Chrest Foundation Inc
Chrest Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Irving, Texas. Its mission is to create a more compassionate and just society and steward natural resources responsibly; it concentrates its U.S. grantmaking on criminal justice reform and environmental conservation.
Chrest Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Chrest Foundation Inc gave $1.7M across 24 grants in 2024 (avg $71K), top state Colorado. 45% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,705,000
- +10.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 24
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $71,042
- +10.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $80,000
- Total assets
- $37,771,876
- +4.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 45% first-time grantees (10 of 22, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Colorado (28% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Chrest Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. It accepts solicited applications and also considers referrals from current or previous grantees; an inquiry is not a guarantee of funding. Part I applications require a link from foundation staff and may be submitted at any time through the online portal. After review, the foundation may invite an organization to submit Part II and supporting documentation through the portal. The board votes only on completed Part II applications. Eligible applicants must be U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits; the foundation does not fund individuals or debt financing.
- Review Cycle
- Part II applications and supporting documentation are due by October 30. Applications still in process one week before the board meeting are reviewed at the following meeting.
- Deadline
- Part II applications and supporting documentation are due by October 30.
- Contact
Mailing address: 130 E John Carpenter Freeway 460, Irving, TX 75062
Phone: (972) 999-4518
Website: https://chrestfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Chrest Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Trust for Public Land ($200K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $1.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
133 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 52 grants of 133 (39%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says it directs grant funds, where possible, to community-based organizations where its work is concentrated, primarily in Colorado and Texas. In 2024, grant dollars were distributed by recipient state as follows: Colorado, 28%; Texas, 23%; California, 22%; Montana, 15%; and Washington, D.C., 6%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 24 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Chrest Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
45%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 10 of 22 grantees (45%) were first-time recipients. With only 22 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $44K; repeat grants $106K. How we count
Medians: $50K first-time, $100K repeat.
- 50% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−3%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 103% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.5M (2023) to $1.8M (2020). In 2024 it made 24 grants totaling $1.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Recidiviz Inc Oakland, CA | Support for data platforms to help more justice-involved people safely transition back into their communities. | $150,000 |
| Colorado Fourteeners Initiative Lakewood, CO | General support to protect Colorado's 14,000-foot peaks through stewardship and public education. | $100,000 |
| Glacier National Park Conservancy Columbia Falls, MT | Support to preserve Glacier National Park wilderness. | $100,000 |
| Lone Star Justice Alliance Austin, TX | General support to address systemic issues in the criminal legal system through advocacy and evidence-based programs for youth. | $100,000 |
| Montana Wilderness Association Inc Helena, MT | General support to help protect 50% of Montana's public lands by 2050. | $100,000 |
| Protect Our Winters Boulder, CO | General support to combat climate change. | $100,000 |
| Southern Methodist University Dallas, TX | Support to educate Mississippi policymakers and criminal justice stakeholders about the importance of constitutional rights of newly arrested people. | $100,000 |
| Texas Public Policy Foundation Austin, TX | Promote accountability and rehabilitation in the criminal justice system. | $100,000 |
| Trust for Public Land San Francisco, CA | Support to increase greenspace in Colorado schoolyards and expand public access to after school hours. | $100,000 |
| Trust for Public Land San Francisco, CA | Support for land conservation and preservation across northwest Montana. | $100,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Chrest Foundation Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $37,771,876 | $1,608,822 | $1,853,665 | $1,705,000 | 24 | $1,909,992 | $1,328,905 | $1,851,965 |
| 2023 | $36,191,505 | $2,336,288 | $2,183,636 | $1,538,256 | 24 | $1,671,005 | $2,038,795 | $1,797,907 |
| 2022 | $33,939,403 | $1,841,919 | $2,019,700 | $1,754,956 | 29 | $1,878,426 | $1,584,885 | $1,744,142 |
| 2021 | $40,807,345 | $4,666,075 | $2,557,677 | $1,766,299 | 24 | $1,880,833 | $3,953,693 | $1,862,000 |
| 2020 | $36,662,820 | $-1,127,905 | $2,160,515 | $1,795,472 | 32 | — | $346,561 | $1,672,732 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Chrest Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.9M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports U.S. civil society organizations whose missions complement its program areas: criminal justice reform and the environment. It considers project-specific, general operating, and multi-year support for eligible organizations registered as 501(c)(3) nonprofits.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate these areas. Colorado Fourteeners Initiative describes its mission as protecting and preserving Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks through stewardship and public education. Lone Star Justice Alliance says it addresses systemic failures in the justice system through advocacy and evidence-based programs for youth and emerging adults. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 24 grants totaling $1,705,000. Grants ranged from $10,000 to $150,000, with a median of $80,000.
Among the largest 2024 grants were $150,000 to Recidiviz Inc for data platforms supporting the transition of justice-involved people back into their communities, and $100,000 each to Colorado Fourteeners Initiative, Glacier National Park Conservancy, Lone Star Justice Alliance, Montana Wilderness Association, Protect Our Winters, Southern Methodist University, Texas Public Policy Foundation, Trust for Public Land (two grants), Western Resource Advocates, and World Wildlife Fund Inc. The stated purposes included environmental stewardship and conservation, clean-energy and climate work, and criminal justice reform.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Chrest Foundation Inc is led by Lou Anne King Jensen, President since 2021 (on filings since 2020); none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Lou Anne King Jensen
President
Director & President → President, 2021
On filings since 2020
30 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeffrey J Jensen
Vice President
Director & Vice President → Vice President, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
William B Jensen
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Haley M Jensen
Secretary
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Chani N Jensen (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Haley M Jensen Barb (2020) — Director & Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Chrest Foundation Inc
How much does Chrest Foundation Inc give each year?
Chrest Foundation Inc gave $1.7M across 24 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.5M across 24 grants.
What is Chrest Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Chrest Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $80,000, and its average grant was $71,042, across 24 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Chrest Foundation Inc that year got $44K on average.
Where does Chrest Foundation Inc give grants?
Chrest Foundation Inc's top state is Colorado, with 28% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Texas (23%) and California (22%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boulder, CO (5 grants), Dallas, TX (4 grants), San Francisco, CA (3 grants) and Austin, TX (2 grants).
Does Chrest Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 29% of Chrest Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (7 of 24) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Chrest Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Chrest Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Trust for Public Land ($200,000 across 2 grants), Recidiviz Inc ($150,000) and Western Resource Advocates ($150,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 29% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Chrest Foundation Inc?
Chrest Foundation Inc reported $37.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.9M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.9M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Chrest Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation supports U.S. civil society organizations whose missions complement its program areas: criminal justice reform and the environment. It considers project-specific, general operating, and multi-year support for eligible organizations registered as 501(c)(3) nonprofits. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Chrest Foundation Inc?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Chrest Foundation Inc's EIN?
Chrest Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 75-2840026. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Chrest 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Chrest Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/chrest-foundation-inc-morg_16041f0902b94c8f8cf680ad13e59345
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_752840026_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Chrest Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/chrest-foundation-inc-morg_16041f0902b94c8f8cf680ad13e59345},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 Chrest Foundation Inc'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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