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Sturm Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$7.8M
Grant Range
$1K - $0.6M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $7,843,788 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $800 - $600,000+ (based on recent grants)
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Colorado, with emphasis on Denver
  • Total Assets: $110 million

Contact Details

Website: http://www.sturmfamilyfoundation.org/ Address: 3033 E 1st Ave Ste 300, Denver, CO 80206

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications or proposals. Contact should only be initiated if invited by the foundation.

Overview

The Sturm Family Foundation was established in 2000 by Donald L. Sturm (1931-2024) and Susan M. Sturm. With assets of approximately $110 million, the foundation awarded $7.8 million in grants during 2023 through 32 awards. Donald Sturm, an Army veteran and former owner of American National Bank (now ANB Bank), founded the foundation based on values shaped by his immigrant parents and a belief that individuals can change the world for the better. The foundation is now led by their daughter, Emily Sturm Ehrens, who serves as President & CEO, continuing the family's legacy of high-impact philanthropy. The foundation originally focused on quality education for low- and moderate-income children, a strong centrally-located university, affordable housing, and vibrant Jewish community life. While the foundation has evolved to support a broader range of organizations, these core values remain central to its mission: supporting services and programs that provide value and positive effect on their local communities while holding true to the Sturm family's values.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with published guidelines. Grants are awarded at the discretion of the board of trustees to pre-selected organizations. Recent grant amounts have ranged from approximately $800 to $600,000+, with typical grants in the range of $50,000-$600,000 for major institutional partners.

Priority Areas

Based on recent grant activity and stated mission, the foundation supports:

Education

  • Charter school incubation and support (the foundation provided seed funding for approximately a dozen charter schools across Colorado and Wyoming)
  • Higher education institutions, particularly University of Denver
  • DSST Public Schools and other innovative educational models
  • Community college initiatives (including the Sturm Collaboration Campus at Arapahoe Community College)

Healthcare

  • National Jewish Health
  • Mental and behavioral health services for veterans and military families (Sturm Center at DU's Graduate School of Professional Psychology)

Jewish Community Life

  • Judaism Your Way (co-founded by Donald and Susan Sturm to create inclusive Jewish community experiences)
  • Organizations promoting vibrant, inclusive, and accessible Jewish community life

Arts & Culture

  • Denver Art Museum (including $6 million for North Building renovation)
  • Denver Museum of Nature & Science (received historic $20 million gift)
  • Cultural organizations promoting civic engagement

Affordable Housing

  • Organizations providing stability to families through homeownership
  • Revolving loan funds for low-income households

University of Denver

  • Sturm College of Law scholarships and programs (including $4 million challenge grant)
  • Various university initiatives (estimated $30 million in total giving)

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals, making it impossible for organizations without pre-existing relationships to receive funding through traditional application processes. The foundation appears focused on Colorado-based organizations, particularly those in the Denver metropolitan area.

Governance and Leadership

Donald L. Sturm (1931-2024) - Founder & Former Chairman Donald Sturm was the visionary behind the foundation, driven by gratitude for his immigrant parents' opportunities and a belief that "you want the place where you live to be a better place because you lived there." He was also known for his pragmatic approach: "You can't take it with you." A graduate of University of Denver Sturm College of Law (LLB '58) and former owner of American National Bank, he remained actively engaged in philanthropy until his passing in August 2024.

Susan M. Sturm - Co-Founder & Vice Chairman Co-founded the foundation with her husband Donald in 2000 and serves as Vice Chairman. She is also a co-founder of Judaism Your Way.

Emily Sturm Ehrens - President & CEO Emily joined the Sturm Family office in 2015 as co-managing director and became President & CEO in 2019. She holds a BA from the University of Puget Sound (2014) and an MBA from the University of Colorado Denver (2021). Emily serves on the boards of Sturm Financial Group, Inc., the Sturm Family Foundation, and the Denver Art Museum, and formerly served on the Children's Museum of Denver board.

