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Sturm Family Foundation
Donald L. Sturm founded the Sturm Family Foundation in 1990 after a career that defined Colorado banking. He acquired American National Bank in the 1980s and...
Sturm Family Foundation
Donald L. Sturm founded the Sturm Family Foundation in 1990 after a career that defined Colorado banking. He acquired American National Bank in the 1980s and expanded it into Sturm Financial Group, a multi-bank holding company sold to various institutions including Zions Bancorporation and Peoples Bank. The wealth generated from those transactions seeded both the foundation and Alder Companies, the family's operating and investment entity now chaired by Susan M. Sturm. Donald Sturm died in 2024; his grandchildren now lead day-to-day operations. Alder Ventures, led by CIO Bryan Ritz, handles the foundation's private investment activity. The strategy spans direct venture capital, real estate development, and financial services holdings. The family's real estate footprint includes the mixed-use Meadows at Historic Castle Rock, the Kings Point development in Aurora, and a commercial buildout for ANB Bank in the Denver Tech Center. On the venture side, the firm participates in direct deals and co-investments alongside groups like Santiago Investment Group. The foundation's tax filings and Alder Companies' public records confirm an active posture across asset classes rather than a passive fund-of-funds approach. The foundation operates with a lean professional staff anchored by third-generation family members. Emily Sturm Ehrens serves as President and CEO while also holding the role of Executive Vice President at Alder Companies. Stephen F. Sturm is President and CEO of Alder Companies and serves as the foundation's Vice President and Treasurer. The family maintains deep civic ties: Donald Sturm was an Honorary Life Trustee at the University of Denver, where Stephen now serves as a Trustee. Emily holds a board seat at the Denver Art Museum. The family's YPO membership connects the foundation's leadership to a global peer network of operators. What separates the Sturm Family Foundation from a typical foundation is the Alder Companies integration. Most foundations outsource investment management or run a simple portfolio; the Sturms funnel their endowment capital through an operating company that also manages the family's for-profit enterprises. This creates a blended entity where foundation grants, direct venture checks, and real estate development share a single leadership team — a structure that gives the foundation access to deal flow most peers never see.
General information
Firm type
Endowment / Foundation
Year founded
1990
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Denver
Corporate office
Denver, CO, United States
Principals
Donald L. Sturm
Founder
Susan M. Sturm
Co-founder and Chair of Alder Companies
Emily Sturm Ehrens
President & CEO
Stephen F. Sturm
Vice President and Treasurer
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at the Sturm Family Foundation?
Bryan Ritz is the Chief Investment Officer of Alder Ventures, the entity that handles the family's private investments. Emily Sturm Ehrens, the foundation's President and CEO, oversees the combined grantmaking and investment allocation strategy alongside her brother Stephen Sturm, who runs Alder Companies as CEO.
Where does the Sturm Family Foundation's wealth originate?
The wealth originates from Donald L. Sturm's banking career. He acquired American National Bank and built it into Sturm Financial Group, a Colorado-based multi-bank holding company. The proceeds from the eventual sale of these banking assets seeded both the foundation and the family's operating company, Alder Companies.
Is the Sturm Family Foundation solely a grantmaking entity, or does it make direct investments?
The foundation operates with a dual mandate. Through Alder Ventures, it makes direct private investments in venture capital opportunities and real estate development projects. This sits alongside a traditional grantmaking program focused on Denver-area nonprofits including Judaism Your Way and other community organizations. The foundation's structure allows investment activity to flow through the family's operating company.
What is Alder Companies' relationship to the Sturm Family Foundation?
Alder Companies is the Sturm family's operating and investment entity, chaired by Susan M. Sturm. It houses Alder Ventures, which manages the family's direct investments, and oversees real estate holdings including properties in Castle Rock, Aurora, and Denver. The foundation's leadership overlaps significantly with Alder's: Emily Sturm Ehrens is EVP of Alder and President of the foundation; Stephen Sturm is CEO of Alder and the foundation's Treasurer.
Does the Sturm Family Foundation co-invest with outside partners?
Yes. Public records from Alder Ventures reference co-investment relationships, including one with Santiago Investment Group. The family's real estate developments also involve joint venture structures and commercial partnerships, consistent with a direct-deal model rather than passive fund commitments.
Who governs the Sturm Family Foundation after Donald Sturm's death?
Donald Sturm died in 2024. Governance now rests with the third generation: Emily Sturm Ehrens as President and CEO, and Stephen F. Sturm as Vice President and Treasurer. Susan M. Sturm, Donald's wife and co-founder, remains Chair of Alder Companies. The foundation's board and investment decisions are run by the family's next generation.
What is the Sturm Family Foundation's geographic focus?
The foundation's grantmaking concentrates on Colorado, particularly Denver and the surrounding region. Its real estate investments are similarly Colorado-focused, with developments in Denver, Aurora, and Castle Rock. Venture investments through Alder Ventures may range more broadly, but the family's operating footprint and civic presence are firmly rooted in the Denver metro area.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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