Ute Pass Saddle Club

Ute Pass Saddle Club is a small, locally rooted private foundation in Divide, Colorado (EIN 84-6035819, ruling year 2007). Its history shapes how it gives. Per The Gazette (November 2024), the club was incorporated in 1947, ran rodeos and gymkhanas for decades, and stopped hosting them because of falling membership and rising horse-keeping costs. It now operates as a private foundation serving Teller County. President John Bradley summarized the change: "Rather than cater to the members we cater to the community."

The IRS record lists the stated mission as "work continues to build an arena in Divide, Colorado," with $17,160 in program expenses. The grantmaking is a separate activity, and the grantee list shows who benefits from it.

Who it favors. All 15 FY2025 grants went to Colorado recipients, and nearly all appear to be in the Teller County and Pikes Peak area. Recipients include:

• Family and child welfare: CASA of the Pikes Peak Region, Community Partnership Family Resources, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern Colorado.
• Public safety and community: Teller County Honorary Deputy Sheriff Association, Woodland Park Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Ute Pass Historical Society.
• Equestrian and western heritage: Riders 4 Children, Friends of the Equestrian Skills Course, Top of the World Rodeo, Houghton Healing & Therapy.
• Health, faith, and animals: UCHealth Memorial Hospital Foundation, Little Chapel of the Hills, Teller County Regional Animal Shelter.

Relationship progression. The foundation is flagged preselected-only, and no application form, LOI process, deadline, or guidelines were found. Grants appear to be selected by the board, and the 2026 ceremony photo shows board members presenting checks in person. First-time applicants should expect no formal pipeline. Introduce your organization through board members, who are visible local figures: Chuck Mahoney, Shane and Ashley Boyington, Marc and Monique Ekker, Jan Gilpin, John Bradley, and Craig Nelson.

First-timer note. Giving is entirely general operating support. Make a short, local, operations-focused case rather than a heavy project proposal.

Total giving. FY2025 grants paid were $121,250 across 15 grants, averaging $8,083. Using the IRS-reported figures, giving has grown:

• FY2019: $43,323
• FY2020: $24,424
• FY2021: $36,820
• FY2022: $66,095
• FY2023: $55,019
• FY2025: $121,250

The FY2024 filing is not in the dataset, though press reports a $118,000 round to 13 nonprofits around that time.

Grant size. The median grant is $5,000. The range is $1,250 (Ute Pass Historical Society) to $20,000.

• $20,000 (3 grants, $60,000): Little Chapel of the Hills, Community of Caring Foundation, Community Partnership Family Resources.
• $15,000 (1 grant): Teller County Honorary Deputy Sheriff Association.
• $10,000 (1 grant): CASA of the Pikes Peak Region.
• $5,000 (5 grants, $25,000): WP Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern Colorado, Teller County Regional Animal Shelter, Top of the World Rodeo, UCHealth Memorial Hospital Foundation.
• $2,500 (4 grants, $10,000): The Exodus Road, Riders 4 Children, Houghton Healing & Therapy, Friends of the Equestrian Skills Course.
• $1,250 (1 grant): Ute Pass Historical Society.

The top five grants account for $75,000, or about 62% of the total.

Purpose. All 15 grants are tagged General Operations. The data shows no restricted or project-specific grants.

Geography. 100% of grants went to Colorado recipients, and by name most are tied to Teller County or the Pikes Peak region.

Capacity. Assets were $2.82M in FY2025 and net investment income was $211,585, against $121,250 in grants. Investment income alone could support roughly twice the current payout, so giving has room to grow, although the foundation also holds the Divide arena land. Its tax-exempt classification is Human Services (NTEE N69), but the grantee mix is broader than that label implies.

Peers are drawn from the database by asset size and the Human Services classification. Giving figures for peers were not available in the dataset.

The peers sit within about 10% of Ute Pass's asset base, but most are sports or recreation-linked organizations in other states. None shares its Colorado focus, so they are a loose comparison. For regional alternatives, look instead at other Teller County and Pikes Peak funders, such as community foundations. Ute Pass's distinguishing feature is its roughly 4% payout against assets (grants of $121,250 on $2.82M), a typical level for a small private foundation.

July 2026. The Pikes Peak Courier's Business Buzz column (The Gazette, July 30, 2026) reported that the Ute Pass Saddle Club Foundation distributed funds to seven nonprofits at a ceremony at Park State Bank & Trust. Only one recipient was named: CASA of the Pikes Peak Region, which received $10,000. The photo caption names Craig Nelson and John Bradley for the foundation, with Dan Williams, a Teller County Commissioner and CASA board member, and Keri Kahn of CASA.

November 2024. The Gazette reported that the club had become a private foundation, recently awarding $118,000 to 13 nonprofits, including $15,000 to the Honorary Deputy Sheriff's Association. The article also described the history of the club's property. The 2004 land trade with Woodland Park's Downtown Development Authority brought in about $2 million. The club bought 40 acres in Divide in 2010, closing in 2014. The equestrian and event center plan did not proceed because the Woodland Park property could not be sold at its appraised value of $3 million or more.

Other. A search result indicates a $2,500 grant to The Exodus Road for its Influenced digital-safety program in Teller County schools, consistent with IRS data. I could not open the article, so the date is unconfirmed.

Leadership. IRS filings list John Bradley as president in recent years. Earlier filings list Chuck Mahoney as president, and Shane Boyington as vice president. Board members include Ashley Boyington (treasurer), Jan Gilpin, Marc and Monique Ekker, and Craig Nelson. The club's own website could not be fetched because of a certificate error, so I found no foundation-published announcements.

No application process is published, and the foundation is flagged preselected-only. The tips below rest on the grantee data and press coverage, not published guidance.

• Start with a relationship, not a proposal. Grants appear to be chosen by the board and presented in person. Find a connection to the board members named above, or attend local events such as Woodland Park Chamber functions. The phone number on file is (719) 748-8333, and a Woodland Park Chamber listing shows another number, 720-570-6361. Verify which is current before calling.
• Ask first. Phone or write to ask whether the foundation takes requests and when it decides. Annual rounds seem likely, but the timing is unknown. Press coverage appeared in November 2024 and July 2026, which hints at timing but proves nothing.
• Be local. Every known recipient serves Colorado, and most serve Teller County. Spell out how many Teller County residents you serve.
• Request general operating support. All 15 FY2025 grants were general operations. A modest unrestricted ask fits that pattern.
• Size your ask. The median grant is $5,000 and the typical range is $2,500 to $20,000. A request above $20,000 would be out of pattern. Requests of $2,500 to $10,000 are the most common.
• Use alignment language. Cite community, education, civic, social, and charitable benefit for Teller County (the foundation's stated purpose), plus western heritage and youth where relevant. Equestrian-linked groups such as Riders 4 Children and Friends of the Equestrian Skills Course were funded, so a genuine horse or rural-heritage connection helps.
• Child and family welfare has precedent. CASA, Community Partnership Family Resources, and Ronald McDonald House were all funded.
• Keep it short. A one-page letter with your EIN, budget, and board list is more suitable than a long proposal, given no stated process.
• Common mistake to avoid. Do not assume that a Human Services classification means a broad national scope. The funder is local.
• Follow up. If funded, invite board members to see your work. The foundation holds public check presentations.