Stephen F. Sturm - Vice President & Treasurer

Board Compensation: None of the family members receive compensation for their work with the foundation.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Sturm Family Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation only makes contributions to pre-selected charitable organizations and explicitly does not accept unsolicited requests for funds or proposals.

Grants are awarded through trustee discretion based on relationships the family has developed over time and alignment with their philanthropic values. Organizations are typically identified and selected by the foundation's leadership rather than through an application process.

Getting on Their Radar

The Sturm Family Foundation operates through established relationships and trustee-initiated grants. Based on the foundation's history and structure, specific pathways include:

Existing Grantee Networks: The foundation has supported approximately a dozen charter schools, multiple University of Denver programs, and various cultural institutions. Organizations working in partnership with these established grantees may come to the foundation's attention through these networks.

Board Member Connections: Emily Sturm Ehrens serves on the boards of the Denver Art Museum and Sturm Financial Group. Stephen and Emily previously worked with multiple nonprofit boards. Organizations where family members have direct board involvement or established relationships are most likely to receive consideration.

Sturm Family Values Alignment: The foundation was created based on areas that "contributed a great deal to [the Sturms'] own success, or those that would have been a great benefit to their lives had they been available." Organizations that embody these personal values—quality education for low- and moderate-income children, inclusive Jewish community life, affordable housing for family stability, and support for veterans—are central to their philanthropic vision.

University of Denver Ecosystem: Given the family's deep connection to DU (approximately $30 million in total giving), organizations with connections to the university or its initiatives may have opportunities for visibility with the foundation.

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, organizations that have received grants share common characteristics:

Deep Community Impact: The foundation values organizations that provide "valuable and impactful services and programs to their local communities." Recent grantees like DSST Public Schools ($150,000 in 2022), Arapahoe Community College Foundation ($600,000 in 2022), and National Jewish Health ($600,000 in 2022) demonstrate substantial, measurable community benefit.

Alignment with Founding Values: Donald Sturm's philosophy that "you want the place where you live to be a better place because you lived there" guides funding decisions. Projects that improve Denver and Colorado communities are prioritized.

Innovation in Education: The foundation served as a "charter school incubator," indicating interest in innovative educational models rather than traditional approaches. DSST Public Schools, known for STEM-focused college preparatory education, exemplifies this preference.

Long-term Relationships: Major institutional partners like University of Denver have received sustained support over decades, suggesting the foundation values ongoing relationships rather than one-time grants.

Creating Inclusive Communities: Judaism Your Way, co-founded by the Sturms, demonstrates commitment to "including all Jews and their loved ones in important religious and life events." Organizations promoting inclusion and accessibility align with these values.

Practical Solutions: Donald Sturm's business background and pragmatic philosophy influenced funding priorities. The foundation supported revolving loan funds for affordable housing and workforce training through the Sturm Collaboration Campus—practical, sustainable solutions to community challenges.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Open Application Process: Do not submit unsolicited proposals or letters of inquiry. The foundation will not respond to applications from organizations they have not pre-selected.

  • Relationship-Driven Philanthropy: All funding flows through established relationships and trustee discretion. Focus on building authentic connections within Denver's philanthropic community rather than pursuing this funder directly.

  • Geographic Focus is Critical: The foundation strongly prioritizes Colorado organizations, with particular emphasis on Denver metropolitan area initiatives.

  • Education and Innovation: Charter school incubation and support for innovative educational models (DSST, community colleges) represent a major funding stream, particularly for low- and moderate-income children.

  • Multi-Year, High-Impact Giving: The foundation makes substantial gifts ($600,000-$20 million+) to organizations where family members have deep personal connections, suggesting preference for transformational rather than incremental funding.

  • Family Values Drive Decisions: Understanding the Sturm family's personal story—immigrant parents, Army service, legal education at DU, banking career, Jewish identity—provides insight into why certain organizations receive support.

  • Current Leadership Transition: With Donald Sturm's passing in August 2024 and Emily Sturm Ehrens now leading as President & CEO, the foundation may evolve its priorities while maintaining core family values. Emily's background includes board service at cultural institutions and children's organizations, which may influence future directions.

References

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