Avenir Foundation Inc
Avenir Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Lakewood, Colorado. Its 2025 grants supported organizations in the arts and performing arts, a nature center, and the physical sciences.
Avenir Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Avenir Foundation Inc gave $20.8M across 6 grants in 2025 (avg $3.5M), mostly in Colorado. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $20,750,000
- +668.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 6
- +200.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $3,458,333
- +156.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000,000
- Total assets
- $1,441,391,832
- +15.9% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Colorado (55% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Avenir Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 215 Union Blvd 300, Lakewood, CO 80228
Phone: (303) 232-2306
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Avenir Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 6 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was St Martin's Chamber Choir ($10.0M). Together the top 6 received $20.8M.
Grant Size Distribution
25 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 7 grants of 25 (28%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in Colorado (55%), Pennsylvania (39%), New Mexico (5%), and Maryland (1%). Listed recipients were in Denver and Arvada, Colorado; Reading, Pennsylvania; Santa Fe, New Mexico; and College Park, Maryland.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 6 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Avenir Foundation Inc gives
- Giving grew 784% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 30% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 $1.0M (2023) to $31.9M (2020). In 2025 it made 6 grants totaling $20.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| St Martin's Chamber Choir Denver, CO | Establish the St Martin's Chamber Choir Endowment Fund | $10,000,000 |
| Kulakamala Foundation Reading, PA | Purchase of 55 Basket Road Nature CenterOperating Support | $8,000,000 |
| Colorado Symphony Fund Denver, CO | To Endowment in memory of Jerome Kern, Chairman Emeritus | $1,000,000 |
| Santa Fe Opera Santa Fe, NM | Intial Costs for the Construction of Apprentice Housing | $1,000,000 |
| Central City Opera Arvada, CO | Operations | $500,000 |
| American Institute of Physics College Park, MD | Operations | $250,000 |
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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 | $1,441,391,832 | $12,541,050 | $20,924,321 | $20,750,000 | 6 | $20,750,000 | $12,541,050 | $69,373,334 |
| 2024 | $1,243,404,712 | $1,245,058,876 | $2,701,861 | $2,700,000 | 2 | $2,700,000 | $133,876 | $23,003,842 |
| 2023 | $1,047,697 | $1,006,574 | $1,001,441 | $1,000,000 | 2 | $1,000,000 | $6,574 | $35,544 |
| 2022 | $1,042,564 | $2,325,065 | $2,347,921 | $2,346,571 | 4 | $2,346,571 | $65 | $31,915 |
| 2021 | $1,065,420 | $5,643,651 | $5,596,313 | $5,587,070 | 11 | — | $543,678 | $74,750 |
| 2020 | $1,018,082 | $31,996,690 | $32,001,933 | $31,885,950 | 19 | — | $11,450,277 | $268,301 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Avenir Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $69.4M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for a chamber choir, symphony, opera organizations, a nature center, and an institute advancing the physical sciences.
Among its grantees, St. Martin’s Chamber Choir says it performs classical choral music and educates audiences about choral art. The Colorado Symphony Fund says its primary purpose is to support the Colorado Symphony Association’s symphonic performances. Central City Opera describes its work as creating opera and musical theatre and providing artistic and educational programs. The American Institute of Physics says it advances the physical sciences and supports its member societies and affiliates.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported six grants totaling $20,750,000. Grants ranged from $250,000 to $10,000,000, with a median grant of $1,000,000.
The largest grants were $10,000,000 to St. Martin’s Chamber Choir to establish an endowment fund and $8,000,000 to Kulakamala Foundation for the purchase of 55 Basket Road Nature Center and operating support. Other grants included $1,000,000 to Colorado Symphony Fund for an endowment in memory of Jerome Kern, $1,000,000 to Santa Fe Opera for initial costs for apprentice housing, $500,000 to Central City Opera for operations, and $250,000 to American Institute of Physics for operations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists William Dodge Wallace as President/Director, Margaret Boynton Wallace as Secretary/Director, and Norman L Wilson as Treasurer/Director.
Avenir Foundation Inc is led by William Dodge Wallace, President & Director since 2021 (on filings since 2020); none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
William Dodge Wallace
President & Director
Vice President & Director → President & Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Margaret Boynton Wallace
Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Norman L Wilson
Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Alice Dodge Wallace (2020) — President & Director
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 Avenir Foundation Inc
How much does Avenir Foundation Inc give each year?
Avenir Foundation Inc gave $20.8M across 6 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $2.7M across 2 grants.
What is Avenir Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Avenir Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $1,000,000, and its average grant was $3,458,333, across 6 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Avenir Foundation Inc give grants?
Avenir Foundation Inc gives mostly in Colorado: 55% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Pennsylvania (39%). The most frequent recipient cities were Denver, CO (2 grants).
Does Avenir Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 6 grants with a stated purpose on Avenir Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Avenir Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Avenir Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include St Martin's Chamber Choir ($10,000,000), Kulakamala Foundation ($8,000,000) and Colorado Symphony Fund ($1,000,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 92% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Avenir Foundation Inc?
Avenir Foundation Inc reported $1.4B in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $20.8M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $69.4M (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 Avenir Foundation Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for a chamber choir, symphony, opera organizations, a nature center, and an institute advancing the physical sciences. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Avenir Foundation Inc?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Avenir Foundation Inc's EIN?
Avenir Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-1245939. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Avenir Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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