Summit Foundation
Summit Foundation is a Breckenridge, Colorado-based 501(c)(3) community foundation, founded in 1984, that provides grants, scholarships, and nonprofit capacity-building to 124+ local nonprofits and roughly 148 students annually across Summit, Lake, Park, and West Grand Counties, with diversified funding from individual donors, ski resort partnerships, and employee giving programs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1984
- HeadquartersBreckenridge, Colorado, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Summit Foundation does
The Summit Foundation is a 501(c)(3) community foundation established in 1984 and headquartered in Breckenridge, Colorado, serving Summit County and neighboring Lake, Park, and West Grand Counties. It operates as the largest philanthropic organization and largest single scholarship provider in Summit County, having distributed more than $61 million to the community since inception, including $4,992,000 in grants and scholarships during 2025 across 124 nonprofit organizations and approximately 148 students. The foundation's revenue is generated through diversified channels including individual donations, planned giving (Peaks Society), the Ski Medallion Program (a $25,000 four-year commitment providing six-mountain transferable ski passes, raising over $1.7 million annually through partnerships with Arapahoe Basin, Breckenridge, Copper, Keystone, Vail, and Beaver Creek), an Employee Giving Program engaging 2,000+ employees across 20+ local businesses ($357,000+ in 2023), signature community events (Golf Tournament, Wine at the Mine, Philanthropy Awards), and the Colorado Gives Day incentive fund ($1.4M from First Bank and partners).
The foundation's product surface combines grantmaking, scholarship administration, and nonprofit capacity-building programming. Grants are distributed through an online application portal (Grant Interface), with the cycle consolidating from two annual cycles to a single fall cycle beginning in 2027. Scholarship recipients apply through an online platform supporting multiple awards via a single application. Beyond direct giving, the foundation runs the Nonprofit Resources for Grantees (NRG) program with structured labs (Finance Lab, Board Lab, Manager Leadership Lab) and executive networks, plus a 2026 Salary & Benefits Survey covering 48 local nonprofits representing an estimated 1,600+ individuals. Special initiatives include Bright Futures Fund ($2.1M raised for multi-year scholarships), Mountain Scholars (67% degree completion rate for first-generation students versus a 12% national average, partnered with Colorado Mountain College), Project Thrive (afterschool and summer care delivered with Summit School District and supported by $750,000 directed grants from Breckenridge and Keystone Resorts over three years), and incubated community-impact entities Peak Health Alliance ($8M in healthcare cost savings, replicated in 7 Colorado counties) and Building Hope Summit County (mental health initiative in its seventh year).
Governance is provided by a Board of Trustees (led by President David Preaus) and a 30-employee staff under Executive Director Ellen Reid (appointed 2025). The foundation operates a 2026-2029 Strategic Plan titled "Deep Roots. New Trails." organized around Inspiring Philanthropy, Investing in Community, and Innovating for the Future. Technology infrastructure consists of conventional nonprofit SaaS (FCSuite for donor management, Grant Interface for applications, email and event platforms) with no documented AI/ML or proprietary technical differentiation. The model functions as a community giving intermediary rather than a technology product company, with sustained engagement measured through 3,500+ donors and outcomes documented via an annual report and Stories of Impact content series.
Summit Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Summit Foundation
- Legal name
- The Summit Foundation
- Website
- https://summitfoundation.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1984
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Summit Foundation is a Breckenridge, Colorado-based 501(c)(3) community foundation, founded in 1984, that provides grants, scholarships, and nonprofit capacity-building to 124+ local nonprofits and roughly 148 students annually across Summit, Lake, Park, and West Grand Counties, with diversified funding from individual donors, ski resort partnerships, and employee giving programs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Summit Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Foundation
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)
Keywords
Where Summit Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Breckenridge, Colorado
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Summit Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Others, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Donations and Contributions: The foundation receives donations from individuals, families, and businesses through various channels including one-time gifts, monthly commitments, planned giving, and legacy gifts. Community Fund gifts enable over $4 million annually in grants and scholarships.
- Ski Medallion Program: Transferable ski passes provided by resort partners (Arapahoe Basin, Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, Keystone, Vail, Beaver Creek, Steamboat, Winter Park). The 2024-2028 class was priced at $25,000 for a four-year commitment, six-mountain transferable pass. This program raises over $1.7 million annually.
- Employee Giving Program: Payroll deduction program partnering with over 20 local businesses. In 2023, more than 2,000 employees contributed more than $357,000 including company matching gifts.
