Zoma Foundation

The Zoma Foundation is the private grantmaking foundation of Ben Walton and his wife Lucy Ana Walton. Ben Walton is a grandson of Sam Walton, the founder of Walmart.

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At-A-Glance

Type: Non-profit, 501(c)(3), Private Foundation
Founded:

2016

Location: Bentonville, AR View on map
Tax ID: 81-4630003
Most Recent Filing: 2024
Budget (2024): Assets: $529,458,258 Revenue: $5,376,616 Expenses: $28,942,330

Contents

    The Zoma Foundation has a focus on programs such as mental health and early childhood development. The foundation also focuses on workforce training and community economic development. 1

    In addition to making grants in Colorado, the foundation has a branch in Chile and funds programs there. Lucy Ana Walton is originally from Chile. 1

    While most of the grants of the foundation are to noncontroversial programs, it has made grants to the left-of-center Energy Foundation and is increasingly focused on environmentalist programs. 1

    The Zoma Foundation generated controversy in 2020 when it was revealed that the foundation had paid for a position in Colorado state government. Critics alleged that the use of private money to fund the position was a way for Colorado’s governor to avoid transparency and accountability from the state legislature. 2

    Overview

    The Zoma Foundation is a Bentonville, Arkansas-based foundation. It serves as the private grantmaking foundation of Ben Walton and his wife Lucy Ana. Ben Walton is a grandson to Walmart founder Sam Walton. 3

    In 2016, the Zoma Foundation was seeded by $191 million in Walmart stock and $51 million in grants from the Walton Family Foundation, which at one time hosted a Ben and Lucy Ana Walton Fund. 1

    Programs

    A major focus of the foundation is early childhood development. The foundation makes more grants in that field than any other. In 2020, grants went to two Denver-based childhood development groups, Tennyson Center for Children ($500,000) and UCHealth’s Bright by Three program ($450,000). 1

    During the COVID-19 epidemic, the Zoma Foundation made many grants related to combating the spread of the virus. Major COVID awards went to the SCL Health Foundation ($500,000), Denver Health Foundation ($500,000), University of Colorado Foundation ($365,000), and Mile High United Way ($355,000). 1

    The foundation also awarded grants to help rural communities affected by the epidemic. In 2020, it partnered with Ben’s brother Sam Walton’s Catena Foundation and the Gates Family Foundation to create a $3 million rapid response fund focused on rural small businesses and nonprofits in Colorado that was hosted by the First Southwest Community Fund. In May 2021, the foundation joined with Philanthropy Colorado, Telluride Foundation, and the Denver Foundation to provide $1.5 million in unrestricted grants for rural communities affected by the pandemic. 1

    The foundation also makes donations related to the environment. In 2017, it provided $1.5 million in seed funding for a 10,000 square foot water treatment research facility at the Colorado School of Mines. It has also awarded grants to the Energy Foundation, a left-of-center charitable foundation. The foundation is also backing the left-leaning The Nature Conservancy’s Enduring Earth initiative, which aims to preserve 30% of the planet by 2030. 1

    Chile

    The foundation has a Chilean arm called Fundacion Viento Sur, which translates to South Wind Foundation. Lucy Ana Walton is from Chile. The operation received $11 million in 2020 and overall has received more than 45% of all grant dollars awarded between the Zoma Foundation’s founding and 2020. 1

    Funding Colorado Government

    In 2020, the Associated Press reported that the Zoma Foundation had been funding positions in the Colorado state government. The Zoma Foundation donated $20,000 towards the funding of a coordinator for a two-generation economic security program. 4

    Critics alleged that the donations were used to circumvent transparency requirements and to bypass the Colorado state legislature’s oversight of state spending. Critics further claimed that the donations also allowed the foundation to influence Colorado state policy. 4

    Leadership

    Ben Walton is the co-founder of the foundation. He is the grandson of Walmart founder Sam Walton. He holds a degree in environmental design with a focus in architecture from the University of Colorado. He also studied at Georgetown University. 3

    Lucy Ana Walton is the other co-founder of the foundation. She is a child psychologist by profession and received her psychology degree from The Universidad del Desarrolo. 3

