Cars for Charity Inc is a public charity based in Golden, Colorado. Its vehicle-donation program converts donated vehicles into funds for tax-exempt nonprofit organizations in the United States, supporting those organizations’ programs and services.
Key facts about Cars for Charity Inc
In short: Cars for Charity Inc gave $4.4M across 132 grants in 2024 (avg $34K), top state Minnesota. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 84-1479412
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $4,427,112
- Grants made (2024)
- 132
- Average grant
- $33,539
- Median grant
- $14,068
- Total assets
- $737,567
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (13% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$738K
+25.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$4.4M
+31.7% YoY
Grant Count
132
+14.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$34K
+14.7% YoY
How Cars for Charity Inc gives
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
Cars for Charity states that its purpose is to enable tax-exempt nonprofits across the United States to undertake and benefit from vehicle-donation fundraising. It runs a program that turns donated vehicles into cash for participating organizations.
Its 2024 grants included public media and broadcasting organizations as well as other nonprofits. Minnesota Public Radio, the largest listed recipient, describes its mission as amplifying voices to inform, include, and inspire. KQED says it serves Northern California through community-supported media, journalism, arts, and education. New York Public Radio describes its mission as providing audio programming rooted in New York. Samaritan’s Purse describes itself as a Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to people around the world.
Grantmaking
In 2024, Cars for Charity reported 132 grants totaling $4,427,112. Awards ranged from $5,385 to $569,494, with a median of $14,068. Its largest listed grants included $569,494 to Minnesota Public Radio, $291,184 to WAMU, $186,750 to KQED, $166,733 to WSHU Public Radio, and $144,352 to New York Public Radio. The filing also lists $379,554 in “MISC SMALL GRANTS 5000.”
The organization describes its vehicle-donation program as a way for nonprofits to register as charity partners. Its website provides a nonprofit registration form and says registration is free; it does not describe a separate grant application process.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The organization says it works with nonprofits across the country. Its 2024 grant dollars were distributed among recipients in multiple states; the largest reported state shares were Minnesota (13%), California (12%), and the District of Columbia (7%). The filing also reports 9% for a state marked “?” and 6% for Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 132 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $425K (2019) to $5.1M (2022, 18 months). In 2024 it made 132 grants totaling $4.4M.
*2022: Covers 18 months (fiscal year-end changed).
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Minnesota Public Radio ($569K). Together the top 10 received $2.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
589 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 519 grants of 589 (88%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Public Radio Saint Paul, MN | — | $569,494 |
| Misc Small Grants 5000 | — | $379,554 |
| Wamu Washington, DC | — | $291,184 |
| Kqed San Francisco, CA | — | $186,750 |
| WSHU Public Radio Boston, MA | — | $166,733 |
| New York Public Radio New York, NY | — | $144,352 |
| Wdet Detroit, MI | — | $127,691 |
| Kuow Seattle, WA | — | $103,702 |
| Chicago Public Radio Chicago, IL | — | $81,249 |
| KCLU Thousand Oaks, CA | — | $76,668 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $737,567 | $4,645,845 | $4,640,866 | $4,427,112 |
| 2023 | $588,260 | $3,864,172 | $3,838,248 | $3,362,075 |
| 2022 | $17,324 | $4,793,177 | $4,811,586 | $3,681,025 |
*2022: Covers 18 months (fiscal year-end changed).
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $737,567 | $588,260 | $427,262 |
| Revenue | $4,645,845 | $3,864,172 | $6,964,247 |
| Expenses | $4,640,866 | $3,838,248 | $6,579,144 |
| Net Investment Income | $324 | $5 | $5 |
*2022: Covers 18 months (fiscal year-end changed).
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 22, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 18, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 8, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 29, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 11, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Matt T. Dendorfer as president, Lina Rose R. Valentine as assistant vice president, and Eric Dendorfer as vice president.
Cars for Charity Inc is led by Matt T. Dendorfer, President on every filing since 2020; 2 of 3 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Matt T. Dendorfer
President
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$31K (2020) → $48K (2024)
Lina Rose R. Valentine
Assistant Vice Pr
Assistant to the Vice President → Assistant Vice Pr, 2022
On filings since 2019
10 hrs/week
$5K (2020) → $35K (2024)
Eric R. Dendorfer
Vice President
President → Senior Vice President, 2020
Senior Vice President → Vice President, 2022
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Kellee Brauntz (2019) — Controller
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $48K, to Matt T Dendorfer (President). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 150 Capital Dr Ste 100-110, Golden, CO 80401
Phone: (303) 249-8018
Website: https://carsforcharity.net
Frequently asked questions about Cars for Charity Inc
How much does Cars for Charity Inc give each year?
Cars for Charity Inc gave $4.4M across 132 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $3.4M across 115 grants.
What is Cars for Charity Inc's typical grant size?
Cars for Charity Inc's median grant in 2024 was $14,068, and its average grant was $33,539, across 132 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does Cars for Charity Inc give grants?
Cars for Charity Inc's top state is Minnesota, with 13% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were California (12%) and District of Columbia (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (4 grants), Boston, MA (2 grants), San Francisco, CA (2 grants) and Seattle, WA (2 grants).
Who are Cars for Charity Inc's largest grantees?
Cars for Charity Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Minnesota Public Radio ($569,494), Misc Small Grants 5000 ($379,554) and Wamu ($291,184), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 28% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Cars for Charity Inc?
Cars for Charity Inc reported $738K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $4.6M.
What does Cars for Charity Inc fund?
Cars for Charity states that its purpose is to enable tax-exempt nonprofits across the United States to undertake and benefit from vehicle-donation fundraising. It runs a program that turns donated vehicles into cash for participating organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Cars for Charity Inc?
Cars for Charity Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check carsforcharity.net for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Cars for Charity Inc's EIN?
Cars for Charity Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-1479412. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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