morgridge Family Foundation concentrates its giving on strengthening hands‑on STEM and experiential learning environments, investing heavily in both capital projects and programmatic innovation. Its grants support building and renovating physical learning spaces (aquarium exhibits, campus facilities) and underwriting education accelerators and certificate programs that scale K‑12 and workforce learning. Funding is high‑value and targeted to a small number of institutional partners, often with repeat support.
The Morgridge Family Foundation’s most distinctive recent pattern is large, construction-linked support for STEM learning spaces. A $2.5 million grant to Shedd Aquarium Society in 2025 and a $2 million grant in 2024 both backed the Dive Deeper Campaign, including educational spaces, a new Learning Commons, aquatic education areas, and capital construction. That same hands-on learning emphasis appears in grants to universities, schools, and innovation hubs that blend physical space with program design. The foundation also funds education accelerators and workforce-facing learning models. Mindspark Learning received $1.5 million in 2024 for the Morgridge Education Accelerator, the Morgridge Innovation Certificate Program, and ongoing operations, followed by another $1.5 million in 2025 for general support. Other grants extend the same pattern into campus-based programming, apprenticeship pathways, and school-level STEM instruction. Across the recent grants list, the foundation favors institutional partners and often returns to the same organizations in consecutive years, suggesting sustained support rather than one-time awards. Its portfolio reaches beyond formal education into housing, food access, health, veterans services, and family support, but the clearest throughline is investment in environments and programs that change how people learn and train.
In informal STEM learning, the foundation backed Shedd Aquarium Society with $2.5 million in 2025 for the Dive Deeper Campaign and educational spaces, including the Learning Commons and aquatic education areas. It also gave $500,000 to National Jewish Health for capital construction on Morgridge Academy, showing interest in place-based learning infrastructure. For education innovation and student pathways, Mindspark Learning received $1.5 million for the Morgridge Education Accelerator and Morgridge Innovation Certificate Program, while Denver School of Science and Technology Inc. received $311,000 and $260,000 for Physics in a Box across all 7th grade classrooms. The foundation also supported Arizona State University Foundation for expanding learning opportunities and success for Florida high school students through dual enrollment. Its workforce and career-connected giving includes $500,000 to Reach University for the National Center for the Apprenticeship Degree and $500,000 to Metropolitan State University of Denver Foundation for the Classroom to Career Hub Capital Initiative and Morgridge Peer Mentoring Program.
$13M
$243.9M
$19M
$19.4M
Most grants fall between $1K and $25K, with a median of $6K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$6K
75th Percentile
$25K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in CO.
Top 3 recipient countries by grant volume for Morgridge Family Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 569 | $38M | 99.7% |
| 2 | United Kingdom |
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Highly concentrated: a very small number of large grants, often multi‑award repeat funding to the same institutional partners; mixes capital/capital campaign gifts with sustained support for program operations and innovation.
Notable grantees: Shedd Aquarium Society, Mindspark Learning, Colorado State University Foundation
Typical grants cluster at the lower end of the foundation’s larger awards, with a p25 of $1,100, a median of $6,250, and a p75 of $25,000. At the same time, the recent-grants list includes several seven-figure awards, showing a wide spread between routine support and major capital or program commitments. The foundation appears to be a recurring funder: several organizations received support in both 2024 and 2025, including Shedd Aquarium Society, Mindspark Learning, Colorado State University Foundation, St Vrain Valley School District, Mile High United Way Inc, Denver School of Science and Technology Inc, Arizona State University Foundation, and Colorado Mountain College Foundation Inc. It is classified as a regular funder, funds individuals, and makes program-related investments.
Giving is national, but the strongest concentration is in Colorado. Recent grants reached Chicago, Lakewood, Fort Collins, Denver, Longmont, Castle Rock, Greenwood Village, and Glenwood Springs, with repeat support to several Colorado institutions. Outside Colorado, grants went to West Palm Beach, Oakland, Boston, Manchester, Forestville, and Tempe or Phoenix, showing a broader U.S. footprint. The recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based.
The foundation most often backs hands-on STEM learning, education innovation, and physical learning spaces. Recent grants include support for aquarium educational spaces, a learning commons, education accelerators, certificate programs, campus facilities, and school-based STEM instruction. It also funds housing, food access, health, and family support projects.
Yes. Several organizations appear in both 2024 and 2025 grant lists, including Shedd Aquarium Society, Mindspark Learning, Colorado State University Foundation, St Vrain Valley School District, Mile High United Way Inc, and Denver School of Science and Technology Inc. That pattern suggests ongoing relationships rather than isolated one-off grants.
The foundation’s typical grant size is modest relative to its largest awards: p25 is $1,100, median is $6,250, and p75 is $25,000. Recent grants also include much larger commitments, including multiple awards in the hundreds of thousands and a $2.5 million grant.
Colorado is the top state by grant count. Recent Colorado recipients include organizations in Chicago-style capital and education work? No—within Colorado, recipients span Lakewood, Fort Collins, Denver, Longmont, Castle Rock, Greenwood Village, and Glenwood Springs. The recipient country distribution is 100% U.S.
