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Foundation Partners

First Descents Foundation Partners generously support the mission of FD and play a central role in helping us reach more young adults impacted by cancer and other serious health conditions.

Anahata Foundation

The Anahata Foundation provides support, resources and tools for youth to facilitate participation in programs conducive to their future success. Whether their interests lie in educational learning, creative outlets or athletic programs, they are dedicated to turning these dreams into reality.


The Anschutz Foundation

Founded in 1984, The Anschutz Foundation was created by Philip F. Anschutz as a private charitable foundation. Over three decades, the foundation has given substantially to hundreds of nonprofit organizations primarily concentrated in Colorado to improve quality of life for individuals and communities.


BasePoint Foundation

The BasePoint Foundation partners with First Descents to underwrite adventure programs for young adult cancer survivors living in Westchester, NY as well as the broader NYC area. Providing positive experiences to young people coping with serious illnesses is central to BPF’s charitable priorities. Equally inspiring, BasePoint Foundation staff volunteer at FD programs and support regional events.


Barbara McCafferty Family Foundation


Caring For Denver Foundation

Caring for Denver Foundation was founded and funded with overwhelming voter support to address Denver’s mental health and substance misuse needs by growing community-informed solutions, dismantling stigma, and turning the community’s desire to help into action.


The Char and Chuck Fowler Family Foundation

The Fowler Family Foundation is dedicated to improving people’s lives through education, healthcare, and the arts. Since 2001, the Foundation and its trustees have championed research, treatment and age-appropriate services for the continuum of care for AYA patients. 


Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation

The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation is dedicated to curing spinal cord injury by advancing innovative research and improving quality of life for individuals and families impacted by paralysis.


Clif Family Foundation

Clif Family Foundation supports innovative small and mid-sized groups working to strengthen our food system and our communities, enhance public health, and safeguard our environment and natural resources.


DeLaski Family Foundation


Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation

The Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation provides the simple joys of childhood to kids battling hunger or illness. The Foundation partners with food banks, children’s hospitals and nonprofit organizations to fund joyful environments and joyful experiences for kids when they need it most. Since 2006, the Joy in Childhood Foundation has granted more than $25 million to hundreds of national and local charities across the country.


Epperson Family Foundation

The Epperson Family Foundation was established in 2006 by Stan and Melinda Epperson. Together with their daughter and her family, their foundation seeks to make a lasting, positive impact in the community through supporting innovative and effective nonprofit organizations.


First Responders Children’s Foundation

First Responders Children's Foundation provides financial support to the children and families of First Responders killed or injured in the line of duty. Their mission is to support those first responder family members left behind, to help them feel the strength of our community, and to honor their loved ones who have made the ultimate sacrifice.


Gateway Fund II of The Denver Foundation

Gateway Fund II of The Denver Foundation is focused on positive social change with a mission to unleash individual potential by removing systemic barriers to success. Based in Denver, the Gateway Fund II of The Denver Foundation supports under-served individuals and their communities in achieving their full potential, through three primary initiatives: Career and post-secondary success, Immigrant advocacy and integration, and Youth nutrition and activity.


George Karl Foundation

The George Karl Foundation was created to support causes and organizations important to Coach Karl and his family. The Foundation has helped champion many causes within oncology including the Boulder Community Hospital inpatient cancer wing, MyLifeLine.org, the Cancer Care Initiative, and First Descents.


Gray Foundation

The Gray Foundation is focused on BRCA-Related Cancers. They accelerate research, improve treatment and raise awareness for individuals who have inherited BRCA mutations. Additionally, they are also committed to maximizing access to education, healthcare and opportunity for low-income youth in New York City.


I’m Not Done Yet Foundation

The I’m Not Done Yet Foundation helps adolescent patients with serious, long-term, and chronic illnesses transition from pediatrics to adulthood. Together, First Descents and the I’m Not Done Yet Foundation have developed the Out Living It Project (OLIP), a virtual platform that delivers healthy lifestyle content, custom adventure planning, and wellness resources for young adult patients and their networks of care.


The J.E. Fehsenfeld Family Foundation

The J. E. Fehsenfeld Family Foundation exists to strengthen family bonds and create opportunities to share its resources with the broader community. We invest in projects and organizations that maximize the potential of children, youth, and young adults and that contribute to their quality of life.


