Bruce Benson Foundation

Foundation · Grantmaker Denver, CO EIN: 26-0272148

Bruce Benson Foundation is a nonprofit organization focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Denver, CO. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. In 2025, it awarded 19 grants totaling $602K.

Key facts about Bruce Benson Foundation

EIN
26-0272148
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$602,000
Grants made (2025)
19
Average grant
$31,684
Median grant
$10,000
New grantees (estimate)
16% first-time grantees (3 of 19, 2025)
Primary geography
Colorado (97% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

Who Bruce Benson Foundation funds

By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Bruce Benson Foundation's 19 itemized 2025 grants were Colorado (97%). The most frequent recipient cities were Denver, CO (11 grants) and Aurora, CO (2 grants). None of its 19 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Aid to Community" (19 grants).

Is Bruce Benson Foundation open to new grantees?

16%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 3 of 19 grantees (16%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $15K; repeat grants $35K. How we count

Medians: $5K first-time, $10K repeat.

  • 68% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving grew 160% from 2022 to 2025. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Next steps with Bruce Benson Foundation

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

—

Annual Giving

$602K

-23.2% YoY

Grant Count

19

-5.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$32K

-19.2% YoY

About Bruce Benson Foundation

Based on IRS filings

Bruce Benson Foundation is a nonprofit organization focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Denver, CO. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. In 2025, it awarded 19 grants totaling $602K.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

11states

Share of all 19 itemized 2025 grant dollars.

Cities

DenverAuroraLakewoodGreenwood VillageIrvingSteamboat SpringsStaten IslandOklahoma CityColorado SpringsLafayetteAlexandriaBooneBozemanEnglewoodIndianapolisIthacaLagrangePhiladelphiaVan Nuys

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$0.5$1$1.5202020212022202320242025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets———
Revenue———
Expenses———
Qualifying Distributions———
Net Investment Income———
Distributable Amount———

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 10, 2023)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 10, 2023)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 10, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 9, 2024)
  5. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 5, 2025)
  6. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
  7. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2023

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$500K$1M$1.5M21 grants202017 grants202110 grants202212 grants202320 grants202419 grants2025

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Advance Colorado: $200KAdvance Colorado$200KThe Steamboat Institute: $100KThe Steamboat Institute$100KColorado Academy: $100KColorado Academy$100KLeadership Program of the Rockies: $75KLeadership Program of theRockies$75KUniversity of Colorado: $40KUniversity of Colorado$40KDenver Police Foundation: $10KDenver Police Foundation$10KDenver Public Schools Foundation: $10KDenver Public SchoolsFoundation$10KTunnel to Towers Foundation: $10KTunnel to Towers Foundation$10KBoy Scouts of America: $10KBoy Scouts of America$10KDenver Zoo Conservation Alliance: $10KDenver Zoo ConservationAlliance$10K

Grant Size Distribution

78 grants across all recorded years

66<$50K5$50–100K5$100–250K1$250–500K$500K–1M1$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include Advance Colorado ($200,000), The Steamboat Institute ($100,000), Colorado Academy ($100,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
ADVANCE COLORADO Lafayette, COAID TO COMMUNITY$200,000
THE STEAMBOAT INSTITUTE Steamboat Springs, COAID TO COMMUNITY$100,000
COLORADO ACADEMY Denver, COAID TO COMMUNITY$100,000
LEADERSHIP PROGRAM OF THE ROCKIES Denver, COAID TO COMMUNITY$75,000
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO Denver, COAID TO COMMUNITY$40,000
DENVER POLICE FOUNDATION Denver, COAID TO COMMUNITY$10,000
DENVER PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION Denver, COAID TO COMMUNITY$10,000
TUNNEL TO TOWERS FOUNDATION Staten Island, NYAID TO COMMUNITY$10,000
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA Irving, TXAID TO COMMUNITY$10,000
DENVER ZOO CONSERVATION ALLIANCE Denver, COAID TO COMMUNITY$10,000

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Bruce Benson Foundation is led by Bruce D. Benson, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Bruce D. Benson

    President

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Ann B. Reidy

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • David B. Benson

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • James C. Benson

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Marcy H. Benson

    Secretary

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/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.

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Bruce Benson Foundation?

Bruce Benson Foundation is a nonprofit organization focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Denver, CO. It holds — in total assets as of 2025.

Where does Bruce Benson Foundation operate?

Bruce Benson Foundation has awarded grants in California, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Montana, North Carolina, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia.

What size grants does Bruce Benson Foundation award?

In 2025, Bruce Benson Foundation awarded 19 grants totaling $602K — an average of about $32K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

What is Bruce Benson Foundation's EIN?

Bruce Benson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-0272148. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.

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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

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