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Colorado Lifted Foundation

EIN 74-2497109 · Denver, CO

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood77 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE PARTNER WITH YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES AS THEY SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATE SCHOOL, COLLEGE, AND CAREER BY PROVIDING A HOLISTIC ACADEMIC, SOCIAL, AND EMOTIONAL PROGRAM FROM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THROUGH COLLEGE, ALONG WITH POST-SECONDARY SCHOLARSHIP ASSISTANCE.

Income
$2.2 million
Spending
$2.3 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
7.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 47%
Employees
54
Volunteers
25
Highest pay
$173,973, president and ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 77 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $1.9 million spent. COLORADO DREAM FOUNDATION WAS INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF COLORADO ON FEBRUARY 29, 1988. SINCE OUR FOUNDING, WE HAVE BEEN UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO DELIVER RESULTS BECAUSE OF THE LONG-LASTING, DEEP RELATIONSHIPS WE BUILD WITH FAMILIES, STARTING IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND CONTINUING THROUGH COLLEGE AND INTO A CAREER. OUR PROGRAM TAKE PLACE IN OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME SETTINGS, ALLOWING US TO UTILIZE AFTERNOONS, EVENINGS, AND SUMMERS TO WORK WITH OUR YOUTH. OUR COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING YOUTH THROUGH THEIR POST-SECONDARY JOURNEY MEANS WE CONTINUALLY ADAPT TO MEET THEIR NEEDS EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. OUR HISTORY OF USING DATA AND EVALUATION TO CLOSELY MONITOR ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL GROWTH POSITIONS US WELL TO DELIVER CONSISTENT, MEASURABLE RESULTS. THE FOUNDATION IS SUPPORTED PRIMARILY BY PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTOR GRANTS AND DONATIONS AND IS COMMITTED TO MAINTAINING FINANCIAL STABILITY. OUR DIVERSE LEADERSHIP TEAM AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS PROVIDE OPERATIONAL OVERSIGHT TO ENSURE CONTINUING FINANCIAL HEALTH. IN FY25, WE SERVED 467 YOUTH AND FAMILIES ACROSS METRO DENVER THROUGH FOUR HOLISTIC, INTEGRATED SERVICE AREAS: -OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME PROGRAMMING: PROVIDES DAILY ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT, PROJECT-BASED LEARNING, AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR ELEMENTARY THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. -COLLEGE & CAREER DEVELOPMENT: HELPS STUDENTS EXPLORE THEIR INTERESTS, SET GOALS, AND BUILD REAL PATHWAYS TOWARD HIGHER EDUCATION AND FUTURE CAREERS. -BEYOND DREAMS THERAPY: DELIVERS CULTURALLY CONSCIOUS, TRAUMA-INFORMED MENTAL HEALTH CARE, WITH CLINICIANS NOW EMBEDDED AT TWO DENVER PUBLIC SCHOOL (DPS) HUBS AND AT RFMA MEETING STUDENTS AND FAMILIES WHERE THEY ALREADY FEEL SAFE. -RESTORING FUTURES: OUR NEWEST INITIATIVE ADDRESSING SCHOOL TRUANCY, PROVIDING COURT-INVOLVED YOUTH WITH INDIVIDUALIZED, WRAPAROUND SUPPORT TO RE-ENGAGE THEM IN SCHOOL AND STABILIZE THEIR LIVES. FY202425 RESULTS WE USED SEVERAL METRICS TO ENSURE WE ARE SUCCESSFULLY PREPARING YOUTH FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION AND POST-SECONDARY SUCCESS: -467 YOUTH SERVED ACROSS ALL PROGRAMMING: OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME (167), SUMMER CAMPS (156), AND THERAPY (144). -92% OF YOUTH SERVED COME FROM LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS, UNDERSCORING THE VITAL ROLE OUR PROGRAMS PLAY IN OPENING DOORS TO BRIGHTER FUTURES. -91% OF YOUTH SERVED ARE FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS, PAVING THE WAY FOR NEW OPPORTUNITIES IN HIGHER EDUCATION AND BEYOND. -90% OF YOUTH MAINTAINED A DAILY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE RATE OF 95% OR HIGHER. -32 TITLE I SCHOOLS SUPPORTED THROUGH AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMMING ACROSS DENVER, AT NO COST TO FAMILIES. -95% OF FAMILIES AND YOUTH WERE SATISFIED OR VERY SATISFIED WITH OUR SUMMER CAMP. -16,000 THERAPY SESSIONS PROVIDED THROUGH BEYOND DREAMS THERAPY SINCE SEPTEMBER 2021; 87% OF CLIENTS MET ONE OR MORE THERAPY GOALS. -100% OF YOUTH SCORED TYPICAL OR STRENGTHS ON THE DEVEREUX STUDENT STRENGTHS ASSESSMENT (DESSA), DEMONSTRATING MEASURABLE SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SKILL GAINS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since October 1988.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Colorado Gives Foundation (Arvada, CO), EIN 51-0157964. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.