- Grant Programs: The foundation provides grants to local nonprofit organizations in Summit County and neighboring communities of Lake, Park and West Grand Counties. Grants are awarded through annual cycles (transitioning to single annual cycle in Fall 2027).
- Event Sponsorship Grants: Marketing sponsorship grants for community events hosted by nonprofits, with typical awards of $500-$5,000.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Wine at the Mine event ticket |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Ski Medallion Program - 4-year commitment |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Event | Marketing Sponsorship Grants |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Colorado Gives Day Incentive Fund |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels9 records
Marketing channels10 records
Summit Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Summit Foundation is a 501(c)(3) community foundation serving Summit County, Colorado that collects charitable donations from individuals, families, and local businesses, and redistributes them through grants to local nonprofits, scholarships to students, and community initiatives. It operates a distinctive ski medallion pass program in partnership with major Colorado ski resorts, an employee giving program with 20+ local businesses, and signature fundraising events including an annual golf tournament and Wine at the Mine.
Product overview
Summit Foundation is a nonprofit community foundation that provides philanthropic services rather than a technology product. Its offerings include scholarship programs (general scholarships, Live Your Dreams Scholarship, Bright Futures Fund, Mountain Scholars), grantmaking to local nonprofits, special initiatives (Project Thrive, Bright Futures, Mountain Scholars), community events (Golf Tournament, Wine at the Mine, Philanthropy Awards, Colorado Gives Day), employee giving programs, planned giving/legacy programs, and the Ski Medallion Program. The Foundation also offers the Nonprofit Resources for Grantees (NRG) program which includes workshops and labs (Finance Lab, Board Lab, Manager Leadership Lab, Foundation Network, Executive Director Network) for nonprofit capacity building.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Bright Futures Fund: A special initiative launched for the 40th anniversary providing multi-year scholarships for low-income and first-generation students, plus career-connected learning support.
- Mountain Scholars
- Project Thrive
- The Inspire Fund
- Peak Health Alliance
- Building Hope
Products and services
- Ski Medallion Program
Quantifiable outcome
- $5 million given back to community in 2025
- +8 more outcomes
Companies that use Summit Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments8 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Summit Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Summit Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.
- Arapahoe Basin Ski AreacoreSki medallion partner providing unrestricted pass access to Arapahoe Basin. The resort also partners with Summit High School for student experience in ski/snowboard manufacturing and supports Mountain Dreamers' Oso Outdoors program providing lessons, gear, and access to BIPOC locals.
- Breckenridge ResortcoreSki medallion partner providing unrestricted pass access. Presented the Golf Tournament (Breckenridge Grand Vacations) and provides support for Project Thrive afterschool program with $750,000 directed grant over three years.
- Copper Mountain ResortcoreSki medallion partner providing unrestricted pass access to Copper Mountain. Supports Mountain Scholars program at Colorado Mountain College.
- Keystone ResortcoreSki medallion partner providing unrestricted pass access. Hosts Employee Last Tracks Party events for employee giving participants. Supports Project Thrive with $750,000 directed grant over three years.
- Vail Resorts (EpicPromise)coreParent company of Breckenridge, Keystone, Vail, Beaver Creek. EpicPromise supports medallion program and community initiatives including hosting Employee Last Tracks Party at Keystone with 180 attendees.
- Vail and Beaver CreekminorSki medallion partner resorts providing unrestricted pass access as part of six-mountain transferable pass.
- Steamboat and Winter ParkminorSki medallion partner resorts providing limited-day pass access as part of six-mountain transferable pass.
- First BankcorePrimary sponsor of Colorado Gives Day Incentive Fund, providing $1.4 million to match donations made on December 10 giving day.
- Breckenridge Grand VacationscorePresenting sponsor of the 38th Annual Golf Tournament, the foundation's longest-running community fundraising event.
- Country Boy MinecoreHost venue for Wine at the Mine annual fundraiser, one of Summit County's favorite end-of-summer traditions.
- Colorado Mountain CollegecorePartner for Mountain Scholars program where students begin their college journey with flexibility to stay at CMC or transfer to four-year university. Foundation helped start the program which has 67% degree completion rate.
- Summit School DistrictcoreKey partner for Project Thrive, accepting donation and managing the afterschool programming initiative. Provides facilities free of charge for afterschool and summer care. Superintendent Tony Byrd supports the collaboration.
