Gates Family Foundation
Historical FunderDenver, Colorado · EIN 84-0474837 · Private foundation · Website
Grants paid (2025)$36.3M
Organizations funded374
Typical grant$25,000
Total assets$634.6M
Half of its grants to organizations were between $15,000 and $50,000.
From the return
How to apply
The foundation filed the following application information (Form 990-PF Part XV, tax year 2025):
| Contact | GATES FAMILY FOUNDATION |
|---|---|
| Address | 1390 LAWRENCE STREET 400, DENVER CO 80204 |
| Phone | 3037221881 |
| Form and materials | CAPITAL GRANT APPLICANTS SHOULD USE THE COMMON GRANT APPLICATION AVAILABLE ON THE FOUNDATION'S WEBSITE: WWW.GATESFAMILYFOUNDATION.ORG. PLEASE REFERENCE OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OUR INITIATED GRANT MAKING. |
| Deadlines | PROPOSAL DEADLINES: MARCH 15 AND SEPTEMBER 1. |
| Restrictions | THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS CAPITAL PROJECTS, WHICH ARE TYPICALLY BUILDING PURCHASE, CONSTRUCTION, EXPANSION, RENOVATION, AND/OR LAND ACQUISITION, AS WELL AS OTHER FORMS OF INITIATED GRANT MAKING FOR CAPITAL, PROGRAM, OPERATING AND OTHER PURPOSES IN FOUR PRIORITY AREAS - K-12 EDUCATION, NATURAL RESOURCES, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, AND INFORMED COMMUNITIES. THE FOUNDATION ALSO MAKES RECYCLABLE COMMITMENTS OF CAPITAL IN THE FORM OF PROGRAM RELATED INVESTMENTS IN SUPPORT OF ITS OBJECTIVES IN THE FOUR PRIORITY AREAS FOR INITIATED ACTIVITY. |
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
33% of grants went outside Colorado.
Grants paid in tax year 2025
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Colorado Foundation | Denver, CO | Project support | $20,000,000 |
| Cardigan Mountain School | Canaan, NH | Endowment | $2,000,000 |
| Lyra | Denver, CO | Project support | $550,000 |
| Rooted | Denver, CO | Operating | $400,000 |
| Rose Community Foundation | Denver, CO | Project support | $383,333 |
| Colorado Schools Fund | Denver, CO | Project support | $300,000 |
| River Network | Boulder, CO | Project support | $250,000 |
| Colorado Water Trust Inc | Denver, CO | Project support | $200,000 |
| Elevation Community Land Trust | Denver, CO | Project support | $200,000 |
| Rio Grande Headwaters Land Tr a Col | Del Norte, CO | Land purchase | $200,000 |
| America Succeeds | Denver, CO | Project support | $150,000 |
| Colorado State University Foundatio | Fort Collins, CO | Project support | $150,000 |
| Conservation Colorado Education Fun | Denver, CO | Project support | $150,000 |
| National Fish and Wildlife Foundati | Washington, DC | Project support | $150,000 |
| William J Palmer Parks Foundation I | Colorado Spgs, CO | Project support | $150,000 |
| National Forest Foundation | Missoula, MT | Project support | $125,000 |
| President and Fellows of Harvard Co | Cambridge, MA | Scholarships/Fellowships | $121,500 |
| Colorado Coalition of Land Trusts | Golden, CO | Operating | $100,000 |
| Colorado College Th | Colorado Springs, CO | Project support | $100,000 |
| Colorado State University Foundatio | Fort Collins, CO | Project support | $100,000 |
| Colorado State University Foundatio | Fort Collins, CO | Scholarships/Fellowships | $100,000 |
| Elevation Community Land Trust | Denver, CO | Project support | $100,000 |
| Montezuma Land Conservancy | Cortez, CO | Project support | $100,000 |
| State Historical Society of Colorad | Denver, CO | Project support | $100,000 |
| University of Colorado Foundation | Denver, CO | Research | $100,000 |
| Community Builders | Glenwood Springs, CO | Project support | $95,000 |
| Community Builders | Glenwood Springs, CO | Project support | $90,000 |
| Long Beach State Foundation | Long Beach, CA | Scholarships/Fellowships | $90,000 |
