Adolph Coors Foundation
The Adolph Coors Foundation is a private foundation based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1975 by Joe and Bill Coors from the estate of their father, Adolph Coors Jr., it supports organizations promoting self-reliance, personal responsibility, and integrity, with priorities that include youth development, adult economic opportunity, and public policy.
Adolph Coors Foundation at a glance
In short: Adolph Coors Foundation gave $10.3M across 128 grants in 2025 (avg $80K), top state Colorado. 32% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $10,263,455
- +15.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 128
- -12.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $80,183
- +31.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $40,000
- Total assets
- $204,008,001
- -1.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 32% first-time grantees (41 of 128, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Colorado (48% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Adolph Coors Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The Foundation uses an online application process. Its filing says the application requires information detailed on its website, including a tax-exemption letter and tax identification. The website requires 501(c)(3) status and at least one full year of operation; the General Grant Program also states that organizations cannot receive 50% or more of revenue from government sources, including fee-for-service contracts. The Foundation does not fund activities or programs listed among its exclusions. Its Colorado FAQ says it does not accept letters of inquiry and advises prospective applicants to call to assess fit before applying. It also says it does not fund fiscal sponsors or agents.
- Review Cycle
- The Foundation lists three annual submission deadlines: March 1, July 1, and November 1. The Colorado FAQ gives application windows of January 1–March 1, May 1–July 1, and September 1–November 1, with review typically taking about four months after each deadline. The March 1 and July 1, 2026 deadlines have passed; the next listed deadline is November 1, 2026.
- Deadline
- The Foundation lists three annual submission deadlines: March 1, July 1, and November 1.
- Contact
Application contact: Ms Carrie Tynan Ceo
Mailing address: 215 Saint Paul Street Suite 300, Denver, CO 80206
Phone: (303) 388-1636
Website: https://coorsfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from Adolph Coors Foundation
Adolph Coors Public Policy Grant Programs
Adolph Coors Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
General Grant Program
Adolph Coors Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Youth and Adult Grant Programs
Adolph Coors Foundation
Amount
US $5,000 - US $175,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Adolph Coors Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Futurerise ($500K). Together the top 10 received $3.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
676 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 420 grants of 676 (62%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation says its giving is primarily focused on Colorado and gives special consideration to rural Colorado nonprofits. Its website says public policy requests may come from out-of-state organizations, while other applicants must operate in Colorado. In 2025, 48% of grant dollars went to recipients in Colorado; the next-largest state shares were Virginia at 8%, Pennsylvania and Washington, DC, at 6% each, and Arizona at 5%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 128 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Adolph Coors Foundation open to new grantees?
32%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 41 of 128 grantees (32%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $80K; repeat grants $80K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $47K repeat.
- 23% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−3%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 93% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $7.7M (2020) to $10.6M (2022). In 2025 it made 128 grants totaling $10.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Futurerise Denver, CO | General Operating Grant | $500,000 |
| Colorado School of Mines Foundation Golden, CO | Program Specific Grant | $437,500 |
| National Constitution Cenver Philadelphia, PA | General Operating Grant | $400,000 |
| University of Arizona Foundation Tuscon, AZ | Program Specific Grant | $350,000 |
| Donorstrust Alexandria, VA | General Operating Grant | $300,000 |
| Junior Achievement Rocky Mountain Greenwood Village, CO | General Operation Grant | $300,000 |
| University of Vermont Burlington, VT | Program Specific Grant | $300,000 |
| Hillsdale College Hillsdale, MI | Program Specific Grant | $275,700 |
| Step Denver Denver, CO | Capital Grant | $270,000 |
| Academic Consortium for Integrative Lake Oswego, OR | Program Specific | $250,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Adolph Coors Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The Foundation reports that it has awarded more than 7,600 grants totaling $327 million since 1976. Its 2025 filing, the latest on this page, reports 128 grants totaling $10.3 million.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $204,008,001 | $12,146,050 | $14,781,058 | $10,263,455 | 128 | $12,541,280 | $10,681,833 | $13,523,054 |
| 2024 | $206,643,009 | $40,840,776 | $12,326,032 | $8,887,125 | 146 | $10,783,679 | $39,396,863 | $12,109,300 |
| 2023 | $178,128,265 | $9,584,061 | $13,202,322 | $9,908,763 | 143 | $11,554,485 | $8,174,708 | $11,102,615 |
| 2022 | $181,746,526 | $17,055,158 | $13,369,730 | $10,573,251 | 117 | $11,957,157 | $15,711,460 | $11,492,496 |
| 2021 | $178,061,098 | $22,977,550 | $11,007,286 | $7,960,571 | 142 | — | $21,694,456 | $11,355,157 |
| 2020 | $165,936,430 | $9,855,081 | $10,032,341 | $7,710,875 | 145 | — | $8,716,495 | $9,591,167 |
| 2019 | $166,113,770 | $8,441,647 | $12,509,151 | $8,809,370 | 121 | — | $6,682,220 | $9,567,051 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Adolph Coors Foundation reported a distributable amount of $13.5M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation supports organizations that promote the western values of self-reliance, personal responsibility, and integrity. Its stated priorities include youth development through mentoring, academic tutoring, character development, leadership, STEM, and financial literacy; adult work programs such as paid on-the-job and vocational training and job placement; and public policy that advances understanding of free enterprise, constitutional principles, limited government, individual rights, personal responsibility, and traditional American values. Entrepreneurship and integrative medicine requests are by invitation only. The Foundation also lists bereavement, pregnancy centers, and community centers among its preference areas.
