The Promontory Foundation
The mission of the Promontory Foundation is to serve the unmet needs of the Park City Community in the areas of the Arts, Culture and Social Services by providing matching dollars for worthwhile programs addressing these areas. Our vision is to provide opportunities for everyone to give in both deeply personal and truly collaborative ways. Together, we’re working to create an exceptionally caring community and a truly extraordinary place to live.
Our vision is that by involving Promontory Members in the good works of Park City’s non-profits, our second-home community will become more fully integrated into the work of making the Park City area a more enriching and special place to live.
Promontory’s member-sponsored charitable foundation (Sec. 501 (c) (3)), The Promontory Foundation, holds an annual fundraising event to benefit these non-profitable organizations. The beneficiary organizations range from local arts and theatre production groups to food banks, free clinics and women’s shelters. This event is generally held the week of the July 4th holiday. The Promontory Foundation is staffed entirely by volunteer Promontory members with no overhead expenses so that 100% of the proceeds benefit Park City area charities.
The Promontory Foundation has distributed to 30 local non-profit organizations in 2023. They are:
- Ballet West
- Bridge21
- CCPC
- Egyptian Theatre Company
- Girl Scouts of Utah
- Habitat for Humanity
- Intermountain Foundation – Park City Hospital
- Joseph James Morelli Foundation
- Kimball Arts Center
- KPCW
- Literacy Project
- Live Like Sam
- Mountain Lands Community Housing
- Mountain Mediation
- Mountain Town Music
- Mountain Trails Foundation
- National Ability Center
- Park City Education Foundation
- Park City Film Series
- Park City Historical Society
- Park City Institute
- PC TOTS
- Peace House
- People’s Health Clinic
- Playing For Life
- Recycle Utah
- Saddle of Love
- Summit County Clubhouse
- Swaner Nature Preserve
- Youth Sports Alliance
Promontory Foundation has opened our applications for our 2024-2025 grants. If your non-profit organization is based in Summit County and you would like to be considered for a grant, please fill out the application below. Please submit your application by June 25th to Jordyn Torr at jtorr@promontoryclub.com
FAQs
The Promontory Foundation is an important part of Promontory’s core values and culture. Founded in 2006 by Francis Najafi, founder and CEO of Pivotal Group and developer of Promontory, the vision of the Promontory Foundation is to provide opportunities for Promontory members to give in both deeply personal and truly collaborative ways. The mission of the Promontory Foundation is to have major impact in the community and to serve the unmet needs of the Park City Community in the areas of Arts, Culture and Social Services by providing matching dollars for worthwhile programs addressing these areas. Together, we’re working to create an exceptionally caring community and a truly extraordinary place to live. Our vision is that by involving Promontory Members in the good works of Park City’s non-profits, our second-home community will become more fully integrated into the work of making the Park City area a more enriching and special place to live.
Yes. Since the Foundation’s inception in 2006, we have been a 501(C)3 non-profit organization and we will always be one.
Yes, the Foundation files a tax return each year. In addition, in 2021 the Foundation filed an application with the IRS to convert from a private foundation to a public charity for tax purposes. This will provide the additional benefit of allowing certain private foundations to be able to donate directly. This conversion is a 5-year process before the application can be granted.
The Promontory Foundation holds an annual fundraising event to benefit these non-profitable organizations, typically around the week of the July 4th holiday. This event is generally a Foundation Concert/Fundraising dinner available to Promontory Members and their guests.
Through 2023, the Promontory Foundation has granted $2.78 million to local non-profits, and when combined with the required matching grant dollars raised by the local non-profits, has had a $7.75 million impact on the community.
The Foundation has a standard online application linked here, that must be completed and sent to jtorr@promontoryclub.com along with other supporting documentation. The application deadline for 2024 is June 25, 2024.
Grant applications are reviewed following the completion of the annual July fundraising event. A decision on awards is typically approved in August and awards are announced at our “Happiest Hour” Grant Reception towards the end of summer.
The Foundation, along with its board members and Foundation officers, use a standardized rating matrix to evaluate each applicant’s grant application. Important criteria for evaluating the many grant applications received include:
- Is the non-profit local to Summit County?
- Does the non-profit and program fit within our mission of supporting arts, culture and/or social services?
- Does the program meet an unmet need in the community?
- Does the non-profit have Promontory member support? Do Promontory members serve on the board and/or support through volunteer service?
- Does the non-profit have a sound way of measuring success for the program requesting funding?
- Do the organization’s financials/fiscal budget reflect sound spending, appropriate overhead/admin costs for the scope, and a healthy outlook for continued operation?
- Does the organization have matching grant support? Would a Promontory grant have a significant impact to their program cause?
Zero. The Promontory Foundation is staffed entirely by a few Promontory executives whose employment cost is born by the Developer, as well as volunteer Promontory members with no overhead expenses so that 100% of the raised net proceeds benefit Park City area charities.
Yes.
- Executive Director | Meryl Van Der Merwe
OFFICERS:
- President | Kelli Brown
- Vice President | Francis Najafi
- Treasurer | Stephen Lees
- Secretary | Jordyn Torr
GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE:
- Advisory Board Member & Chair: Tom O’Leary
FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE:
- Advisory Board Member & Chair: Bonnie Kirkpatrick
GRANTS COMMITTEE:
- Advisory Board Member & Chair: Ben Wiener
PUBLIC RELATIONS/COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE:
- Advisory Board Member & Chair: Rachel Alday
AD HOC/AUCTIONS COMMITTEE:
- Advisory Board Member & Chair: Jeremy Shapiro
Yes, if interested please contact Meryl van der Merwe at meryl@promontoryclub.com or by phone at (435)333-4202.