| Keystone Center | Keystone, CO | Project support | $80,000 |
| North Park Fire Rescue Authority | Walden, CO | Project support | $80,000 |
| Arizona State University Foundation | Tempe, AZ | Project support | $75,000 |
| Bicycle Colorado | Denver, CO | Project support | $75,000 |
| Colorado Childrens Campaign Inc | Denver, CO | Project support | $75,000 |
| Colorado Education Initiative | Denver, CO | Project support | $75,000 |
| Colorado League of Charter Schools | Denver, CO | Project support | $75,000 |
| Denver Indian Health and Family Ser | Denver, CO | Construction | $75,000 |
| Empower Schools Inc | Boston, MA | Project support | $75,000 |
| Mesa County Land Conservancy Inc | Grand Jct, CO | Land purchase | $75,000 |
| Modern Classrooms Project Inc | Washington, DC | Project support | $75,000 |
| Native American Rights Fund | Boulder, CO | Project support | $75,000 |
| Solid Rock Community Development Co | Colorado Springs, CO | Renovation | $75,000 |
| Trout Unlimited Inc | Arlington, VA | Project support | $75,000 |
| Water Foundation | Sacramento, CA | Project support | $75,000 |
| Commun Denver Inc | Denver, CO | Project support | $70,000 |
| Muslim Youth for Positive Impact | Broomfield, CO | Building purchase | $65,000 |
| Mca Denver | Denver, CO | Unrestricted | $62,408 |
| The Baton Rouge Area Foundation | New Orleans, LA | Project support | $62,000 |
| Center for Community Wealth Buildin | Denver, CO | Project support | $60,000 |
| Colorado Plateau Foundation | Flagstaff, AZ | Project support | $60,000 |
| Institute for Nonprofit News | Albuquerque, NM | General operating support | $60,000 |
| Peak Education | Colorado Springs, CO | Construction | $60,000 |
| Sonoran Institute Inc | Tucson, AZ | Project support | $60,000 |
| Southern Ute Indian Tribal Council | Ignacio, CO | Project support | $60,000 |
| Startup Colorado | Fruita, CO | General operating support | $55,000 |
| 50Can Inc | Washington, DC | Project support | $50,000 |
| Adams County School District 27J | Brighton, CO | Project support | $50,000 |
| Angel Charity for Children Inc | Tucson, AZ | Unrestricted | $50,000 |
| Aspen Valley Land Trust | Carbondale, CO | Other | $50,000 |
| Civic News Company | New York, NY | Operating | $50,000 |
| Colorado Asian Culture and Educatio | Englewood, CO | Renovation | $50,000 |
Showing the 60 largest of 374 grants to organizations.
Grants approved for future payment
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Colorado Foundation | Denver, CO | Project support | $20,000,000 |
| California Institute of Technology | Pasadena, CA | Project support | $4,000,000 |
| California Institute of Technology | Pasadena, CA | Project support | $3,000,000 |
| California Institute of Technology | Pasadena, CA | Project support | $2,000,000 |
| California Institute of Technology | Pasadena, CA | Project support | $2,000,000 |
| Cardigan Mountain School | Canaan, NH | Endowment | $1,000,000 |
| Cardigan Mountain School | Canaan, NH | Endowment | $1,000,000 |
| Rose Community Foundation | Denver, CO | Project support | $333,334 |
| Colorado Schools Fund | Denver, CO | Project support | $325,000 |
| Colorado Schools Fund | Denver, CO | Project support | $325,000 |
| Colorado Schools Fund | Denver, CO | Project support | $300,000 |
| Rose Community Foundation | Denver, CO | Project support | $283,333 |
| Elevation Community Land Trust | Denver, CO | Project support | $200,000 |
| Elevation Community Land Trust | Denver, CO | Project support | $200,000 |
| America Succeeds | Denver, CO | Project support | $167,000 |
| America Succeeds | Denver, CO | Project support | $162,000 |
| America Succeeds | Denver, CO | Project support | $157,000 |
