Jon and Karen Huntsman Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Jon and Karen Huntsman Foundation supports higher education, cancer care, health, local community, and economic development in Utah.
IP TAKE: Since the family patriarch’s death, the founders’ children may take a more active role in the foundation in the days ahead.
PROFILE: Established in 1988, the Jon and Karen Huntsman Foundation is a private family foundation based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Jon Huntsman founded the Huntsman Corporation, which is a global chemical and manufacturing product company. He and his wife, Karen, signed the Giving Pledge to show their commitment to philanthropy in 2010. They had eight children and were involved with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The foundation funds higher education, cancer care, health, local community, and economic development efforts.
Grants for Brain and Cell Research, Public Health and Access, Higher Education, and Community Development
The Jon and Karen Huntsman Foundation does not have a website to guide grant seekers. But as the co-founder of the Huntsman Cancer Institute in Utah, a significant portion of this foundation’s grants go towards health and cancer-related causes. Huntsman had prostate cancer and died of the disease in 2018 at the age of 80. In 2023, the Foundation issued a challenge pledge of $75 million to build a new comprehensive cancer center located in Vineyard, Utah. Huntsman’s son, Peter Huntsman, also runs the Huntsman Cancer Foundation.
The Huntsman family has also steady supported higher education institutions in Utah. The Huntsman family made a $150 million gift to the University of Utah to fund a new institute focused on mental healthcare. Grants typically come in the form of general operating support.
Past local grantees include the BYU Melvin J. Ballard Center, Ballet West, U of U Moran Eye Center, and the Utah Symphony.
Important Grant Details
Grants range between about $5,000 and $500,000. Grantmaking focuses on Utah, with many grants going to groups in Salt Lake City, Logan, Provo, and Orem. It awards some national grants as well.
This foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications from nonprofits and only funds pre-selected organizations. Direct general questions to the staff at 801-584-5700.
PEOPLE:
Search for staff contact info and bios in PeopleFinder (paid subscribers only).
LINK:
