The Utah Plumbing & Mechanical Trades Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established to support, strengthen, and sustain Utah’s plumbing and mechanical trades.
Created as a strategic complement to the Utah Plumbing & Heating Contractors Association (UPHCA) and the UPHCA Apprenticeship Academy, the Foundation represents a long-term investment in the industry’s future.
It will serve as the industry’s public-facing, philanthropic arm, designed to drive workforce development, educational opportunity, and community engagement through charitable support.
Mission Statement
The Utah Plumbing & Mechanical Trades Foundation exists to strengthen and sustain the plumbing and mechanical trades by expanding workforce access, supporting education and training, and promoting public awareness of the industry’s vital role in our communities. This would be through skill-based programs, outreach initiatives, and long-term investment, we are committed to building a highly skilled, ethically grounded, and future-ready trade workforce across Utah.
The Foundation also encourages legacy and estate-planning contributions to establish a self-supporting endowment, ensuring long-term, sustainable funding to support and strengthen the industry for future generations.
Purpose
The Foundation’s mission is to:
- Expand workforce access through scholarships and tuition support.
- Promote public awareness and career visibility in the trades.
- Provide opportunities for veterans, high school students, refugees, and underserved communities.
- Support safety training, credentialing, and ethical best practices.
- Strengthen the long-term health and image of the licensed plumbing and mechanical professions.
As a stand-alone entity, the Foundation will:
- Operate independently from UPHCA’s advocacy and membership functions.
- Be governed by a volunteer board of industry professionals and/or representatives of those who donate to the foundation.
- Seek funding through tax-deductible donations, grants, gifts, and corporate support.
- The hope and goal of this foundation is to develop a self-funded endowment for long-term benefits to the industry.
Contribute to help the Foundation reach our goals.
Role of the Endowment
A central feature of the Foundation’s long-term strategy is the creation of a permanent endowment. This fund will be invested to generate sustainable, annual income, ensuring that core programs such as scholarships, outreach, and recruitment can continue regardless of economic cycles or fluctuations in yearly fundraising.
Key goals of the endowment include:
- Establishing a reliable funding stream for workforce development.
- Supporting recognized skill-based programs like Skills USA and training initiatives.
- Creating a legacy for individuals and companies who wish to give back to the industry.
- Preserving the Foundation’s ability to support the trade for future generations.
Value to the Industry
The Foundation and its endowment are designed to create long-term value and impact for the Utah plumbing and mechanical trades. While UPHCA protects the industry’s legislative and professional interests, and the Academy delivers quality training, the Foundation completes the triad by securing charitable resources, expanding access, and amplifying the profession’s role in society.
This initiative will position the Utah plumbing and mechanical industry as a strong economic sector and a community-minded profession with a clear pathway for future generations.
The UPHCA Plumbing & Mechanical Foundation welcomes contributions at all levels. Donors may give through one-time gifts, recurring donations, or planned and estate-based giving.
Annual & One-Time Giving Levels:
Industry Supporter – Up to $999
Trade Advocate – $1,000 – $4,999
Workforce Champion – $5,000 – $9,999
Industry Partner – $10,000 – $24,999
Founders Circle – $25,000 and above
Endowment & Legacy Giving:
Endowment Builder – Cumulative gifts of $50,000+
Legacy Circle – Planned or estate gifts through bequests, beneficiary designations, trusts, or other estate-planning vehicles
Legacy Circle members help establish and grow a permanent endowment designed to provide ongoing, self-sustaining funding for education, outreach, and workforce initiatives benefiting Utah’s plumbing and mechanical trades.