| America Succeeds | Denver, CO | Project support | $152,500 |
| Colorado Coalition of Land Trusts | Golden, CO | Project support | $150,000 |
| Montezuma Land Conservancy | Cortez, CO | Project support | $150,000 |
| National Fish and Wildlife Foundati | Washington, DC | Project support | $150,000 |
| Colorado Coalition of Land Trusts | Golden, CO | Project support | $125,000 |
| Mesa County Land Conservancy Inc | Grand Jct, CO | Land purchase | $125,000 |
| President and Fellows of Harvard Co | Cambridge, MA | Scholarships/Fellowships | $121,500 |
| President and Fellows of Harvard Co | Cambridge, MA | Scholarships/Fellowships | $121,500 |
| Colorado Coalition of Land Trusts | Golden, CO | Project support | $100,000 |
| Colorado State University Foundatio | Fort Collins, CO | Project support | $100,000 |
| Elevation Community Land Trust | Denver, CO | Project support | $100,000 |
| Elevation Community Land Trust | Denver, CO | Project support | $100,000 |
| Mesa County Land Conservancy Inc | Grand Jct, CO | Project support | $100,000 |
| Montezuma Land Conservancy | Cortez, CO | Project support | $100,000 |
| Western Resource Advocates | Boulder, CO | General operating support | $100,000 |
| Colorado Community College System F | Denver, CO | Project support | $90,000 |
| Community Builders | Glenwood Springs, CO | Project support | $90,000 |
| Colorado Childrens Campaign Inc | Denver, CO | Project support | $75,000 |
| Colorado Education Initiative | Denver, CO | Project support | $75,000 |
| Colorado League of Charter Schools | Denver, CO | Project support | $75,000 |
| Empower Schools Inc | Boston, MA | Project support | $75,000 |
| Mesa County Land Conservancy Inc | Grand Jct, CO | Project support | $75,000 |
| Native American Rights Fund | Boulder, CO | Project support | $75,000 |
| Public Broadcasting of Colorado Inc | Centennial, CO | Construction | $75,000 |
| Public Broadcasting of Colorado Inc | Centennial, CO | Construction | $75,000 |
| Public Broadcasting of Colorado Inc | Centennial, CO | Construction | $75,000 |
| Startup Colorado | Fruita, CO | General operating support | $55,000 |
| City of Steamboat Springs | Steamboat Springs, CO | Land purchase | $50,000 |
| Civic News Company | New York, NY | General operating support | $50,000 |
| Colorado State University Foundatio | Fort Collins, CO | Construction | $50,000 |
| Cultivando | Eastlake, CO | Building purchase | $50,000 |
| Food Bank of the Rockies | Denver, CO | Construction | $50,000 |
| Jeffco Action Center Inc | Lakewood, CO | Renovation | $50,000 |
| Long Beach Rescue Mission | Long Beach, CA | Capital fund support | $50,000 |
| Metro Caring | Denver, CO | Construction | $50,000 |
| Montezuma Land Conservancy | Cortez, CO | Project support | $50,000 |
| National Wildlife Federation | Reston, VA | Project support | $50,000 |
| Rise Colorado | Aurora, CO | Project support | $50,000 |
| State Historical Society of Colorad | Denver, CO | Project support | $50,000 |
| Teach Plus Incorporated | Boston, MA | Project support | $50,000 |
| Technical Assistance of Arizona (Ta | Phoenix, AZ | Project support | $50,000 |
| Technical Assistance of Arizona (Ta | Phoenix, AZ | Project support | $50,000 |
| University of Colorado Foundation | Denver, CO | Project support | $50,000 |
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Grant lines |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $36,321,327 | 468 |
| 2024 | $37,294,380 | 412 |
| 2023 | $41,118,891 | 427 |
Sources
- IRS Form 990-PF, tax year 2025, filed Apr 17, 2026 - IRS e-file batch, object ID 202631079349100508
- IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search for EIN 84-0474837
- Profile updated Nov 4, 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.