The website gives preference to year-round programming, transformational outcomes, direct-service organizations, strong leadership, and strong financial health. It says applicants should align with the Foundation’s overall mission rather than isolate a small program, with an exception noted for rural organizations. Its listed exclusions include arts, animal-related projects, churches, emergency and basic services, homelessness, media and film, museums, schools, and research projects. Public policy guidelines also exclude, among other things, capital projects, scholarships, and organizations that receive tax-derived funding.
Grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the range of organizations supported. Junior Achievement–Rocky Mountain says it prepares young people for economic success through mentor-led applied learning. Step Denver describes its work as helping men rebuild their lives through sobriety, work, accountability, and community. CrossPurpose says it helps families address barriers to self-sufficiency through training, support, and connections. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own missions.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Foundation awarded 128 grants totaling $10,263,455. Grants ranged from $4,500 to $500,000, with a median of $40,000. Among the largest were $500,000 to FutureRise for general operating support, $437,500 to Colorado School of Mines Foundation for a program-specific grant, $400,000 to National Constitution Center for general operating support, and $350,000 to University of Arizona Foundation for a program-specific grant. Other 2025 awards included $300,000 to Junior Achievement–Rocky Mountain and $270,000 to Step Denver.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Carrie Coors Tynan as CEO/Secretary, Peter H. Coors as Chairman, Benjamin R. Windsor as Treasurer, Jeffrey H. Coors as Assistant Treasurer, Melissa Coors Osborn and Cecily Coors Garnsey as Vice Chairs, and Carin Coors Bremer, Christina Coors Williams, and Michael L. Garnsey as trustees.
Adolph Coors Foundation is led by Carrie Coors Tynan, CEO & Secretary since 2021 (on filings since 2019); 1 of 9 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Carrie Coors Tynan
CEO & Secretary
Executive Director & Secretary → CEO & Secretary, 2021
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$171K (2019) → $475K (2025)
Peter H. Coors
Chairman
President & Chairman → Chairman, 2022
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carin Coors Bremer
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christina Coors Williams
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael L. Garnsey
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Benjamin R. Windsor
Treasurer
Assistant Treasurer → Assistant Tr, 2022
Assistant Tr → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cecily Coors Garnsey
Vice Chair
Vice President → Vice Chair, 2020
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeffrey H. Coors
Assistant Treasurer
Treasurer → Assistant Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Melissa Coors Osborn
Vice Chair
Vice President → Vice Chair, 2020
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: John Jackson (2019) — Executive Director & Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $475K, to Carrie Coors Tynan (CEO/Secretar).
Frequently asked questions about Adolph Coors Foundation
How much does Adolph Coors Foundation give each year?
Adolph Coors Foundation gave $10.3M across 128 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $8.9M across 146 grants.
What is Adolph Coors Foundation's typical grant size?
Adolph Coors Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $40,000, and its average grant was $80,183, across 128 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Adolph Coors Foundation that year got $80K on average.
Where does Adolph Coors Foundation give grants?
Adolph Coors Foundation's top state is Colorado, with 48% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Virginia (8%) and Pennsylvania (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Denver, CO (27 grants), Washington, DC (9 grants), Greenwood Village, CO (4 grants) and Arlington, VA (4 grants).
Does Adolph Coors Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 74% of Adolph Coors Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (95 of 128) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Program Specific Grant" (21 grants) and "Capital Grant" (9 grants).
Who are Adolph Coors Foundation's largest grantees?
Adolph Coors Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Futurerise ($500,000), Colorado School of Mines Foundation ($437,500) and National Constitution Cenver ($400,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 13% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Adolph Coors Foundation?
Adolph Coors Foundation reported $204.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $12.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $13.5M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Adolph Coors Foundation fund?
The Foundation supports organizations that promote the western values of self-reliance, personal responsibility, and integrity. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Adolph Coors Foundation?
The Foundation uses an online application process. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Adolph Coors Foundation's EIN?
Adolph Coors Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 51-0172279. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 3, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 3, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 4, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 12, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 11, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Adolph Coors Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 8, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/adolph-coors-foundation-morg_19bb51e665b940829856e246e4ca3b5a
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_510172279_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Adolph Coors Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/adolph-coors-foundation-morg_19bb51e665b940829856e246e4ca3b5a},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-08. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Adolph Coors Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Adolph Coors Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?