Colorado Garden Show Inc
Colorado Garden Show Inc is a public charity based in Lakewood, Colorado. Its stated mission is to further the study of horticulture through an annual garden and home show and by awarding grants and scholarships. The organization’s website says show proceeds support horticulture scholarships and grants, and its grant awards include horticulture-related education, therapy, research, and community improvements.
Colorado Garden Show Inc at a glance
In short: Colorado Garden Show Inc gave $527K across 43 grants in 2025 (avg $12K), mostly in Colorado. 74% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $527,043
- +5.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 43
- +13.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $12,257
- -6.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $12,943,069
- +2.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 74% first-time grantees (32 of 43, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Colorado (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Colorado Garden Show Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The published instructions describe an application process by letter of intent, so the organization accepts unsolicited requests. The instructions specify that the initial letter must include a contact name and the applicant’s address, phone, email, and federal identification number.
- Review Cycle
- The published annual grant program gives a deadline of August 30 at noon. That deadline is from a past cycle; the source does not provide a current cycle’s deadline.
- Deadline
- The published annual grant program gives a deadline of August 30 at noon.
- Contact
Mailing address: 959 S Kipling Pkwy 100, Lakewood, CO 80226
Phone: (303) 932-8100
Website: https://coloradogardenfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
4 open opportunities from Colorado Garden Show Inc
CGF Annual Grant Program
Colorado Garden Show Inc
Amount
Up to US $15,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
CGF Full Ride Scholarship Grant
Colorado Garden Show Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
CGF Graduate Scholarships Grant
Colorado Garden Show Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Colorado Garden Show Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Craver Middle School ($75K). Together the top 10 received $239K.
Grant Size Distribution
167 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 161 grants of 167 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The annual grant program lists Colorado statewide as its geographic interest. All grant dollars reported for filing year 2025 went to recipients in Colorado.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 43 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Colorado Garden Show Inc open to new grantees?
74%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 32 of 43 grantees (74%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $13K; repeat grants $11K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 14% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+7%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2021–2025). 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $164K (2021) to $527K (2025). In 2025 it made 43 grants totaling $527K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Craver Middle School Colorado City, CO | Greenhouse at the School | $75,000 |
| Eaton Senior Communities Foundation Lakewood, CO | Gardening Program | $43,700 |
| Cloud City Conservation Center Leadville, CO | Expand Farm & Community Garden | $15,000 |
| Concrete Couch Colorado Springs, CO | Improvements to Concrete Coyote Park | $15,000 |
| Denver Park Trust Denver, CO | New Pollinator Garden & Signage | $15,000 |
| Kavod Senior Life Denver, CO | Enhancing the Outdoor Gardening Program | $15,000 |
| Foundation for Community Colleges Denver, CO | Matching Grants with Cosi | $15,000 |
| Restoration Outreach Programs Aurora, CO | Expand Sustainable Gardens | $15,000 |
| Sustained Farms Edgewater, CO | Support 42 Garden Sites in Denver | $15,000 |
| Trust for Public Land Denver, CO | Community Garden at Bricker Elementary | $15,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $12,943,069 | $3,522,450 | $3,310,866 | $527,043 | 43 | $388,775 |
| 2024 | $12,646,319 | $3,451,589 | $3,127,440 | $499,521 | 38 | $288,767 |
| 2023 | $11,255,351 | $3,657,164 | $2,992,292 | $448,852 | 34 | $869,879 |
| 2022 | $11,683,304 | $3,272,069 | $3,070,282 | $493,777 | 38 | $477,302 |
| 2021 | $11,979,310 | $734,819 | $1,081,346 | $163,665 | 14 | $611,796 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s stated mission is “to further the study of horticulture through the production of the annual garden & home show and awarding of grants and scholarships.” Its website describes interests in horticultural education, therapy, research, and community improvements. The annual grant program lists civic and community improvements and horticulture-related education as primary areas of interest, with capital improvements, matching grants, project or program support, and research among its grant types.
Its 2025 grantees illustrate the range of organizations supported. Eaton Senior Communities Foundation says its mission is to obtain resources for affordable senior living choices and programs that enrich seniors’ lives. Sustained Farms describes its mission as contributing to a sustainable food system in the greater Denver area. Denver Park Trust says it works to address park access and equity by supporting land acquisition and improved park amenities. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the funder’s.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the organization reported 43 grants totaling $527,043. Grant amounts ranged from $5,375 to $75,000, with a median of $10,000. The largest listed awards included $75,000 to Craver Middle School for a school greenhouse and $43,700 to Eaton Senior Communities Foundation for a gardening program. Other notable awards were $15,000 each to Cloud City Conservation Center to expand a farm and community garden, Denver Park Trust for a pollinator garden and signage, Sustained Farms to support 42 garden sites in Denver, and Trust for Public Land for a community garden at Bricker Elementary.
