Brett Family Foundation
Historical FunderBoulder, Colorado · EIN 84-1525821 · Private foundation · Website
Grants paid (2025)$481K
Organizations funded46
Typical grant$5,000
Total assets$10.1M
Half of its grants to organizations were between $5,000 and $10,000.
From the return
How to apply
The foundation filed the following application information (Form 990-PF Part XV, tax year 2025):
| Contact | THE BRETT FAMILY FOUNDATION |
|---|---|
| Address | 1123 SPRUCE STREET, BOULDER CO 80302 |
| Phone | 3034421200 |
| INFO@BRETTFOUNDATION.ORG | |
| Form and materials | THE FOUNDATION HAS NO PRESCRIBED APPLICATION FORM. FIRST-TIME GRANT APPLICANTS SHOULD INITIALLY CONTACT THE FOUNDATION BY LETTER OF INQUIRY AT LEAST TWO MONTHS PRIOR TO THE TARGETED APPLICATION DEADLINE. PLEASE INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IN THE LETTER OF INQUIRY: 1.) BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF YOUR ORGANIZATION; 2.) PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM OR PROJECT FOR WHICH YOU ARE SEEKING FUNDING AND THE AMOUNT BEING REQUESTED; 3.) OUTCOMES ANTICIPATED AND PLANS FOR ASSSSING ACHIEVEMENTS; 4.) CURRENT ORGANIZATIONAL OPERATING BUDGET, PLUS A PROJECT BUDGET IF APPLICABLE; AND 5.) COPY OF CURRENT 501(C)(3) DETERMINATION LETTER FROM THE IRS. THE BRETT FAMILY FOUNDATION WILL SEND A LETTER TO REQUEST A FULL PROPOSAL OR DECLINE YOUR LETTER OF INQUIRY. THE FOUNDATION ENCOURAGES THE USE OF THE COLORADO COMMON GRANT APPLICATION FORMAT FOR FULL PROPOSALS. PLEASE SEE OUR WEBSITE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (WWW.BRETTFOUNDATION.ORG). |
| Deadlines | GRANT CYCLE DEADLINES ARE ACCORDING TO PROGRAM AREA. PLEASE SEE WEBSITE (WWW.BRETTFOUNDATION.ORG). |
| Restrictions | THE BRETT FAMILY FOUNDATION SUPPORTS CARING COMMUNITIES BY INVESTING IN ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT COLORADO WORKING FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE, AND BOULDER COUNTY NONPROFITS ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, PRIMARILY DISADVANTAGED YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE FOUNDATION HAS TWO PRIMARY FUNDING PRIORITIES: 1.) SOCIAL JUSTICE (STATEWIDE): ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF COLORADO WORKING TO ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, GENDER AND RACIAL INEQUITIES THROUGH STRATEGIES THAT EMPOWER AFFECTED COMMUNITIES TO ENGAGE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS AND ADVANCE PROGRESSIVE POLICY SOLUTIONS. 2.) DIRECT SERVICES (BOULDER COUNTY): BOULDER COUNTY NONPROFITS THAT PROVIDE DIRECT SERVICES AND SUPPORT FOR UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS WITH AN EMPHASIS ON PROGRAMS FOR DISADVANTAGED AND HIGH-RISK YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE BRETT FAMILY FOUNDATION FUNDS GROUPS THAT ARE TAX-EXEMPT UNDER SECTION 501(C)(3) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE. 3.) PROGRAMS AND SERVICES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CO. |
Copied as filed. Deadlines on a tax return describe the foundation's usual process; they are not confirmation of a current open cycle.
What it funds
Share of grant lines on the latest return, classified from the purpose each grant states.
Where it gives
13% of grants went outside Colorado.
