# Apa Sherpa Foundation

**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
**Pull:** *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.*

## 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](apa-sherpa-foundation-mission-page.md)).

The legal entity registers in **Lehi, Utah** (EIN 27-2198169) while the website publishes a **Salt Lake City PO Box** for donations ([IRS record](apa-sherpa-foundation-form-990-record.md), [official site](apa-sherpa-foundation-official-website.md)). Apa Sherpa himself lives in **Draper**, Utah ([Wikipedia reference capture](wikipedia-apa-sherpa-reference.md)) — 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](apa-sherpa-foundation-official-website.md)). 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](apa-sherpa-foundation-mission-page.md)).

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](wikipedia-apa-sherpa-reference.md), 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](apa-sherpa-foundation-form-990-record.md)).

## How To Use It

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

## 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](apa-sherpa-foundation-form-990-record.md)).
- No **`utah-entity`** corporate registration number resolved.

## Evidence

- [Source: Apa Sherpa Foundation Official Website](apa-sherpa-foundation-official-website.md) · https://greatutah.work/pages/apa-sherpa-foundation-official-website.md · https://www.apasherpafoundation.org/
- [Source: Apa Sherpa Foundation — Our Mission Page](apa-sherpa-foundation-mission-page.md) · https://greatutah.work/pages/apa-sherpa-foundation-mission-page.md · https://www.apasherpafoundation.org/our-mission
- [Source: IRS Form 990 Record — Apa Sherpa Foundation](apa-sherpa-foundation-form-990-record.md) · https://greatutah.work/pages/apa-sherpa-foundation-form-990-record.md · https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/api/v2/organizations/272198169.json
- [Source: Wikipedia — Apa Sherpa](wikipedia-apa-sherpa-reference.md) · https://greatutah.work/pages/wikipedia-apa-sherpa-reference.md · https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apa_Sherpa — Utah residence and education-over-portering quote only; not treated as a summit record

## See Also

- [Apa Sherpa's Everest Summits](apa-sherpa-everest-summits.md) · https://greatutah.work/pages/apa-sherpa-everest-summits.md