The funder’s website describes an annual grant program for nonprofit and government agencies. Its published instructions call for a one-page letter of intent on the applicant organization’s letterhead describing the project, overall budget, and requested amount. Selected applicants are asked to submit complete details, including how the funder will be recognized. The published program excludes homeowners associations and political organizations, and does not fund plan development or design, salaries, administrative costs, or other overhead. It also states that only one grant or proposal per applicant or division is considered annually. Although the published program sets a maximum grant of $15,000, the 2025 filing lists a $75,000 award.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists John Alderman as treasurer; Matt Baldner as vice president; Debi Borden-Miller as secretary; and Jeff Hinners, Dave Hall, John Paul Malik, Lannie Ferbend, Becky Miller Updike, Jerry Connell, and Niecie Banach as directors.
Colorado Garden Show Inc is led by Adam Cermak, President since 2025 (on filings since 2021); all 13 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Adam Cermak
President
Treasurer → President, 2025
On filings since 2021
10 hrs/week
$2K (2021) → $2K (2025)
James Fricke
Executive Director
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$231K (2021) → $296K (2025)
Dave Hall
Director
On filings since 2021
10 hrs/week
$2K (2021) → $2K (2025)
Jeff Hinners
Director
On filings since 2021
10 hrs/week
$2K (2021) → $2K (2025)
Jerry Connell
Director
Secretary → Director, 2025
On filings since 2021
10 hrs/week
$2K (2021) → $2K (2025)
John Paul Malik
Director
On filings since 2021
10 hrs/week
$2K (2021) → $2K (2025)
Niecie Banach
Director
Vice President → Director, 2025
On filings since 2021
10 hrs/week
$2K (2021) → $2K (2025)
Sean Baker
Director
President → Director, 2025
On filings since 2021
10 hrs/week
$2K (2021) → $2K (2025)
Becky Miller Updike
Director
On filings since 2024
10 hrs/week
$300 (2024) → $2K (2025)
Lannie Ferbend
Director
On filings since 2024
10 hrs/week
$300 (2024) → $2K (2025)
Debi Borden-Miller
Secretart
Director → Secretart, 2025
On filings since 2021
10 hrs/week
$2K (2021) → $2K (2025)
John Alderman
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2021
10 hrs/week
$2K (2021) → $2K (2025)
Matt Baldner
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2021
10 hrs/week
$2K (2021) → $2K (2025)
Former officers (2)
- Former: Wendy Birchler (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Chuck Stroh (2021) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 $296K, to James Fricke (Executive Director). 13 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Colorado Garden Show Inc
How much does Colorado Garden Show Inc give each year?
Colorado Garden Show Inc gave $527K across 43 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $500K across 38 grants.
What is Colorado Garden Show Inc's typical grant size?
Colorado Garden Show Inc's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $12,257, across 43 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Colorado Garden Show Inc that year got $13K on average.
Where does Colorado Garden Show Inc give grants?
Colorado Garden Show Inc gives mostly in Colorado: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Denver, CO (9 grants), Aurora, CO (3 grants), Lakewood, CO (2 grants) and Littleton, CO (2 grants).
Does Colorado Garden Show Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 43 grants with a stated purpose on Colorado Garden Show Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are Colorado Garden Show Inc's largest grantees?
Colorado Garden Show Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Craver Middle School ($75,000), Eaton Senior Communities Foundation ($43,700) and Cloud City Conservation Center ($15,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 25% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Colorado Garden Show Inc?
Colorado Garden Show Inc reported $12.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $3.5M.
What does Colorado Garden Show Inc fund?
The organization’s stated mission is “to further the study of horticulture through the production of the annual garden & home show and awarding of grants and scholarships.” Its website describes interests in horticultural education, therapy, research, and community improvements. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Colorado Garden Show Inc?
The published instructions describe an application process by letter of intent, so the organization accepts unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Colorado Garden Show Inc's EIN?
Colorado Garden Show Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-6045671. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Does Colorado Garden Show Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, 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 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS September 28, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 1, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 30, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 25, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS January 29, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Colorado Garden Show Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Colorado Garden Show Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/colorado-garden-show-inc-morg_b721615716644b76affaf0c98f6a01b8
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_846045671_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Colorado Garden Show Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/colorado-garden-show-inc-morg_b721615716644b76affaf0c98f6a01b8},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 Colorado Garden Show 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.
Colorado Garden Show Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?