Grants paid in tax year 2025
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Community Foundation Serving Boulder County | Boulder, CO | Brett - shoemaker fund: lyons community foundation | $90,000 |
| The Bell Policy Center | Denver, CO | General support | $60,000 |
| New Era Colorado Foundation | Boulder, CO | General Support | $35,000 |
| University of Colorado Foundation | Broomfield, CO | Center for African and African American Studies | $30,000 |
| Colorado Symphony Association | Denver, CO | General Support | $15,000 |
| Colorado Times Recorder | Denver, CO | General Support | $15,000 |
| Community Resource Center Inc | Denver, CO | General support | $13,000 |
| Colorado Democracy Network | Denver, CO | General support | $10,000 |
| Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition | Denver, CO | General support | $10,000 |
| Conservation Colorado Education Fund | Denver, CO | General support | $10,000 |
| Impact Charitable | Denver, CO | Oxygen Fund | $10,000 |
| Progressnow Colorado Education | Denver, CO | General Support | $10,000 |
| Public Broadcasting of Colorado Inc | Centennial, CO | General Support | $10,000 |
| University of Colorado Foundation | Broomfield, CO | Cmdi | $10,000 |
| Colorado Immigrant Justice Fund | Denver, CO | General support | $8,000 |
| Western Resource Advocates | Boulder, CO | General Support | $8,000 |
| Civic News Company | New York, NY | General support | $7,500 |
| Cobalt Foundation | Denver, CO | General support | $7,500 |
| Common Cause Education Fund | Washington, DC | General Support | $7,500 |
| Aspen Journalism | Aspen, CO | General Support | $5,000 |
| Colorado Civic Engagement Roundtable | Denver, CO | General Support | $5,000 |
| Colorado Fiscal Institute | Denver, CO | General support | $5,000 |
| Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Right | Denver, CO | General Support | $5,000 |
| Florence Crittenton Services of Colorado | Denver, CO | General Support | $5,000 |
| Futuro Media Group | New York, NY | General Support | $5,000 |
| Great Education Colorado Fund | Denver, CO | General support | $5,000 |
| Impact on education INC | Louisville, CO | General support | $5,000 |
| Latino Community Foundation of Colorado Inc | Denver, CO | Cifc | $5,000 |
| Mainstream Colorado Education | Denver, CO | General Support | $5,000 |
| National Trust for Local News | Philadelphia, PA | General support | $5,000 |
| The Colorado Education Initiative | Denver, CO | Colorado trustee network | $5,000 |
| Together Colorado | Denver, CO | General support | $5,000 |
| Transformative Leadership for Change | Denver, CO | General Support | $5,000 |
| University of Colorado Foundation | Broomfield, CO | General Support | $5,000 |
| Western Colorado Alliance | Grand Junction, CO | General Support | $5,000 |
| Young Invincibles | New York, NY | General support | $5,000 |
| Rose Community Foundation | Denver, CO | General support | $4,000 |
| University Of Wyoming Foundation | Laramie, WY | General support | $4,000 |
| Sopris Sun Inc | Carbondale, CO | General Support | $3,500 |
| Colorado Freedom of Information Council | Denver, CO | General Support | $3,000 |
| Crestone Eagle Community Media | Crestone, CO | General Support | $3,000 |
| Fraser Valley Community Media | Fraser, CO | General Support | $3,000 |
| Rocky Mountain Planned Parenthood | Greenwood Village, CO | General support | $3,000 |
| Good Business Colorado | Denver, CO | General Support | $2,500 |
| Tenderfoot Transmitting Inc | Salida, CO | General support | $2,500 |
| University of Colorado Foundation | Broomfield, CO | Strategic relations and communications | $1,000 |
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Grant lines |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $481,000 | 46 |
| 2024 | $503,500 | 49 |
| 2023 | $494,000 | 47 |
Sources
- IRS Form 990-PF, tax year 2025, filed Apr 20, 2026 - IRS e-file batch, object ID 202621109349100332
- IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search for EIN 84-1525821
- Profile updated Nov 5, 2026
Facts on this page come from the foundation's own IRS Form 990-PF filings as published by the IRS. Grantvello does not know whether a foundation is accepting proposals right now: a past grant is not an open opportunity. Always confirm current guidelines with the funder before applying.