Ardean & Colleen Aafedt Foundation
Ardean & Colleen Aafedt Foundation is a private foundation, based in Evergreen, CO. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. In 2025, it awarded 5 grants totaling $1.5M. Net investment income was $51K.
Ardean & Colleen Aafedt Foundation at a glance
In short: Ardean & Colleen Aafedt Foundation gave $1.5M across 5 grants in 2025 (avg $305K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,522,566
- +3706.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 5
- +66.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $304,513
- +2183.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Primary geography
- California (98% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Ardean & Colleen Aafedt Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was DAFgiving360 ($1.5M). Together the top 5 received $1.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
19 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 18 grants of 19 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.
Cities
How Ardean & Colleen Aafedt Foundation gives
- Giving grew 3960% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $38K (2022) to $1.5M (2025). In 2025 it made 5 grants totaling $1.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| DAFgiving360 San Francisco, CA | Donor Advised Fund | $1,494,566 |
| Western Star Literacy Center Williston, ND | General Operations | $15,000 |
| Positive Coaching Alliance Mountain View, CA | General Operations | $5,000 |
| St Joseph Church Williston, ND | General Operations | $5,000 |
| Trout Unlimited Evergreen, CO | General Operations | $3,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | $50,790 | $1,527,192 | $1,522,566 | 5 | $1,526,486 | $50,790 | $61,494 |
| 2024 | $1,503,771 | $64,721 | $43,323 | $40,000 | 3 | $42,423 | $64,721 | $68,524 |
| 2023 | $1,348,274 | $62,825 | $50,634 | $47,500 | 4 | $49,730 | $62,825 | $59,020 |
| 2022 | $1,372,893 | $57,370 | $40,523 | $37,500 | 3 | $39,726 | $57,370 | $74,275 |
| 2021 | $1,723,509 | $155,355 | $58,610 | $55,000 | 4 | $56,451 | $155,355 | $81,168 |
| 2020 | $1,416,591 | $53,835 | $60,324 | $57,500 | 6 | — | $54,616 | $61,511 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ardean & Colleen Aafedt Foundation reported a distributable amount of $61K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Ardean & Colleen Aafedt Foundation is led by Cynthia Aafedt, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Cynthia Aafedt
President
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dean Aafedt
Vice President
On filings since 2020
0.8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Eric Aafedt
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
0.8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Ardean & Colleen Aafedt Foundation
How much does Ardean & Colleen Aafedt Foundation give each year?
Ardean & Colleen Aafedt Foundation gave $1.5M across 5 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $40K across 3 grants.
What is Ardean & Colleen Aafedt Foundation's typical grant size?
Ardean & Colleen Aafedt Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $304,513, across 5 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Ardean & Colleen Aafedt Foundation give grants?
Ardean & Colleen Aafedt Foundation gives mostly in California: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Williston, ND (2 grants).
Does Ardean & Colleen Aafedt Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 80% of Ardean & Colleen Aafedt Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (4 of 5) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Ardean & Colleen Aafedt Foundation's largest grantees?
Ardean & Colleen Aafedt Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include DAFgiving360 ($1,494,566), Western Star Literacy Center ($15,000) and Positive Coaching Alliance ($5,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 99% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How much is Ardean & Colleen Aafedt Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Ardean & Colleen Aafedt Foundation reported a distributable amount of $61K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Ardean & Colleen Aafedt Foundation's EIN?
Ardean & Colleen Aafedt Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-1621232. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 24, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 28, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 3, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 18, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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