Animal Assistance Foundation
The Animal Assistance Foundation (AAF) is a private foundation headquartered in Lakewood, Colorado, dedicated to supporting companion animal care across the state. Established in 1975 by Louise Harrison, AAF has operated for nearly 50 years as a consistent supporter of innovation in animal welfare throughout Colorado.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$20.9M
-4.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.4M
+3.2% YoY
Grant Count
63
+23.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$22K
-16.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Animal Assistance Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.6M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: AAF advances the welfare of companion animals in Colorado, as a resource and agent for positive impact, through community investment, collaboration, and leadership.
The Foundation's work is guided by the five freedoms: companion animals free from hunger and thirst, free from discomfort, free from pain/injury/disease, free to express normal behavior, and free from fear and distress.
Primary funding focus areas include:
- Animal population programs (spay-neuter, access to care, behavior support, in-state animal transfers)
- Organizational capacity programs (staff and board training, equipment, technology, fundraising assistance)
- General operating support for established partners
Grantmaking
Average Grant
amount varies by program
Review Cycle
September 30, 2026, 5 pm MDT
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Colorado statewide. AAF supports pet animal shelters, rescue organizations, and professional animal care and control organizations throughout the state.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets (2024): $20,902,644
Total Giving (2024): $1,371,990
Total Revenues (2024): $1,188,398
Total Expenses (2024): $2,168,585
Annual Revenue: $26,351,788
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $20,902,644 | $21,882,831 | $22,616,327 |
| Revenue | $1,188,398 | $2,141,536 | $2,227,768 |
| Expenses | $2,168,585 | $2,045,733 | $1,744,665 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,980,962 | $1,829,381 | $1,564,483 |
| Net Investment Income | $801,050 | $1,271,129 | $2,091,368 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,623,451 | $1,519,862 | $1,670,715 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
200 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Animal Assistance Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Larimer Humane Society ($200,000), Humane Society of the Pikes Peak ($133,333), Dumb Friends League-san Luis Valley ($120,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| DENVER ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL DENVER, CO | GENERAL OPERATING | $70,000 |
| DUMB FRIENDS LEAGUE-SAN LUIS VALLEY DENVER, CO | GENERAL OPERATING | $120,000 |
| HUMANE SOCIETY OF BOULDER VALLEY BOULDER, CO | PROGRAM FUNDING | $50,000 |
| HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE PIKES PEAK COLORADO SPRINGS, CO | PROGRAM FUNDING | $133,333 |
| ROICE-HURST HUMANE SOCIETY GRAND JUNCTION, CO | PROGRAM FUNDING | $2,500 |
| LONGHOPES DONKEY SHELTER BENNETT, CO | GENERAL OPERATING | $4,000 |
| DOGSTER'S SPAY & NEUTER PROGRAM DURANGO, CO | GENERAL OPERATING | $50,000 |
| SURFACE CREEK ANIMAL SHELTER CEDAREDGE, CO | GENERAL OPERATING | $6,000 |
| GRAND COUNTY PET PALS GRANBY, CO | COLORADO ANIMAL POPULATION | $6,000 |
| TELLER COUNTY REGIONAL ANIMAL DIVIDE, CO | COLORADO ANIMAL POPULATION | $6,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Emily Stone — Executive Director
Anna Jaeger — Program Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASHLEY BECK | CHAIR | 3 | — |
| MIKE DUFFY | VICE CHAIR | 2 | — |
| BARBARA KRAUSE | TREASURER | 3 | — |
| KRISTIE HANSSON | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| JAYME NIELSON | MEMBER | 1 | — |
| REBECCA L KENNEDY | MEMBER | 1 | — |
| CATHLIN CRAVER DVM | MEMBER | 1 | — |
| JO SCHARMANN | MEMBER | 1 | — |
| GINA RODRIGUEZ DVM | MEMBER | 1 | — |
| EMILY STONE | EX. DIRECTOR | 40 | $175,000 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Animal Assistance Foundation fund?
**Mission:** AAF advances the welfare of companion animals in Colorado, as a resource and agent for positive impact, through community investment, collaboration, and leadership. The Foundation's work is guided by the five freedoms: companion animals free from hunger and thirst, free from discomfort, free from pain/injury/disease, free to express normal behavior, and free from fear and distress. **Primary funding focus areas include:** • Animal population programs (spay-neuter, access to care, b…
How do I apply for a grant from Animal Assistance Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award range: $1,290–$200,000 • Total giving (2024): $1,371,990 • Average grant amount varies by program **Grant Categories:** *General Operating* — Unrestricted grants supporting ongoing staff, program, and facility costs (available only to organizations with established funding relationships with AAF) *Animal Population Programs* — Support for spay-neuter initiatives, access to care, behavior programs, and in-state animal transfers *Organizational Capacity …
Where does Animal Assistance Foundation make grants?
Colorado statewide. AAF supports pet animal shelters, rescue organizations, and professional animal care and control organizations throughout the state.
What size grants does Animal Assistance Foundation award?
In 2024, Animal Assistance Foundation awarded 63 grants totaling $1.4M — an average of about $22K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Animal Assistance Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Animal Assistance Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.6M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Animal Assistance Foundation's EIN?
Animal Assistance Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-0715412. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Animal Assistance Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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