    Finances

    A copy of the 2020 tax return was provided to Inside Philanthropy. According to their reporting, the foundation made $21 million in grants in 2020. The foundation had $243 million in assets, but the foundation had sold another $318 million in Walmart stock. 1

    Financial Statistics

    Total Assets

    Total Revenue

    Total Expenses

    YearTotal AssetsTotal RevenueTotal ExpensesFiling
    2024 $529,458,258 $5,376,616 $28,942,330 View
    2023 $525,567,101 $7,139,327 $17,294,533 View
    2022 $493,469,637 $-6,502,322 $13,627,817 View
    2021 $565,221,791 $324,907,184 $19,617,305 View
    2020 $243,118,496 $19,208,599 $22,709,964 View

    Prior year filings: 2019

    Expenses Detail

    Grant Activity

    All-time grants received statistics from Candid dataset:

    • Total Grant Value: $5,031,781
    • Number of Grants: 2
    • Number of Funders: 2

    Selection of highest value grants received from the last seven years:

    AmountYearFunderSubject
    $31,7812022 Windward FundENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS

    All-time grants given statistics from Candid dataset:

    • Total Grant Value: $83,787,921
    • Number of Grants: 313
    • Number of Recipients: 114

    Selection of highest value grants given from the last seven years:

    AmountYearFunderSubject
    $9,500,0002024 The Nature ConservancyTO ADVANCE ECONOMIC PROSPERITY AND DURABLE CONSERVATION IN THE GREAT BEAR SEASUPPORTING SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS, LOCAL ENTERPRISES, AND JOB CREATIONBY SECURING LONG-TERM FINANCING THROUGH A PROJECT FINANCE FOR PERMANENCE (PFP) INITIATIVE CO-DEVELOPED BY ENDURING EARTH AND 17 FIRST NATIONS.
    $7,000,0002024 The Nature ConservancyTO SUPPORT A PROJECT-FINANCE FOR PERMANENCE (PFP) DEAL, A DEAL THAT SECURES LONG-TERM FUNDING FOR CONSERVATION WHILE ENSURING COMMUNITIES BENEFIT THROUGH SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS, LOCAL ENTERPRISE, AND JOB CREATION TIED TO HEALTHY ECOSYSTEMS, DEVELOPED BY ENDURING EARTH WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF MONGOLIA, WITH THE GOAL OF SUPPORTING ECONOMIC PROSPERITY.
    $5,000,0002021 Tompkins ConservationCape Froward
    $4,000,0002022 World Wildlife Fund, Inc.To ensure the effective long-term protection of strategic and global conservation landscapes to conserve and preserve their natural legacy and biodiversity, and improve the lives of the people in the areas of impact
    $2,748,0002023 Fundacion OrigenTHE PURPOSE OF THE GRANT IS TO CARRY OUT CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES IN EDUCATIONAL, HEALTH, ENVIRONMENTAL, CULTURAL AND SOCIAL ISSUES IN CHILE.
    $1,530,6812024 High Line Canal ConservancyTO SUPPORT THE HIGH LINE CANAL CONSERVANCY AND ITS PARTNERS TO PROTECT AND REVITALIZE THE CANAL'S NATURAL SPACES WHILE IMPROVING THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE, WITH THE GOAL OF SUPPORTING COMMUNITY CONNECTION AND DEVELOPMENT.
    $1,469,3192023 High Line Canal ConservancyTO SUPPORT THE HIGH LINE CANAL CONSERVANCY AND ITS PARTNERS TO PROTECT AND REVITALIZE THE CANAL'S NATURAL SPACES WHILE IMPROVING THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE, WITH SPECIAL PRIORITY FOR AREAS OF HIGHEST NEED.
    $1,000,0002022 Arapahoe Community College Foundation IncTo support the Colorado Health Careers Academy Collaborative project
    $727,8422024 Windward FundTO SUPPORT CENTRAL OPERATIONS OF ENDURING EARTH TO ADVANCE PROJECT-FINANCE FOR PERMANENCE DEALS TO DRIVE BIODIVERSITY, DURABLE CONSERVATION, AND COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GOALS, INCLUDING SUPPORTING SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS, LOCAL ENTERPRISE, AND JOB CREATION.
    $647,1392023 Windward FundTHE PURPOSE OF THE GRANT IS TO SUPPORT GRANTEES HUB PROGRAM.
    $588,6512021 Fundacion ChileWater Scenarios 2030, Water for the Future, Phase 2, third semester
