Katz Amsterdam Foundation launches $4.5M Catalyst grants for mountain communities

The Katz Amsterdam Charitable Trust has launched a new annual grant program backing emerging organizations serving marginalized communities in Colorado and Utah mountain towns. Seven recipients in Eagle County, Summit County and Park City will share $4.5 million in three-year grants focused on food security, early childhood education, immigrant services and after-school opportunities.

Why it matters: - The Catalyst Grant Program is designed to give small and growing local organizations stable funding at a critical stage. - The grants target basic needs in mountain communities where housing costs and other barriers can make services harder to access. - Katz Amsterdam wants the funding to help organizations expand reach, strengthen operations and fill service gaps over time.

What happened: - The Katz Amsterdam Charitable Trust launched the Catalyst Grant Program on Oct. 20, 2026. - Seven organizations in Summit County, Colorado, Eagle County, Colorado and Park City, Utah, will split an initial $4.5 million investment. - Each award is structured as a three-year grant. - The program is an annual initiative for emerging organizations and programs serving marginalized communities in mountain towns. - Since 2008, Katz Amsterdam has given more than $86 million in philanthropic contributions, including more than $34 million to mountain resort communities.

The details: - The program focuses on four areas: early childhood education, food security, immigrant services and K-12 out-of-school opportunities. - Grants are largely unrestricted operating support, giving leaders flexibility to hire staff, build infrastructure or expand programming. - Katz Amsterdam plans to make additional grants each year to different organizations in the same focus areas. - Katz Amsterdam also plans to expand the Catalyst Grant Program in the years ahead. - The Park City recipient PC Tots received $900,000 and serves 120 children ages 8 weeks to 5 years in full-day, year-round care. - PC Tots is rated High Quality by Utah's Child Care Quality System, and 80% of families receive scholarships. - Wasatch Immigration Project received $600,000 and provides pro bono immigration legal services in Park City and the Wasatch Back. - The legal nonprofit will use the funding to expand its legal team and strengthen operations. - Eagle Valley Community Foundation received $900,000 and runs The Community Market plus 22 outreach programs. - The food network serves up to 6,000 people each week. - The grant will help build a coordinated food access system that reaches schools, early childhood programs and youth sites. - My Future Pathways received $750,000 and serves youth in Eagle County, with a focus on first-generation Latino students. - The nonprofit reports enrollment of roughly 2,250 students a year, or about 37% of the school district. - Mountain Dreamers received $450,000 and supports immigrant and mixed-status families in Summit and Eagle counties through legal aid, advocacy and community integration programs. - The Frisco-based organization is led by a team drawn almost entirely from the local immigrant community. - The grant will help sustain existing work and expand services in Eagle County. - CAFE Food Rescue received $450,000 and has recovered more than 585,000 pounds of surplus food since 2022, equal to 438,000 meals. - The nonprofit will use the multiyear grant to add staff capacity and bring in food from more donors. - Smart Bellies received $450,000 and delivers weekend food and fresh produce directly to homes in Summit County, Leadville and Fairplay. - The group says it serves up to 1,350 children a week and aims to reduce transportation, cost and stigma barriers. - The grant will strengthen operations through space, staff and technology.

Between the lines: - The grant structure signals a bet on organizations that already have traction but need flexible capital to scale. - By centering general operating support, Katz Amsterdam is prioritizing durability over short-term program expansion. - The geographic spread shows a focus on mountain communities where service providers often operate across multiple towns and counties. - The emphasis on immigrant support and food access suggests the foundation is targeting the most immediate pressure points for working families.

What's next: - Katz Amsterdam expects to continue awarding annual Catalyst grants to other organizations in the same focus areas. - The foundation plans to extend the program to more organizations serving mountain communities in future years. - Recipient organizations will begin using the three-year support to expand staff, services and infrastructure.

The bottom line: - Katz Amsterdam is putting long-term money behind seven mountain-town nonprofits that address core needs for children, families and immigrant communities.