Buck Foundation
Buck Foundation is a private foundation located in Evergreen, Colorado. It supports peace, social justice and efforts to prevent climate catastrophe, with grantmaking focused mainly on qualified organizations in Colorado, particularly the Denver metro area.
Buck Foundation at a glance
In short: Buck Foundation gave $667K across 36 grants in 2025 (avg $19K), mostly in Colorado. 37% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $667,376
- +39.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 36
- +12.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $18,538
- +23.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $11,859,174
- +4.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 37% first-time grantees (13 of 35, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Colorado (66% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Buck Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The 2025 filing requests an online letter of inquiry. The executive director emails the full application form to qualified applicants. Applicants must be 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations or nongovernmental agencies. Applications from individuals, endowment funds and capital campaigns are not considered.
- Review Cycle
- The 2025 filing listed a January 15 letter-of-interest deadline and a March 15 full-proposal deadline. These dates are past; the filing does not specify the year for that cycle.
- Deadline
- The 2025 filing listed a January 15 letter-of-interest deadline and a March 15 full-proposal deadline.
- Contact
Application contact: Erika Church
Mailing address: The Buck Foundation 27877 Lupine, Drive, Denver, CO 80439
Phone: (303) 725-5567
Email: echurch@thebuckfoundation.org
Website: https://www.thebuckfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Buck Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Colorado Nonprofit Association - Agrivoltaic Learning Center ($40K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $286K.
Grant Size Distribution
170 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 170 grants of 170 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says it primarily awards grants to qualified organizations in Colorado, mainly in the Denver metro area. It also says board members occasionally make small grants to organizations in their home communities. In 2025, 66% of grant dollars went to recipients in Colorado; the filing also lists Pennsylvania at 5%, Wisconsin at 4% and California at 3%, with 10% assigned to an unspecified state category.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 36 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Buck Foundation open to new grantees?
37%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 13 of 35 grantees (37%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $18K; repeat grants $20K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 60% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 35% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 111% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $425K (2023) to $667K (2025). In 2025 it made 36 grants totaling $667K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| American Friends Service Committee Philadelphia, PA | Colorado Immigrant Rights Program | $35,000 |
| 350 Colorado Boulder, CO | General Operating Support | $30,760 |
| Colorado Nonprofit Association - Nonprofit Legal Resoures Denver, CO | General Operating Support | $30,000 |
| Colorado Nonprofit Association - Agrivoltaic Learning Center Denver, CO | General Operating Support | $30,000 |
| So All May Eat Denver Denver, CO | General Operating Support | $25,736 |
| 9TO5 Colorado Milwaukee, WI | General Operating Support | $25,000 |
| Cultivando Eastlake, CO | General Operating Support | $25,000 |
| Housekeys Action Network Denver Denver, CO | Western Regional Advocacy Project | $25,000 |
| Lock the Gate | General Operating Support | $25,000 |
| Street Fraternity Denver, CO | General Operating Support | $25,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Buck Foundation?
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 | $11,859,174 | $1,462,265 | $988,614 | $667,376 | 36 | $840,330 | $1,352,337 | $757,857 |
| 2024 | $11,385,523 | $1,697,671 | $773,248 | $480,000 | 32 | $657,289 | $1,588,449 | $723,235 |
| 2023 | $10,461,100 | $363,918 | $665,038 | $425,190 | 34 | $582,769 | $436,715 | $670,118 |
| 2022 | $10,762,220 | $473,839 | $766,466 | $495,000 | 34 | $659,040 | $390,337 | $669,432 |
| 2021 | $11,054,847 | $715,878 | $839,516 | $575,167 | 34 | $722,491 | $621,628 | $717,105 |
| 2020 | $11,178,485 | $1,470,152 | $680,819 | $481,214 | 43 | — | $1,399,643 | $635,686 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Buck Foundation reported a distributable amount of $758K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation describes its commitment as supporting peace, social justice and the prevention of climate catastrophe. Its website says climate-action partners work on greenhouse-gas emissions, pollution, climate policy and advocacy, clean energy, climate planning and energy efficiency. Its peace and social-justice partners address inequity and injustice, including access to housing, education and basic needs.
