Avenir Foundation Inc
Avenir Foundation Inc is a private family foundation established in 1993 and based in Lakewood, Colorado. The foundation operates as a grantmaking entity focused on supporting cultural, educational, and health-related initiatives. The foundation's origins trace to Homer Dodge, a physicist and university president who invested $120,000 with Warren Buffett in 1956, an early investment in Berkshire Hathaway that ultimately generated substantial wealth for the Dodge family.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.2B
+118579.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.7M
+170.0% YoY
Grant Count
2
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$1.4M
+170.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Avenir Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $23.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation gives primarily for education and the arts, with particular emphasis on museums and performing arts. Specific funding interests include:
- Arts and culture
- Performing arts and opera
- Museums
- Music
- Education
- Health initiatives
- Reproductive health care and family planning
- Public research centers (notably a music theory research center in Vienna, Austria focused on the methods of Arnold Schoenberg)
Grantmaking
The foundation made two grants in 2023:
How to Apply
and works with preselected organizations only
Ready to take the next step with Avenir Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports projects in multiple locations including:
- Colorado (primary focus, particularly Denver and Central City)
- National grants in select cases
- International funding (Vienna, Austria for music theory research)
- Additional geographic areas of support: Boulder, Englewood, New York, Redding, Watertown, Wheat Ridge, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (as of June 2023):
- Total assets: $1,047,697
- Total revenues: $1,006,574
- Total expenses: $1,001,441
- Number of employees: 0
Tax Status:
- EIN: 84-1245939
- 501(c)(3) private foundation
- Tax-exempt since November 1993
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,243,404,712 | $1,047,697 | $1,042,564 |
| Revenue | $1,245,058,876 | $1,006,574 | $2,325,065 |
| Expenses | $2,701,861 | $1,001,441 | $2,347,921 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,700,000 | $1,000,000 | $2,346,571 |
| Net Investment Income | $133,876 | $6,574 | $65 |
| Distributable Amount | $23,003,842 | $35,544 | $31,915 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
38 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum ($1,500,000), Central City Opera ($1,200,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Central City Opera Wheat Ridge, CO | General Operating Funds and matching endowment fund | $1,200,000 |
| National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum Leadville, CO | For the benefit of the National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum Endowment | $1,500,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key personnel include:
- William Dodge Wallace – President/Director (voluntary, no compensation)
- Margaret Boynton Wallace – Secretary/Director (voluntary, no compensation)
- Norman L Wilson – Treasurer/Director (voluntary, no compensation)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Margaret Boynton Wallace | Secretary/Director | 1 | — |
| Norman L Wilson | Treasurer/Director | 4 | — |
| William Dodge Wallace | President/Director | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Avenir Foundation experienced significant growth in 2024 when it received a substantial transfer of Berkshire Hathaway shares from the Alice Dodge Wallace Trust, increasing its assets approximately 1,000-fold. This transfer positions the foundation to become one of Colorado's most significant philanthropic entities, with projected mandatory annual distributions expected to exceed $50 million by 2026 due to IRS distribution requirements for foundations.
The story behind the billion-dollar Avenir Foundation | Inside PhilanthropyThe foundation has historically devoted substantial resources to Colorado's cultural institutions, including Central City Opera and other regional arts organizations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Avenir Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation gives primarily for education and the arts, with particular emphasis on museums and performing arts. Specific funding interests include: • Arts and culture • Performing arts and opera • Museums • Music • Education • Health initiatives • Reproductive health care and family planning • Public research centers (notably a music theory research center in Vienna, Austria focused on the methods of Arnold Schoenberg)
How do I apply for a grant from Avenir Foundation Inc?
**Grant Activity:** The foundation made two grants in 2023: • $500,000 to The Denver Foundation for the benefit of the National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum Endowment • $500,000 to Central City Opera House Association for general operating funds and matching endowment fund **Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award range: $20,000–$2,324,351 • The foundation does not have a public application process and works with preselected organizations only • Does not accept unsolicited applications **Ann…
Where does Avenir Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation supports projects in multiple locations including: • Colorado (primary focus, particularly Denver and Central City) • National grants in select cases • International funding (Vienna, Austria for music theory research) • Additional geographic areas of support: Boulder, Englewood, New York, Redding, Watertown, Wheat Ridge, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania
What size grants does Avenir Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Avenir Foundation Inc awarded 2 grants totaling $2.7M — an average of about $1.4M per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Avenir Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Avenir Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $23.0M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Avenir Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Larimer County Farm Bureau
WELLINGTON, CO
Assets
$986K
Grants
1
Total Given
$16K
Knight Family Foundation
BASALT, CO
Assets
$9.6M
Grants
22
Total Given
$420K
Jumping Mouse Foundation
BOULDER, CO
Assets
$10.0M
Grants
19
Total Given
$700K
Delta Dental of Colorado
CENTENNIAL, CO
Assets
$106.6M
Grants
42
Total Given
$2.8M
German American Chamber of Commerce -
DENVER, CO
Assets
$2.8M
Grants
2
Total Given
$63K
Terra Foundation Inc
NIWOT, CO
Assets
$2.2M
Grants
3
Total Given
$82K
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Avenir Foundation Inc on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching Avenir Foundation Inc to a real strategy.