Ennoble Foundation

The Ennoble Foundation is a closed-application, family-governed private foundation. There is no public application process, no program officer to contact, and no published funding guidelines. The foundation's own filing states it 'only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.'

For organizations that may have a natural connection to the Argyle family or their philanthropic interests, the most viable approach is relationship-based. The foundation's giving history reveals three consistent threads: (1) substantial support for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, (2) interest in microenterprise and entrepreneurship training in developing countries, and (3) occasional support for Utah-based human services organizations.

Organizations connected to the Utah LDS community with programs in poverty alleviation, microenterprise development, or food security may have the strongest alignment. However, direct cold outreach is unlikely to succeed — the path to funding runs through personal networks and community connections to the Argyle family.

The foundation's low distribution rate relative to assets ($307K on $60M) is notable. If the Argyle family decides to increase giving toward the 5% minimum distribution threshold, annual grants could grow to $3M+, potentially opening the door to a broader set of recipients.

The Ennoble Foundation's giving is characterized by modest annual distributions relative to a substantial asset base, with significant year-to-year variability in both the number and size of grants.

Key metrics from recent filings: - 2024: $306,600 across 2 grants (range: $5,000–$301,600) - 2023: 6 grants awarded (broader recipient pool) - 2022: 5 grants awarded - 2021: 2 grants awarded - 2020: 1 grant awarded - 2019: 2 grants awarded

Total assets have grown from approximately $52M to $60M in recent years, while annual giving has remained in the low-to-mid six figures — well below the typical 5% distribution threshold for private foundations. The foundation received $0 in contributions in 2024, indicating it operates entirely from investment returns on its existing endowment.

The grant concentration has shifted over time. Earlier years showed more diversified giving across organizations like Mentors International, Academy for Creating Enterprise, Utah Food Bank, and Transcend International. The 2024 filing shows heavy consolidation, with 98% of distributions going to a single recipient (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints).

The median grant size of $153,300 is misleading given the extreme bimodal distribution in 2024 ($301,600 vs. $5,000). A more representative typical grant for non-LDS recipients appears to be in the $5,000–$25,000 range based on historical patterns.

The Ennoble Foundation sits among mid-size Utah private family foundations. Its $60M asset base is substantial, but its annual giving is among the lowest in its peer group relative to assets.

Notable observations: The Ennoble Foundation's giving rate (~0.5% of assets) is dramatically lower than peers. The Ashton Family Foundation, with a comparable asset base ($50M+) and similar closed-application model, distributes roughly 7x more annually. The Bamberger Memorial Foundation, with a modestly larger asset base ($75M+), distributes 10x more and maintains an open application process with 50+ grants per year.

The Ennoble Foundation's most recent filing (2024) shows a simplified grantmaking portfolio of just two awards:

1. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Salt Lake City, UT) — $301,600 for charitable purposes. This is the foundation's largest single grant and represents 98% of total 2024 distributions.

2. Acacia TEC Foundation (Fruit Heights, UT) — $5,000 for charitable purposes. Acacia TEC (Technology, Education, Commerce) is a small Utah-based organization.

This represents a significant consolidation from 2023, when the foundation made 6 grants to a more diverse set of recipients. The reduction from 6 to 2 grants, combined with the heavy concentration in a single recipient, suggests either a strategic shift toward fewer, larger commitments or a transitional period in the foundation's grantmaking.

The foundation's total assets grew to $60,048,239 in 2024, up from approximately $52M in prior years, indicating strong investment returns despite minimal new contributions ($0 received in 2024). All three officers (Shane V Argyle, Heidi B Argyle, Seth Argyle) continue to serve without compensation.

The Ennoble Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. However, for organizations that may have a natural connection to the foundation's interests, the following guidance applies:

1. Do not send unsolicited proposals. The foundation's 990 filing explicitly states it 'only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.' Unsolicited submissions will not be reviewed.

2. Build relationship-based connections. The Argyle family governs this foundation entirely. Any path to funding runs through personal or community connections — likely through the LDS Church community in the Salt Lake City/West Jordan area.

3. Align with demonstrated interests. Historical grantees cluster in three areas: (a) LDS Church and related organizations, (b) microenterprise/entrepreneurship development in developing countries (Mentors International, Academy for Creating Enterprise), and (c) Utah-based human services (Utah Food Bank, Transcend International).

4. Be aware of the website mismatch. The domain ennoble.org belongs to an unrelated Swedish executive mentoring company. Do not contact that organization.

5. Consider the foundation's capacity trajectory. With $60M in assets and only $307K in annual distributions, the foundation has significant latent capacity. Organizations that establish early relationships may benefit if the foundation increases its distribution rate in future years.

6. Physical mail may be the only contact method. The foundation's address is 5369 Legacy Hill Drive, West Jordan, UT 84081. No phone number or email address is publicly available.