    $574,5942023 Arapahoe Community College FoundationTO SUPPORT THE COLORADO HEALTH CAREERS ACADEMY COLLABORATIVE PROJECT.
    $561,2652023 Rocky Mountain Adventist Healthcare FoundationTO SUPPORT SYSTEMIC CHANGE ACROSS THE CENTURA HEALTH SYSTEM ON PERINATAL MENTAL HEALTH INCLUDING UNIVERSAL SCREENING AND EFFECTIVE, ACCESSIBLE CARE IN WOMEN'S HEALTH, INTEGRATED CARE, PEDIATRIC AND INPATIENT FACILITIES.
    $540,6132023 Careerwise ColoradoTO PROVIDE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
    $500,0002020 Denver Health FoundationGeneral operating support in response to COVID-19.
    $500,0002020 Scl Health FoundationGeneral operating support for COVID related needs including healthcare associate support and vulnerable population responses
    $500,0002020 Tennyson Center for Children at Colorado Christian HomeTo catalyze the "Rewiring Child Welfare" initiative to demonstrate a replicable oath to reducing the number of children and families falling into crisis and reducing the number of children requiring residential placement.
    $480,4492022 Careerwise Coloradoto support the Modern Youth Apprenticeship
    $450,0002021 Bright BeginningsBright by Three Text
    $450,0002020 Bright BeginningsThe grant will 1) scale the Bright by Text platform and 2) increase enrollments and distribution of Colorado toolkits through home visits, group visits, and virtual visits. Additionally, Bright by Three will develop maternal and co-parent wellness content for five months preceding birth to be added to the Bright by Text platform, enhance the functionality of the Bright by Text platform with two-way texting and reduce the overall cost per family of both programs.
    $427,6332021 Rocky Mountain Adventist Healthcare FoundationCentura Perinatal Mental Health
    $426,4582020 Western Resource AdvocatesTo support and drive large new investments in innovative and clean energy technologies in Colorado that will modernize that state's electric system and dramatically reduce carbon emissions that contribute to climate change
    $425,3632024 Arapahoe Community College FoundationTO SUPPORT THE COLORADO HEALTH CAREERS COLLABORATIVE, LED BY ARAPAHOE COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF DENVER, WHICH BRINGS TOGETHER SOME OF COLORADO'S LARGEST HEALTH EMPLOYERS, COMMUNITY COLLEGES, AN INNOVATIVE COLORADO BASED INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN COMPANY, AND 7 RURAL AND URBAN K-12 SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO CO-CREATE EQUITABLE HEALTH CAREER PATHS FOR COLORADO YOUTH.
    $400,0002021 Western Resource AdvocatesWRA – Bridge Funding
    $392,7752024 Youthpower365TO SUPPORT THE CAREERWISE YOUTH APPRENTICESHIP INITIATIVE, LED BY THE VAIL VALLEY PARTNERSHIP, TO EXPAND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PATHWAYS TOWARD CAREERS FOR YOUTH IN EAGLE COUNTY SCHOOLS, GRADES 8-12.

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    Financials, employee compensation, and grant information provided by Candid.

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    References

    1. Kavate, Michael. “Here’s What We Know About A Walton Heir’s Zoma Foundation, A Big Backer Of Maternal Health.” Inside Philanthropy. June 23, 2022. https://www.insidephilanthro,py.com/home/2022/6/23/heres-what-we-know-about-a-walton-heirs-zoma-foundation-a-big-supporter-of-early-childhood.
    2. Frank, John. “Documents Show Polis Taking $1M In Donations For Top Jobs.” AP News. August 15, 2020. https://apnews.com/article/climate-colorado-jared-polis-steve-jobs-immigration-4d352b9bc8af4b5b23a137502b268946.
    3. “About ZOMALAB.” ZOMALAB. Accessed July 4, 2022. https://zomalab.com/about-zomalab/#our_team.
    4. Frank, John. “Documents Show Polis Taking $1M In Donations For Top Jobs.” AP New. August 15, 2020. https://apnews.com/article/climate-colorado-jared-polis-steve-jobs-immigration-4d352b9bc8af4b5b23a137502b268946.