Examples of grantees’ work include 350 Colorado, which describes itself as a grassroots movement working toward a fossil-free future powered by renewable energy and environmental justice. Housekeys Action Network Denver says it advocates for housing-for-all initiatives determined by people without housing. Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network describes providing free immigration legal and social services in Colorado.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation gave $667,376 through 36 grants. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $35,000, with a median of $20,000. The foundation’s website describes $20,000 as its average grant size and says most of its grant partners have budgets under $1 million. It makes general operating support grants, which it describes as unrestricted funding.
Among the largest 2025 grants were $35,000 to American Friends Service Committee for its Colorado Immigrant Rights Program; $30,760 to 350 Colorado for general operating support; $30,000 each to Colorado Nonprofit Association’s Nonprofit Legal Resources and Agrivoltaic Learning Center for general operating support; and $25,736 to So All May Eat Denver for general operating support. Other $25,000 grants included awards to Cultivando, Housekeys Action Network Denver, Street Fraternity and BuildStrong Academy.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Christopher Buck as chair; Carol Dettmann as vice-chair and chair of the grants committee; Andrew Buck as treasurer and chair of the finance committee; and Jessica Dettmann as secretary. It also lists Nina Bambina Buck, Nory Buck, Nicholas Dettmann, Drew Truslove, Zoe Buck and Douglas Buck as directors. The foundation’s website identifies Erika Church as executive director.
Buck Foundation is led by Christopher Buck, Chair on every filing since 2020; 2 of 13 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Erika Church
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
36 hrs/week
$80K (2020) → $110K (2025)
Christopher Buck
Chair
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$28K (2020) → $33K (2025)
Andrew Buck
Treasurer & Chair of Finance Committee
Director → Treasurer, 2022
Treasurer → Treasurer & Chair of Finance Committee, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carol Dettmann
Vice Chair & Chair of Grants Committee
Vice Chair → Vice Chair & Chair of Grants Committee, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nicholas Dettmann
Director, Chair & Governance Committee
Director → Director & Chair of Governance Committee, 2024
Director & Chair of Governance Committee → Director, Chair & Governance Committee, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Zoe Buck
Director & Chair of G4 Committee
Director → Director & Chair of G4 Committee, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Drew Truslove
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nina Bambina Buck
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Douglas Buck
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nory Buck
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Isobel Buck
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Noah Zanville
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jessica Dettmann
Secretary
Director → Secretarry, 2024
Secretarry → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: David D. Buck (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Diane M. Buck (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Leland Buck (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Samuel Dettmann (2020–2021) — Secretary
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $110K, to Erika Church (Executive Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Buck Foundation
How much does Buck Foundation give each year?
Buck Foundation gave $667K across 36 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $480K across 32 grants.
What is Buck Foundation's typical grant size?
Buck Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $20,000, and its average grant was $18,538, across 36 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Buck Foundation that year got $18K on average.
Where does Buck Foundation give grants?
Buck Foundation gives mostly in Colorado: 66% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Pennsylvania (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Denver, CO (14 grants) and Aurora, CO (2 grants).
Does Buck Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 89% of Buck Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (32 of 36) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Buck Foundation's largest grantees?
Buck Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Colorado Nonprofit Association - Agrivoltaic Learning Center ($40,000 across 2 grants), American Friends Service Committee ($35,000) and 350 Colorado ($30,760), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 16% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Buck Foundation?
Buck Foundation reported $11.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $840K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $758K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Buck Foundation fund?
The foundation describes its commitment as supporting peace, social justice and the prevention of climate catastrophe. Its website says climate-action partners work on greenhouse-gas emissions, pollution, climate policy and advocacy, clean energy, climate planning and energy efficiency. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Buck Foundation?
The 2025 filing requests an online letter of inquiry. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Buck Foundation's EIN?
Buck Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-2405298. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 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 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Buck Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Buck Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/buck-foundation-morg_f89216a57215406d9b71fe5944a2f4c3
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_742405298_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Buck Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/buck-foundation-morg_f89216a57215406d9b71fe5944a2f4c3},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Buck Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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