Emma Eccles Jones Foundation Funder Overview

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $5,500,992 (2023)
Total Assets: $160,153,810 (2024)
Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
Decision Time: Trustee discretion
Grant Range: $2,000 - $2,200,992
Geographic Focus: Primarily Utah (Salt Lake City, Provo, Ogden)

Contact Details

Address:
79 South Main Street, 13th Floor
Salt Lake City, UT 84111-1929

Phone: (801) 532-0934

Contact Person: Hannah Eldredge

Note: The foundation does not have a public website and does not accept unsolicited applications.

Overview

The Emma Eccles Jones Foundation was established in 1972 to honor the legacy of Emma Eccles Jones (1898-1991), a pioneering educator who was Northern Utah's first kindergarten teacher. With total assets of $160.2 million as of 2024, the foundation distributed approximately $5.5 million in grants across 39 awards in 2023. As a private family foundation led by Spencer Eccles (Chairman and Trustee), it operates through trustee discretion rather than public applications. Over its 50-year history, the foundation has contributed more than $45 million to Utah State University alone, establishing itself as one of Utah's most significant educational philanthropies. Emma Eccles Jones herself exemplified dedication to education, donating her entire teacher's salary from 1926 to 1936 to provide desks and chairs for her students.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation makes 35-39 grants annually averaging $141,051, ranging from $2,000 to over $2 million. All grants are made through trustee discretion and established relationships.

Priority Areas

Education (Primary Focus): Early childhood education, teacher preparation (especially STEM), endowed professorships, educational research centers, school infrastructure
Human Services: Programs supporting children and families, community welfare initiatives
Arts and Culture: Fine arts education, music education including choir schools, cultural institutions serving youth

What They Don't Fund

Organizations outside Utah, Georgia, or Kansas
Projects unrelated to education, human services, or arts/culture
Individual scholarships (though they fund scholarship programs)
Unsolicited proposals

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees and Advisory Committee:

Spencer Eccles - Chairman & Trustee (Compensation: $26,000)
Robert Hatch - Secretary & Trustee (Compensation: $26,000)
Katherine Eccles - Assistant Secretary (Compensation: $6,000)
The Very Reverend Frederick Q. Lawson - Advisory Committee Member (Compensation: $6,000) - Grandnephew of Emma Eccles Jones, Dean of Episcopal Cathedral of St. Mark
Ellen Rossi - Advisory Committee Member (Compensation: $6,000)
James Jardine - Advisory Committee Member (Compensation: $3,000)

Fr. Lawson has stated that grants align with his aunt's passion for art and education, particularly facilitating support for the Madeleine Choir School.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Emma Eccles Jones Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Grants are awarded through:

Direct trustee identification of aligned projects
Long-standing institutional relationships (particularly USU and University of Utah)
Board member connections and recommendations
Invitation-only proposals

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made at trustee discretion throughout the year.

Success Rates

Not applicable given the invitation-only nature of grantmaking.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation operates without a public application process, traditional success factors don't apply. Organizations that have received funding share these characteristics:

Major educational institutions with established track records in Utah
Programs honoring Emma Eccles Jones's legacy in early childhood education and teacher preparation
Multi-year institutional commitments rather than short-term projects
Infrastructure projects creating lasting educational resources (buildings, research centers, endowments)
Connection to board members or existing foundation relationships
Focus on Utah children and youth in education, arts, and human services

Notable examples include Utah State University receiving $25 million for education building and professorships, University of Utah's Teach for Utah program providing $10,000 annually for STEM scholars, and Madeleine Choir School receiving $1 million for renovation and restoration.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

No public application process exists - unsolicited proposals will not be considered
Focus heavily on Utah education with average grants of $141,051 suggesting preference for significant institutional partnerships
Utah State University and University of Utah have decades-long relationships receiving sustained support
Family foundation values reflect Emma Eccles Jones's personal dedication to early childhood education and the arts
Board connections matter - Fr. Lawson's role as grandnephew influences grants aligned with founder's passions
Without existing relationships with the foundation or board members, funding prospects are extremely limited
Large multi-year commitments to educational infrastructure preferred over small community grants

References

Candid Foundation Directory Online - Emma Eccles Jones Foundation profile (EIN: 87-6155073). Accessed January 2026.
ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Emma Eccles Jones Foundation IRS Form 990-PF filings. Accessed January 2026.
Instrumentl 990 Report - Emma Eccles Jones Foundation financial data. Accessed January 2026.
Utah State University. "The Emma Eccles Jones Foundation Gives $25 Million Gift to Education." USU Today. Accessed January 2026.
Utah State University. "Emma Eccles Jones Foundation Donates Nearly $1M to Create USU Collaboratory." USU Today. Accessed January 2026.
Utah State University College of Education and Human Services. "Who Was Emma Eccles Jones." Accessed January 2026.
Deseret News. "Emma Eccles Jones, Philanthropist and Educator, Dies at 93." April 3, 1991.
Intermountain Catholic. "Emma Eccles Jones Foundation grants $1 million to Madeleine Choir School." Accessed January 2026.
University of Utah Teach for Utah program website. Accessed January 2026.
Cause IQ - Emma Eccles Jones Foundation profile. Accessed January 2026.
Charity Navigator - Emma Eccles Jones Foundation profile. Accessed January 2026.