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Denver Foundation

EIN 84-6048381 · Denver, CO

Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.

LegitimacyCautionRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO INSPIRE PEOPLE AND MOBILIZE RESOURCES TO STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY.

Income
$208.3 million
Spending
$161.8 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
87 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 67%
Employees
68
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$534,496, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 87.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 92% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 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 December 31, 2024, 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 (4)
  1. $98.7 million spent. DONOR-ADVISED FUND GRANTS: THE DENVER FOUNDATION GAVE 3,635 GRANTS FROM DONOR-ADVISED FUNDS IN 2024. DONOR-INFLUENCED GRANTS REPRESENT APPROXIMATELY 82% OF THE GRANTS MADE BY THE DENVER FOUNDATION. THESE GRANTS SUPPORTED CHARITABLE ENDEAVORS IN NEARLY EVERY TYPE AND SIZE OF NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION. THE MAJORITY OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS ARE LOCATED IN THE SEVEN-COUNTY METRO DENVER AREA; HOWEVER, THESE FUNDS CAN MAKE GRANTS TO ANY U.S.-BASED CHARITY, OR FOREIGN EQUIVALENT.
  2. $11.4 million spent. COMMUNITY GRANTS PROGRAM: THE DENVER FOUNDATION'S DONOR-BUILT PERMANENT ENDOWMENT FUELS THE COMMUNITY GRANTS PROGRAM, WHICH SUPPORTS CONSTITUENT-LED ORGANIZATIONS THAT WORK TO REDUCE DISPARITIES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. THE COMMUNITY GRANTS PROGRAM HELPS NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS CREATE POSITIVE CHANGE. THROUGH THIS GRANTMAKING, THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS NONPROFITS THAT SERVE THE SEVEN-COUNTY METRO DENVER AREA; ADVANCING THE FOUNDATION'S CORE VALUES; AND ALIGNING WITH THE FOUNDATION'S PRIORITY FUNDING AREAS OF CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENT, ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, YOUTH WELL-BEING, AND HOUSING. TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR FUNDING, ORGANIZATIONS MUST HAVE A 501(C)3 TAX EXEMPT STATUS, SERVE RESIDENTS IN ADAMS, ARAPAHOE, BOULDER, BROOMFIELD, DENVER, DOUGLAS, OR JEFFERSON COUNTIES, AND FULFILL THE GOALS OUTLINED IN THE PUBLISHED GRANT.
  3. $12.5 million spent. THE DENVER FOUNDATION OPERATES 84 DIFFERENT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS. IN 2024 THESE PROGRAMS SUPPORTED 1,131 STUDENTS IN 119 SCHOOLS.
  4. $26.0 million spent. ADMINISTRATION AND DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS FOR CHARITABLE USE: THE DENVER FOUNDATION ADMINISTERS ENDOWMENTS FOR NUMEROUS NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 January 1943.

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

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

    California's Attorney General lists its registration as revoked as of December 31, 2004. Organizations on this list may not solicit donations in California.

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