JAC Family Foundation


Jon & Mindy Gray Family Foundation


K2 Adventures Foundation

To care for children, adults and families with special needs and or life-changing medical and financial circumstances by providing services, support and funds that will be used for educational and medical enrichment.


Kate Svitek Memorial Foundation

The Kate Svitek Memorial Foundation was created in memory of Kate Svitek who had a passion for the outdoors. In honor of Kate, the Foundation provides grants to individuals, groups and institutions whose interests and goals align with Kate's hopes and dreams. The primary focus is to support a range of activities and education principally related to outdoor and wilderness exploration study, observation, preservation, improvement, expansion, and enhancement.


The Mayer Foundation

The Mayer Foundation exists to help organizations move closer to a world where at-risk kids find hope, support, and the life-skills to thrive. We look for innovative ideas that can make a tangible difference primarily, but not exclusively, in our home state of California. We support organizations focused on housing, food and nutrition, physical health, mental well-being, and education and training.


Mellam Family Foundation

The Mellam Family Foundation supports programs in the areas of medical and scientific research, education, the environment and social services.


Michael and Terri Bowman


The Michael Gross Family Foundation


Mildred’s Dream Foundation

Mildred’s Dream Foundation is dedicated to providing financial resources to nonprofits that provide programming, advocacy and support within the community. Our three focus areas of giving are: mental and physical health, education, and domestic violence and abuse prevention.


The Murray Foundation


Newman’s Own Foundation

The Foundation believes that each of us, through the power of philanthropy, has the potential to make a difference. Since 1982, when Paul Newman first declared, “Let’s give it all away,” more than $550 million has been donated to thousands of nonprofit organizations helping people in need around the world.


Oak Foundation

Oak Foundation commits its resources to address issues of global, social, and environmental concern, particularly those that have a major impact on the lives of the disadvantaged. Through our grant-making, we support others to make the world a safer, fairer, and more sustainable place to live. With offices in Europe, India, and North America, we make grants to organizations in approximately 40 countries worldwide.


Offield Family Foundation


The Precourt Foundation


Rise Above It


Rita Lamoureux Family Foundation


RK Foundation

The RK Foundation is committed to building better lives by investing in community services, education, and health in the communities their employees live and work.


Rutledge Cancer Foundation

Rutledge Cancer Foundation works to ease the impact of cancer on the lives of teens and young adults, raise survival rates and find a cure for sarcomas and other solid tumor cancers.


Samberg Family Foundation


Seabury Foundation

The Seabury Foundation is committed to transforming social and economic disparities through grass roots or community-based projects and programs. The Foundation focuses on uncovering and nurturing community assets; empowering program participants to make meaningful long-lasting changes in their lives; and providing activities and direct services built around culturally appropriate standards of personal character and ethics.


Shine Foundation


SOUL RYEDERS

SOUL RYEDERS provides personalized resources, innovative programs and community support to anyone in the New York Tri-State area impacted by any type of cancer. Support from SOUL RYEDERS advances First Descents' New York programming, creating more opportunities for young adults to experience the healing power of adventure.


#StartSmall LLC

#StartSmall is Jack Dorsey’s philanthropic initiative to fund global COVID-19 relief, girls health and education, and efforts towards Universal Basic Income. Dorsey transferred $1 billion (28% of his wealth) to #StartSmall in 2020.


Tappan Easton Foundation


Triford Foundation


VF Foundation

The VF Foundation supports non-profit organizations in driving movements for the betterment of people and the planet, including movements that define Worthy Work, embrace the fact that Outside Matters, and empower diversity, equity and inclusion as we are Free to Be.


Wacky Warriors

Wacky Warriors’ mission is to restore the health and redefine the well-being of adolescents and young adults living with cancer. To do so, Wacky Warriors raise funds for children and young adult cancer research, create sports-related awareness and fundraising opportunities, and support outdoor programs for children and young adults with cancer.  


Wend II., Inc

Wend is a collective of wayfinders exploring pathways towards a better world. A world with more trust, more vibrancy, and more justice; accomplished by healthier relationships with ourselves, each other, communities, the natural world, and spirit.  We do not align behind a single organizational purpose; instead we move towards a better world on a path of shared values, empowered to be the change we want to see.


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