Yes. Active programs listed include Solv[ED] Youth Innovation Challenge, the Morgridge Acceleration Program Fellowship, MAP Project48, Student Support Foundation, and MAP Fellowship. These programs cover youth innovation, capacity building, student engagement, scholarships, and project-based nonprofit support.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
| 1 |
| $115K |
0.2% |
| 3 | New Zealand | 1 | $751 | 0.2% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SHEDD AQUARIUM SOCIETY | CHICAGO, IL | $2,500,000 | 2025 | Dive Deeper Campaign and to fund educational spaces defined through the Centennial Commitment, inclusive of capital and constructions. Education spaces will include a new Learning Commons, Aquatic Education Wing and Marine Munchroom (student lunchroom), and programmatic areas within the aquarium's Main Foyer |
| MINDSPARK LEARNING | LAKEWOOD, CO | $1,500,000 | 2025 | support the mission and work of the organization |
| COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | FORT COLLINS, CO | $1,000,000 | 2025 | support the programming and development of the CSU Spur Campus |
| MINDSPARK LEARNING | LAKEWOOD, CO | $500,462 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| METROPOLITAN STATE UNIVERSITY OF DENVER FOUNDATION | DENVER, CO | $500,000 | 2025 | Classroom to Career Hub Capital Initiative and the Morgridge Peer Mentoring Program |
| PLACE OF HOPE INC | WEST PALM BCH, FL | $500,000 | 2025 | Place of Hope Stuart Campus - Morgridge Family Outreach Center |
| REACH UNIVERSITY | OAKLAND, CA | $500,000 | 2025 | support the creation and expansion of the National Center for the Apprenticeship Degree |
| VETERANS COMMUNITY PROJECT | KANSAS CITY, MO | $400,000 | 2025 | Veterans Community Project of Longmont Capital Campaign |
| ST VRAIN VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT | LONGMONT, CO | $400,000 | 2025 | support the expansion of the Innovation Center and to provide funding for the programs within the Center |
| COLORADO MOUNTAIN COLLEGE FOUNDATION INC | GLENWOOD SPGS, CO | $350,000 | 2025 | establish the Morgridge Commons Mid-Valley where the community can meet and the College will convene programming |
| MILE HIGH UNITED WAY INC | DENVER, CO | $290,500 | 2025 | MFF Colorado Impact Fellows OCY&F |
| DENVER SCHOOL OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY INC | DENVER, CO | $260,000 | 2025 | Physics in a box for DSST across all 7th grade classrooms |
| ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION FOR A NEW AMER | TEMPE, AZ | $250,777 | 2025 | Expanding learning opportunities and success for Florida high school students |
| SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE UNIVERSITY | MANCHESTER, NH | $250,000 | 2025 | support the creation of the Human Systems Initiative at the University |
| FAMILY REACH FOUNDATION | BOSTON, MA | $250,000 | 2025 | Family Reach's Financial Resource Center serving families living with cancer |
| COLORADO MOUNTAIN COLLEGE FOUNDATION INC | GLENWOOD SPGS, CO | $250,000 | 2025 | Aspen Teaching Kitchen |
| URBAN PEAK DENVER | DENVER, CO | $250,000 | 2025 | Urban Peak Homelessness Services & Shelter |
| ALLIANCE FOR CHOICE IN EDUCATION | GREENWOOD VILLAGE, CO | $250,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| THE DRAPER RICHARDS KAPLAN FOUNDATION | MENLO PARK, CA | $200,000 | 2025 | Fund IV ? General Support |
| ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | PHOENIX, AZ | $200,000 | 2025 | Agent Learner Initiative |
| MAGEE-WOMENS RESEARCH INSTITUTE AND FOUNDATION | PITTSBURGH, PA | $175,000 | 2025 | Advancing Women's Health Through a Culture-Driven Fundraising Collaboration |
| UNITED STATES OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC FOUNDATION | COLORADO SPRINGS, CO | $150,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $150,000 | 2025 | in support of the MIT Solve vision to harness the power of AI and to create the Morgridge Family Foundation AI Prize |
| GLOBAL CONSERVATION CORPS INC | MCDONOUGH, GA | $128,600 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| PLYMOUTH STATE UNIVERSITY | PLYMOUTH, NH | $125,000 | 2025 | support the programming of the Morgridge Family Foundation Human Performance Lab |
| MUHAMMAD ALI MUSEUM AND EDUCATION | LOUISVILLE, KY | $105,000 | 2025 | Muhammad Ali Index on Civility and Compassion |
| CHANGE PLEASE USA INC | WILMINGTON, DE | $100,000 | 2025 | support the expansion of Change Please to Denver / Aurora |
| GREENLIGHT FUND INC | BOSTON, MA | $100,000 | 2025 | launch Denver GreenLight Fund |
| NATIONAL JEWISH HEALTH | DENVER, CO | $74,500 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH | MONUMENT, CO | $60,000 | 2025 | Trinity Community Park |
| ETHICAL FAMILY BUILDING | PASADENA, CA | $55,000 | 2025 | Child welfare ExA as part of MFF Child Welfare initiative to eliminate child brokering in adoptions |
| ATTENTION INC | BOULDER, CO | $55,000 | 2025 | TGTHR Child Welfare ExA |
| NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR ADOPTION | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $55,000 | 2025 | The Morgridge Research Scholar: Toward Transformational Change in Adoption Services |
| COLORADO MOUNTAIN COLLEGE FOUNDATION INC | GLENWOOD SPGS, CO | $52,510 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| MOONSHOT EDVENTURES | DENVER, CO | $50,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| ACTION FOR HEALTHY KIDS INC | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2025 | General Support for implementation of the FY25-FY27 Strategic Plan |
| DENVER CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS | DENVER, CO | $50,000 | 2025 | 2024 & 2025 Shakespeare in the Parking Lot Presenting sponsor |
| FIRST PLACE FOR YOUTH | OAKLAND, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | First Place for Youth National Expansion to deliver wrap around services for foster youth |
| SHEDD AQUARIUM SOCIETY | CHICAGO, IL | $41,539 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| BREAKTHROUGH ALLIANCE OF COLORADO INC | DENVER, CO | $35,000 | 2025 | Reentry Catalyst for Beacon Prison |
| COLORADO OPEN LANDS | LAKEWOOD, CO | $35,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| ALTA VISTA CENTER FOR AUTISM | LAKEWOOD, CO | $35,000 | 2025 | Firefly Autism Sensory Gym Installation & Playground upgrades |
| MILE HIGH UNITED WAY INC | DENVER, CO | $35,000 | 2025 | Advocacy Investment |
| ALTA VISTA CENTER FOR AUTISM | LAKEWOOD, CO | $30,000 | 2025 | Public Affairs investment to increase fund raising capacity |
| MILE HIGH UNITED WAY INC | DENVER, CO | $30,000 | 2025 | Colorado Connections Project |
| URBAN PEAK DENVER | DENVER, CO | $25,268 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| BLUFF LAKE NATURE CENTER | DENVER, CO | $25,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| HEARTLAND FORWARD | BENTONVILLE, AR | $25,000 | 2025 | Community Growth Program and Toolkit |
| IMAGINE WORLDWIDE | MILL VALLEY, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | Accelerate Foundational Learning Across Sub-Sahara |
| ROSE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | DENVER, CO | $25,000 | 2025 | support the Newcomer's Fund in response to the influx of immigrants |
Dive Deeper Campaign and to fund educational spaces defined through the Centennial Commitment, inclusive of capital and constructions. Education spaces will include a new Learning Commons, Aquatic Education Wing and Marine Munchroom (student lunchroom), and programmatic areas within the aquarium's Main Foyer
COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION
$1,000,000support the programming and development of the CSU Spur Campus
Classroom to Career Hub Capital Initiative and the Morgridge Peer Mentoring Program
Place of Hope Stuart Campus - Morgridge Family Outreach Center
support the creation and expansion of the National Center for the Apprenticeship Degree
Veterans Community Project of Longmont Capital Campaign
ST VRAIN VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT
$400,000support the expansion of the Innovation Center and to provide funding for the programs within the Center
establish the Morgridge Commons Mid-Valley where the community can meet and the College will convene programming
Physics in a box for DSST across all 7th grade classrooms
Expanding learning opportunities and success for Florida high school students
support the creation of the Human Systems Initiative at the University
Family Reach's Financial Resource Center serving families living with cancer
Advancing Women's Health Through a Culture-Driven Fundraising Collaboration
General & Unrestricted
in support of the MIT Solve vision to harness the power of AI and to create the Morgridge Family Foundation AI Prize
GLOBAL CONSERVATION CORPS INC
$128,600General & Unrestricted
PLYMOUTH STATE UNIVERSITY
$125,000support the programming of the Morgridge Family Foundation Human Performance Lab
Muhammad Ali Index on Civility and Compassion
CHANGE PLEASE USA INC
$100,000support the expansion of Change Please to Denver / Aurora
NATIONAL JEWISH HEALTH
$74,500General & Unrestricted
TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH
$60,000Trinity Community Park
ETHICAL FAMILY BUILDING
$55,000Child welfare ExA as part of MFF Child Welfare initiative to eliminate child brokering in adoptions
The Morgridge Research Scholar: Toward Transformational Change in Adoption Services
General Support for implementation of the FY25-FY27 Strategic Plan
DENVER CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
$50,0002024 & 2025 Shakespeare in the Parking Lot Presenting sponsor
First Place for Youth National Expansion to deliver wrap around services for foster youth
Firefly Autism Sensory Gym Installation & Playground upgrades
Public Affairs investment to increase fund raising capacity
support the Newcomer's Fund in response to the influx of immigrants