A Utah-based foundation funding schooling in Nepal so Khumbu children have alternatives to portering — built by a mountaineer who retired after 21 Everest summits.

Apa Sherpa Foundation

resource confidence: Medium status: Draft updated 2026-08-11

Type: resource
Status: Draft
Confidence: Medium
Tier: D
Focus: Nepal education, Khumbu region, Sherpa community development, 501(c)(3) philanthropy
Identifiers: ein=27-2198169
Primary Location: Lehi, UT
Utah Location: Lehi, UT
Region: Lehi
Domain: culture-place
Website: https://www.apasherpafoundation.org/
Updated: 2026-08-11

Summary

The Apa Sherpa Foundation is a Utah 501(c)(3) that funds education and basic necessities for disadvantaged people in Nepal, starting from founder Apa Sherpa's home village of Thame in the Everest region. Its public materials center on schooling as the lever — the founder's line is "Without an education, we have no choice" (mission page).

The legal entity registers in Lehi, Utah (EIN 27-2198169) while the website publishes a Salt Lake City PO Box for donations (IRS record, official site). Apa Sherpa himself lives in Draper, Utah (Wikipedia reference capture) — a separate fact from the foundation's registered address.

Who It's For

Disadvantaged children and families in Nepal — especially around Thame in the Khumbu — who lack reliable access to schooling and basic necessities. Donors and volunteers supporting that work from Utah and abroad.

What It Provides

From the foundation's own captured pages: food, shelter, clothing, and schooling; fundraising treks and programs under headings such as Teachers, Meals, and community projects (official site). The mission page frames the theory of change as education and experience leading to stronger families and communities, beginning in Thame and expanding outward (mission page).

The portering alternative the lead suggested is not spelled out on the captured pages in those words, but the same materials tie Apa's climbing career to a desire that younger Sherpas have choices beyond guiding — a quote captured on Wikipedia's article, which the foundation site does not reproduce verbatim.

Scale is modest: IRS filings show roughly $45,000–$87,000 annual contribution revenue in recent years and assets near $287,000 (IRS record).

How To Use It

Website: https://www.apasherpafoundation.org/
Donations contact: PO Box 711116, Salt Lake City, UT 84171; (801) 735-9403 (official site)
Everest summit record and retirement context: Apa Sherpa's Everest Summits

Open Questions

Program geography beyond Thame is not enumerated on the captured site pages — what schools or villages receive funding today?
Lehi vs. Salt Lake City contact addresses — IRS registration vs. public PO Box; whether the Lehi address is an officer's residence has not been verified from a primary record beyond the 990 registration line.
"Since 2010" on the website vs. 2012 IRS ruling date — the site says work began in 2010; federal exemption is dated 2012-02-01 (IRS record).
No utah-entity corporate registration number resolved.

Evidence

Source: Apa Sherpa Foundation Official Website · https://www.apasherpafoundation.org/
Source: Apa Sherpa Foundation — Our Mission Page · https://www.apasherpafoundation.org/our-mission
Source: IRS Form 990 Record — Apa Sherpa Foundation · https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/api/v2/organizations/272198169.json
Source: Wikipedia — Apa Sherpa · https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apa_Sherpa — Utah residence and education-over-portering quote only; not treated as a summit record