The Alsam Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests, so a small charity should not send it an application cold; the only route in is an invitation.
- Its grants span schools, universities and research, churches, conservation, youth, animal-care, and health or community-service bodies, so compare your work with those areas before making any contact.
- Half of its 79 grants to organisations were about $490,000 or less, and about 8 in 10 fell between $50,000 and $7,500,000, but the largest was about $16,500,000, so that band is typical rather than a limit.
- Repeat giving is heavy: 77% of its grant dollars to organisations in the filing went to organisations it had also funded in earlier filings, so an existing relationship or introduction is likely to matter more than a cold approach.
- The filing states no geographic focus; its grants are mainly in Utah, California, Idaho and Montana, but that pattern is not a rule on who may apply.
Overview
The Alsam Foundation is a US private foundation administered by its trustee, The Northern Trust Company, in Po Box Chica, IL.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 13 October 2026.
Priority Areas
Across the filed grants, schools, universities and research institutions are prominent recipients. Many grants support Catholic schools; university and research awards include capital and building work, science facilities, scholarships, translational research and telehealth. Other recipients include churches, conservation organisations, youth-serving charities, animal-care organisations and health or community-service providers. Grant purposes also include renovations, safety improvements, heating systems and programme costs. The awards are concentrated in Utah, with substantial giving to recipients in California, Idaho and Montana. Together the records show support for education, research and a range of institutional and community projects.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Utah, California, Idaho and Montana.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 77% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 79 grants to organisations were about $490,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 21% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 77% of grant dollars went to organisations The Alsam Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 20 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $750k (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Skaggs Catholic Center · Performing arts center and$16,650,2372024 tax year
- Scripps Research Institute · Calibr-bridging the$10,000,0002024 tax year
- Judge Memorial Catholic High School · Capital campaign for new$7,500,0002024 tax year
- University of Utah · Endowment and capital$4,750,0002024 tax year
- Friends of Zoo Boise · Veterinary hospital$2,000,0002024 tax year
- Idaho State University Foundation · Skaggs scholarship program$1,500,0002024 tax year
- Madeleine Choir School · Field house and early$1,000,0002024 tax year
- Living Planet · Capital campaign of science$892,7292024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Monsignor J Terrence Fitzgerald — Vice President / Grants Committee
- Arnold Laguardia — Grants Committee
- Ronny L Cutshall — President / Grants Committee
- Susie S Balukoff — Grants Committee
- Claudia Skaggs Luttrell — Secretary / Grants Committee
- Mark S Skaggs — Grants Committee
- Don L Skaggs — Treasurer / Grants Committee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $39,724,228 | $38,437,514 | $150,765,766 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $68,026,556 | $66,958,358 | $91,201,317 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $49,960,216 | $49,056,610 | $50,414,943 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to The Alsam Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Po Box Chica, IL (office of its trustee, The Northern Trust Company)
Applying to The Alsam Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Po Box Chica, IL (office of its trustee, The Northern Trust Company)