The Denver Public Schools Retired Employees' Association Foundation is a philanthropic organization established by the DPS Retired Employees' Association to support worthy graduates of Denver Public Schools. Based in Denver, Colorado, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) private foundation with a mission centered on recognizing and rewarding academic achievement among DPS graduates.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$6.9M
+0.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$425K
-2.4% YoY
Grant Count
43
-4.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$10K
+2.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Denver Public Schools Retired Employees reported a distributable amount of $337K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's objective is to reward academically involved graduating seniors in the pursuit of their educational goals. Scholarships are based on scholastic merit, school activities, and community involvement. The foundation does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, or sexual orientation, and financial need does not enter into consideration for awards.
Grantmaking
The foundation provides renewable scholarships to Denver Public Schools graduates. In 2025, the foundation board presented twelve $10,000 scholarships, each renewable for an additional three years, totaling a possible award of $40,000 for each recipient over the course of their collegiate studies.
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
While the foundation primarily serves Denver Public Schools graduates, recipients have attended colleges and universities across the United States.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total Assets: $6,898,261
- Total Revenues: $515,136
- Total Expenses: $518,820
- Investment Income and Dividends: $227,388
- Total Grants, Contributions, etc.: $99,397
- Net Gain from Sale of Non-Inventory Assets: $188,341
Year-over-Year Changes (2023 to 2024):
- Total revenues increased 19.9%
- Investment income increased 17%
- Total grants and contributions decreased 64.4%
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $6,898,261 | $6,865,264 | $6,997,106 |
| Revenue | $515,136 | $429,506 | $378,208 |
| Expenses | $518,820 | $515,079 | $537,575 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $425,000 | $435,665 | $443,998 |
| Net Investment Income | $321,919 | $114,868 | $177,798 |
| Distributable Amount | $337,332 | $316,609 | $338,243 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
213 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Aiden Larson ($10,000), Alexandra Bernal ($10,000), Alyssa Robertson ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Aiden Larson Denver, CO | College Tuition Assistance | $10,000 |
| Alexandra Bernal Denver, CO | College Tuition Assistance | $10,000 |
| Alyssa Robertson Denver, CO | College Tuition Assistance | $10,000 |
| Amelia Birner Castle Pines, CO | College Tuition Assistance | $10,000 |
| Anna Wu Denver, CO | College Tuition Assistance | $10,000 |
| Ava Vasquez Denver, CO | College Tuition Assistance | $10,000 |
| Ava Ward Denver, CO | College Tuition Assistance | $10,000 |
| Brady Viniove Denver, CO | College Tuition Assistance | $10,000 |
| Charlie Ruderman-Pratt Denver, CO | College Tuition Assistance | $10,000 |
| Clarise Reichley Boulder, CO | College Tuition Assistance | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Jacob Ervin is listed as Co-Chief Executive Officer. The foundation operates with a volunteer board of directors and limited paid staffing.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nancy Raddatz | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Karen Ritz | Secretary | 4 | — |
| Kristin Waters | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Angela Bodenhamer | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Cynthia Rundstrom | Chair | 8 | — |
| Lynn Williams | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Jeanne Ross | Ex-officio | 1 | — |
| William Kohut | Vice Chair | 5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation continues to award scholarships annually. In 2025, the foundation presented twelve $10,000 scholarships with multi-year renewal potential. The foundation has flourished through generous contributions from association membership, memorial donations, and bequests.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Denver Public Schools Retired Employees fund?
The foundation's objective is to reward academically involved graduating seniors in the pursuit of their educational goals. Scholarships are based on scholastic merit, school activities, and community involvement. The foundation does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, or sexual orientation, and financial need does not enter into consideration for awards.
How do I apply for a grant from Denver Public Schools Retired Employees?
The foundation provides renewable scholarships to Denver Public Schools graduates. In 2025, the foundation board presented twelve $10,000 scholarships, each renewable for an additional three years, totaling a possible award of $40,000 for each recipient over the course of their collegiate studies. **Historical Growth:** • 1996: Two non-renewable $1,000 scholarships awarded • 2000: Ten recipients annually • 2006: Ten scholarships of $5,000 with three-year renewal eligibility • 2012: All scholars…
Where does Denver Public Schools Retired Employees make grants?
While the foundation primarily serves Denver Public Schools graduates, recipients have attended colleges and universities across the United States.
What size grants does Denver Public Schools Retired Employees award?
In 2024, Denver Public Schools Retired Employees awarded 43 grants totaling $425K — an average of about $10K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Denver Public Schools Retired Employees required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Denver Public Schools Retired Employees reported a distributable amount of $337K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Denver Public Schools Retired Employees's EIN?
Denver Public Schools Retired Employees's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-1331121. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Denver Public Schools Retired Employees's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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