The Alsam Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $38.4M - $74M (varies by year)
Success Rate: Not publicly available (invitation-based selection)
Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
Grant Range: $35,000 - $7,500,000
Geographic Focus: Western United States (primarily California, Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, Utah, Washington)

Contact Details

Address: The Northern Trust Company As Trustee, PO Box Chica, Chicago, IL 60680

Phone: (312) 630-6000

Note: The foundation does not maintain a public website or email contact. All inquiries should be directed through The Northern Trust Company.

Overview

The Alsam Foundation was established in 1984-1985 by L.S. "Sam" and Aline Skaggs. L.S. Skaggs was the retired Chairman of American Stores. With total assets ranging between $91-150 million, the foundation distributes $38-74 million annually in grants. The foundation is managed by The Northern Trust Company as trustee, with Ronny L. Cutshall serving as president since 2006. The foundation focuses primarily on pharmacy education, medical research, human services, and Catholic agencies and charities. The Skaggs family name appears on pharmacy colleges at multiple universities across the western United States, reflecting their long-standing commitment to pharmaceutical education and research. According to Ron Cutshall, "Student success has been a primary focus of The ALSAM Foundation, which includes providing state-of-the-art facilities that allows students to participate in cutting edge research."

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates primarily through major institutional gifts rather than annual grant cycles:

Pharmacy Building & Infrastructure Grants: $14M - $20M (capital projects for pharmacy schools)
Scholarship Endowments: $1.25M - $1.5M (expanding scholarship programs at Skaggs-affiliated institutions)
Research Institute Support: $2M - $8M (medical research facilities and programs)
General Institutional Support: $35K - $7.5M (varies by relationship and need)

In 2023, the foundation made 31 grants with a median grant of $440,000. Over the period from 2020-2023, the foundation awarded 106 individual grants totaling $163,805,612.

Priority Areas

Pharmacy Education: The foundation's primary focus is supporting pharmacy schools, particularly those bearing the Skaggs name:

University of Utah College of Pharmacy
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Center
Idaho State University L.S. Skaggs College of Pharmacy
University of Montana Skaggs School of Pharmacy
University of Arizona College of Pharmacy
University of California San Diego Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Medical Research: Support for chemical biology, health innovation institutes, and pharmaceutical research facilities

Education: Scholarships for minority students in pharmacy programs, agriculture, and chemical biology; "First Year Free" tuition initiatives

Human Services: General support for human services organizations

Catholic Agencies and Charities: Support for Catholic organizations and religious charities

Habitat Conservation: Environmental and conservation initiatives

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented, but the foundation appears to focus exclusively on established institutional relationships rather than new or unfamiliar organizations.

Governance and Leadership

Trustee: The Northern Trust Company

President: Ronny L. Cutshall (since 2006)

Grants Committee: Includes members of the Skaggs family who are actively involved in grant decision-making

Ronny Cutshall won the 2018 Weaver Award from the University of Utah College of Pharmacy, recognizing his leadership in pharmaceutical philanthropy. Under his leadership, the foundation has maintained the Skaggs family's legacy of supporting pharmacy education and medical research.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Alsam Foundation operates as a private family foundation that awards grants through trustee discretion and invitation only. The foundation appears to focus on a select group of long-standing institutional partners, primarily universities with Skaggs-affiliated pharmacy schools.

Grants are awarded based on:

Pre-existing relationships with Skaggs-affiliated institutions
Trustee discretion and family priorities
Strategic alignment with pharmacy education and medical research
Board member identification and recommendation of projects

The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals through an open application portal.

Getting on Their Radar

Based on the foundation's documented grant-making patterns, the following funder-specific approaches may be relevant:

Skaggs-Affiliated Institutions: The foundation has established deep relationships with six Skaggs-affiliated pharmacy schools (University of Utah, University of Colorado, Idaho State University, University of Montana, University of Arizona, and UC San Diego). Organizations connected to these institutions through research collaborations or student programs may have better visibility with the foundation.