- 20+ Local Businesses (Employee Giving)coreOver 20 local businesses participate in employee giving programs, enabling 2,000+ employees to contribute through payroll deduction. Contributing businesses may earn transferable ski passes.
- Peak Health AlliancemajorHealthcare collaborative initiative founded by the foundation after actuarial study revealed Summit County had among highest healthcare costs nationally despite healthy population. Has saved consumers over $8 million and been replicated in 7 other Colorado counties.
- Building Hope Summit CountymajorCommunity-wide mental health initiative founded after the Casey family partnered with foundation following their daughter's death. Now in seventh year as independent nonprofit addressing stigma reduction, access to care, and service integration.
- 48 Summit County Nonprofits (Survey)core48 nonprofit organizations participated in 2026 Salary & Benefits Survey covering Summit, Lake, Park, and Grand Counties. Survey helps nonprofits with compensation benchmarking and workforce challenges.
- Summit Accountants (Andrew Pires, Parker Semin)minorCPA firm presenting at Nonprofit Finance Lab sessions alongside Scott Shirey from Summit Foundation.
Scale indicators15 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Summit Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Park City Community Foundation: Utah ski-town community foundation providing grants, scholarships, and community initiatives. Comparable ski-resort donor base and small-team operating model.
- Vail Valley Foundation: Community foundation serving Eagle County, Colorado with similar mix of ski-resort-area philanthropy, scholarships, and community initiatives. Direct comparable in size, geography, and resort-driven donor base.
- Jackson Hole Community Foundation: Wyoming ski-resort community foundation providing grants, scholarships, and donor services in Teton County. Closely comparable mountain-resort donor demographic and program mix.
- Grand Foundation: Grand County, Colorado community foundation that Summit Foundation directly serves (West Grand County). Highly comparable program scope and adjacent geography.
- Telluride Foundation: San Miguel County, Colorado community foundation with grants, scholarships, and ski-industry-adjacent philanthropy. Comparable rural-mountain-resort county footprint.
- Yampa Valley Community Foundation: Steamboat Springs-area Colorado community foundation with ski-resort donor base, scholarships, and grantmaking. Comparable mountain-town operating model.
- Aspen Community Foundation: Colorado mountain resort community foundation with parallel scholarship, grantmaking, and donor-advised fund programs. Highly comparable mission, donor demographics, and nonprofit ecosystem approach.
- Tahoe Community Foundation: Lake Tahoe region community foundation serving a mountain-resort population with parallel scholarship, grant, and community programs. Comparable second-home/resort economy donor profile.
Regional players
- Eagle Valley Community Foundation: Eagle County community foundation operating in adjacent Colorado ski country with overlapping ski-industry donor base but slightly different programmatic emphasis.
Emerging players
- Community Foundation of Boulder County: Larger Colorado community foundation demonstrating a mature endowment, donor-advised fund, and grantmaking model that Summit Foundation could grow into over time.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Summit Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceSummit Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Summit Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Summit Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Summit Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Summit Foundation
What does Summit Foundation do?
Summit Foundation is a 501(c)(3) community foundation serving Summit County, Colorado that collects charitable donations from individuals, families, and local businesses, and redistributes them through grants to local nonprofits, scholarships to students, and community initiatives. It operates a distinctive ski medallion pass program in partnership with major Colorado ski resorts, an employee giving program with 20+ local businesses, and signature fundraising events including an annual golf tournament and Wine at the Mine.
Is Summit Foundation a public or private company?
Summit Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Summit Foundation founded?
Summit Foundation was founded in 1984. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Summit Foundation based?
Summit Foundation is headquartered in Breckenridge, Colorado, United States, in the North America region.
How does Summit Foundation make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Donations and Contributions are the primary driver. The others are ski Medallion Program, employee Giving Program, grant Programs and event Sponsorship Grants.
Who are Summit Foundation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Park City Community Foundation, Vail Valley Foundation, Jackson Hole Community Foundation, Grand Foundation, Telluride Foundation, Yampa Valley Community Foundation, Aspen Community Foundation and Tahoe Community Foundation. Eagle Valley Community Foundation is listed as a regional player. Community Foundation of Boulder County is listed as an emerging player.
Does Summit Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Summit Foundation.
What industry is Summit Foundation in?
Summit Foundation's product category is Community Foundation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAB, Community Foundations, with a secondary code of EDADAHAC, Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts. Its NAICS code is 813211 and its SIC code is 8600.