Our Story

The Denali Foundation's mission is to support young artists by providing free art supplies to underserved communities. We collaborate with teachers, organizers, and emerging artists to fulfill specific supply requests, ensuring that creativity is accessible to all. Additionally, in partnership with the Saraf Foundation, we've established the Sagarmatha Next Facility & Sustainable Park in Nepal, fostering international artistic exchange through an artist-in-residence program while promoting ecological sustainability through upcycling and education.

Denali Foundation was founded in 2015 to honor the memory of Denali Schmidt. Denali graduated from the California College of the Arts and was an artist and an avid climber. Two months after his graduation, he died in an avalanche while climbing K2 in Pakistan. This tragedy inspired his sister Sequoia to start the foundation to preserve his legacy and inspire future artists.

Denali Foundation is a nonprofit corporation and shall be operated exclusively for artistic, educational, and charitable purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or the corresponding section of any future Federal tax code.

Denali Foundation's purpose includes the preservation of the artwork of Denali Schmidt and the ongoing support for the expansion of the minds of young artists. Current programs for the Denali Foundation include, but are not limited to; exhibitions of the artwork of Denali Schmidt and artistic preservation of the name and lifestyle of freedom led by the young artist Denali Schmidt. Scholarship programs will be set up in the name of Denali Schmidt so that young artists may experience life adventures and are encouraged to creatively express those adventures through their art.

Our future programs will include sending out ambassadors to provide art supplies and instructional programs related to artistic creation on a local and global level, and to hold fundraising events in order to provide supplies and assistance to those schools and communities unable to afford the funding for their young generation to express themselves through art, regardless of their race, ethnicity, or religion. 

To maximize our impact on current efforts, we may seek to collaborate with other nonprofit organizations which fall under the 501(c)(3) section of the internal revenue code and are operated exclusively for educational and charitable purposes. At times, per the discretion of the board of directors, we may provide internships or volunteer opportunities which shall provide opportunities for involvement in said activities and programs in order to have a greater impact for change.