The Skaggs Scholars Program: This collaborative research program between University of Colorado pharmacy faculty and the six other Skaggs-affiliated institutions represents the foundation's approach to networking and identifying promising research. Engagement with this program may provide indirect exposure to foundation decision-makers.

Western U.S. Pharmacy and Medical Research Focus: The foundation's geographic giving pattern strongly favors institutions in California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Utah, and Washington. Organizations in these states working in pharmacy education or pharmaceutical research are more likely to align with the foundation's documented interests.

Contact through The Northern Trust Company: As the foundation's trustee, The Northern Trust Company manages the foundation's operations. Formal inquiries about the foundation's grant-making interests should be directed to them at (312) 630-6000.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. Given the foundation's focus on major multi-million dollar capital projects and endowments, grants likely result from extensive relationship-building and negotiations rather than annual grant cycles.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly available. As an invitation-only foundation, success depends entirely on whether an organization is invited to submit a proposal or is pre-selected by trustees.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable, as the foundation does not have a public application process.

Application Success Factors

Since the Alsam Foundation operates through invitation and pre-selection rather than open applications, the following factors appear critical based on their documented grant-making patterns:

1. Institutional Affiliation with Skaggs-Named Schools: The overwhelming majority of the foundation's grants go to the six universities with Skaggs-affiliated pharmacy schools. Organizations with formal partnerships or collaborations with these institutions have the strongest alignment.

2. Focus on Transformational Scale: The foundation's recent grants demonstrate a preference for major, transformational gifts. Examples include the $14 million gift to Idaho State University (described as "the largest ever one-time donation received by Idaho State") and the $20 million donation to the University of Utah College of Pharmacy for a new research and education building.

3. Student Success and Cutting-Edge Research: According to President Ron Cutshall, "Student success has been a primary focus of The ALSAM Foundation, which includes providing state-of-the-art facilities that allows students to participate in cutting edge research." Proposals should emphasize how funding will directly benefit students through scholarships, facilities, or research opportunities.

4. Capital Projects Over Operating Support: The foundation's major grants support building renovations, new construction, and endowments rather than annual operating expenses. Projects should have lasting physical or programmatic impact.

5. Pharmacy and Medical Research Expertise: The foundation's grants consistently support pharmacy education and pharmaceutical/chemical biology research. Organizations outside these fields appear to receive minimal support.

6. Connection to Skaggs Family Legacy: The foundation honors the legacy of L.S. and Aline Skaggs. Projects that align with the family's historical commitment to making pharmacy education accessible and advancing medical research for "the betterment of humankind" are most likely to resonate.

7. Western Geographic Focus: While administratively based in Chicago, the foundation's grants flow almost exclusively to western U.S. states, particularly the Mountain West and Pacific regions.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

This is an invitation-only foundation: There is no public application process. Organizations must be pre-selected or invited by trustees to receive funding.
Skaggs-affiliated pharmacy schools are the primary beneficiaries: If your organization is not one of the six Skaggs-affiliated universities or closely connected to them, the likelihood of receiving funding is extremely low.
Think transformational, not incremental: The foundation's grants range from $35,000 to $7.5 million, with a median of $440,000. Recent major gifts have been in the $14-20 million range for capital projects.
Build relationships through existing grantee networks: The Skaggs Scholars Program and partnerships between Skaggs-affiliated institutions may provide networking opportunities to connect with foundation decision-makers.
Focus on student impact and research infrastructure: Proposals should emphasize how funding will create "state-of-the-art facilities" that allow students to "participate in cutting edge research."
Contact The Northern Trust Company for inquiries: As the foundation's trustee, The Northern Trust Company at (312) 630-6000 is the appropriate point of contact for formal inquiries.
Review Form 990-PF filings for current priorities: The foundation's annual tax filings (available through ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer) list all grant recipients and amounts, providing insight into current funding patterns and priorities.

References

All sources accessed December 18, 2025