Call To Action Foundation

Call To Action Foundation is a private operating foundation (IRS foundation code 03), not a traditional grantmaking institution — and that distinction is the single most important fact for any grant seeker to internalize. The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals from nonprofits or community organizations. Its work falls into two programmatic pillars it operates directly: scholarship administration for students at public universities in the West and Midwest, and affordable housing investment as a managing general partner of affordable housing limited partnerships.

The foundation was established in 2022 by Crystal Maggelet, whose family controls FJ Management, a major fuel and retail company based in Salt Lake City. Every board seat is held by the Maggelet or Call families: Whitney Call serves as Chair/Director, Drew Maggelet as Vice Chair/Director (the most actively compensated officer at $142,674 in FY2024), and Kathleen Tobey as Executive Director handling day-to-day operations. This family-controlled structure means that cold outreach rarely succeeds — relationship entry points must be cultivated through shared civic, business, or philanthropic networks in Salt Lake City.

For universities and community colleges in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Nevada, or Utah, the realistic engagement path is as a scholarship delivery partner. The CTA Scholarship channels up to $25,000 per student annually to eligible students enrolled at non-profit, regionally accredited public institutions. Institutions not yet recognized as partner schools should contact Kathleen Tobey via the main office at (801) 364-1442 well before the January scholarship cycle opens.

For affordable housing developers and nonprofits with community development expertise, the opportunity is in the foundation's active role as a limited partnership managing general partner. This is an investment relationship, not a grant — co-development proposals framed in housing finance terms (LIHTC, HUD programs, gap financing) are far more likely to receive engagement than traditional grant narratives.

First-time engagers should note that the foundation has publicly committed to more than $100 million invested since 2022, has tripled its asset base in three years, and is actively scaling its scholarship program — suggesting this is an institution in an early, expansive phase of its philanthropic lifecycle.

Call To Action Foundation's direct grantmaking is strikingly modest relative to its $665.4 million asset base — a reflection of its operating foundation structure, which channels most activity through affordable housing investments and directly-administered scholarship programs rather than external grants.

Direct institutional grants (FY2024): $262,250 total across 22 grants, averaging $11,920 per grant. This represents a sharp increase from FY2023 ($76,000 in grants paid across fewer transactions) and FY2022 ($0 in direct grants). The trend line is upward but the absolute numbers remain small.

Scholarship program scale: The foundation's flagship scholarship covers up to $25,000 per student annually. Since the scholarship program's roots in 2007 under the predecessor Call Foundation, more than $7 million has been distributed to underserved students. With the 2025 six-state expansion and 2026 Next Chapter launch, annual scholarship volume is increasing but is not separately itemized in IRS filings — it flows through program service expenses.

Affordable housing investments: FY2023 total_giving of $42.2 million (versus $76K in direct grants) reflects the foundation's role funding affordable housing limited partnerships. The FY2022 filing shows $396 million in contributions received — a massive family capitalization event — against $6.2 million in program-related investments.

Grantee geography: Of 22 tracked institutional grants, Utah accounts for 36% (8 grants), Colorado 32% (7 grants), Washington 18% (4 grants), Iowa 9% (2 grants), and Idaho 5% (1 grant). All grants went to universities and community colleges, none to nonprofits.

Top recipients by cumulative amount: University of Utah ($43,000 across 4 grants), Colorado School of Mines ($40,000 across 2 grants), Utah State University ($37,750 across 4 grants), Colorado State University ($36,500 across 2 grants), University of Colorado Boulder ($30,500 across 2 grants).

Investment income: Net investment income was $16.9M in FY2024 and $16.7M in FY2023, providing a durable revenue base that could support substantial program growth without additional contributions.

By asset size, Call To Action Foundation sits among a cluster of similarly-capitalized family foundations in the $660–666 million range. However, its private operating foundation structure makes it functionally very different from its peers, nearly all of which are traditional grantmaking foundations.

The central takeaway: all four peer foundations write external grants to nonprofit organizations (even if by invitation only). Call To Action Foundation does not. Its IRS filing code 03 (private operating foundation) signals a fundamentally different legal and programmatic structure.

Among the peer set, Engelstad Family Foundation (Nevada) has geographic overlap with the mountain West and may be the most accessible alternative for education- and community-focused organizations in the region. Grant seekers who cannot engage Call To Action Foundation directly — because it does not fund external nonprofits — should look to Engelstad, Mertz, or Rees-Jones as comparable-size funders with open (or invitation-based) application processes.

The foundation's most significant 2026 announcement came March 3, 2026, when it launched the Next Chapter Scholarship for non-traditional adult learners — the first program the foundation has created specifically for students outside the traditional 18–24 college-age demographic. Applications opened March 1 and close April 17, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. MT. The launch signals a deliberate strategic expansion into workforce re-entry and adult education, areas the foundation had not previously addressed publicly.

In January 2026, the foundation opened its 2026 CTA Scholarship Program cycle with a February 20 deadline. This continued the geographic expansion from the 2025 cycle, which extended eligibility from Utah alone to six states: AZ, CO, ID, IA, NV, and UT.

The foundation's 2024 Annual Report was published on its website. IRS data for FY2024 shows assets grew to $665.4 million (from $546.9M in FY2023) and direct institutional grants nearly tripled to $262,250. Net investment income of $16.9M in FY2024 remains robust.

No leadership changes were identified. Executive Director Kathleen Tobey continues in her role (compensation: $52,164), while Vice Chair Drew Maggelet ($142,674) remains the most actively compensated board member. Crystal Maggelet, the founder, holds a Director seat without listed compensation. The board structure is unchanged from prior filings.

Because this is a private operating foundation, the standard grant-seeking playbook does not apply. The following tips are specific to realistic engagement pathways with this funder:

For university financial aid and development offices: - Confirm your institution is a non-profit, regionally accredited public university or college in AZ, CO, ID, IA, NV, or UT before investing time in outreach. - If your institution is not yet a recognized CTA partner school, call (801) 364-1442 or contact through calltoactionphilanthropies.org well before January to discuss eligibility. The scholarship is student-facing, but institutional recognition must come first. - Prepare your financial aid infrastructure — need verification, enrollment documentation, and student support services (mentorship, counseling, leadership development) — before approaching. The foundation emphasizes holistic support alongside financial awards. - Market the Next Chapter Scholarship (adult learners, March–April cycle) aggressively to continuing education and workforce development students. It is a new program with low public awareness.

For affordable housing organizations: - Approach the foundation as a co-development partner, not a grant recipient. Frame proposals around partnership in affordable housing limited partnerships, LIHTC projects, or gap financing structures. - Reference the foundation's existing role as managing general partner and highlight your organization's complementary expertise (tenant services, community development, property management).

General principles: - Do not submit unsolicited grant proposals. There is no application portal for nonprofits. Proposals will not be reviewed. - Align language with the foundation's stated priorities: 'access,' 'underserved communities,' 'West and Midwest,' 'working families,' 'need-based,' and 'holistic support beyond financial assistance.' - Entry into board relationships requires connection through Salt Lake City civic and business networks. FJ Management and Utah higher education leadership circles are the most relevant.