The Donnell-Kay Foundation is a private family foundation based in downtown Denver, Colorado. Established in 1965 through a trust by the Kay family, the foundation was incorporated in Colorado in 2009 and operates as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The foundation is committed to improving public education in Colorado through research, policy, creative dialogue, and critical thinking, with a particular focus on strengthening opportunities for low-income and historically marginalized children and families.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$33.9M
+9.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$242K
+22.2% YoY
Grant Count
38
-5.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$6K
+28.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Donnell-kay Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.6M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: Transforming ideas into impact through dialogue and action.
The foundation aims to improve public education in Colorado and drive systemic school reform by investing in projects, programs, and people who seek systemic solutions to strengthening the learning experience for children and youth from birth to career.
Current Focus Areas:
- Advancing Early Childhood Education – Supporting quality, accessible, and equitable early childhood initiatives that build foundational learning blocks
- Increasing Access to Affordable Housing – Championing stable and affordable housing for families to support thriving communities and improved educational outcomes
- Supporting Child Nutrition and Community Food Access – Promoting nutrition-rich environments and ensuring access to nourishing meals for optimal student health and academic success
- Early Childhood Policies – Supporting policy work related to early childhood development and care
Grantmaking
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Primary focus on Colorado. Secondary activity in Idaho and the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Total Assets: $33,937,454 (as of most recent filing)
Total Annual Giving: $241,998
Revenue: $403,300 (as of 2023)
Employees: Approximately 10 staff members
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $33,937,454 | $31,060,994 | $27,472,221 |
| Revenue | $2,321,786 | $1,289,970 | $2,723,106 |
| Expenses | $1,728,228 | $1,377,172 | $1,516,789 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,387,022 | $1,222,881 | $1,332,959 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,781,611 | $1,172,053 | $2,567,958 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,582,036 | $1,470,601 | $1,526,306 |
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
146 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Reschool ($100,000), Nourish Colorado ($30,500), Ednium ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 50CAN INC WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL OPERATING GRANT | $100 |
| ART STUDENTS LEAGUE DENVER, CO | GENERAL OPERATING GRANT | $150 |
| BLUUM INC BOISE, ID | GENERAL OPERATING GRANT | $1,000 |
| BOULDER FOOD RESCUE BOULDER, CO | GENERAL OPERATING GRANT | $360 |
| CHARTER SCHOOL INSTITUTE DENVER, CO | GENERAL OPERATING GRANT | $1,000 |
| CHILD FUND INTERNATIONAL RICHMOND VA, VA | GENERAL OPERATING GRANT | $360 |
| COLORADO ASIAN CULTURE AND EDUCATION NETWORK DENVER, CO | GENERAL OPERATING GRANT | $250 |
| COLORADO LEAGUE OF CHARTER SCHOOLS DENVER, CO | GENERAL OPERATING GRANT | $5,000 |
| COLORADO STATEWIDE PARENT COALITION DENVER, CO | GENERAL OPERATING GRANT | $250 |
| DSST MINNEAPOLIS, MN | GENERAL OPERATING GRANT | $2,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board of Trustees:
- Connie Dines – President
- Kim Knous Dolan – Vice President
- Kaylin Dines – Secretary
- Tony Lewis – Treasurer
Staff:
- Tony Lewis
- Sarah Johnson
- Taber Ward
- Miguel In Suk Lovato
- Maggie Kinneberg
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KAYLIN DINES | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| ANTHONY LEWIS | TREASURER | 2 | — |
| KIM KNOUS DOLAN | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| CONNIE DINES | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has published recent reports and articles on key initiatives, including:
A report highlighting Family, Friend, and Neighbor (FFN) caregivers across Colorado and efforts to support this essential but often overlooked part of the child care system
Articles addressing Colorado's K-12 education debate and policy reform
Work on housing affordability initiatives
Efforts to expand Colorado food programs to include Family, Friend, and Neighbor caregivers
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Donnell-kay Foundation Inc fund?
**Mission:** Transforming ideas into impact through dialogue and action. The foundation aims to improve public education in Colorado and drive systemic school reform by investing in projects, programs, and people who seek systemic solutions to strengthening the learning experience for children and youth from birth to career. **Current Focus Areas:** • **Advancing Early Childhood Education** – Supporting quality, accessible, and equitable early childhood initiatives that build foundational learn…
How do I apply for a grant from Donnell-kay Foundation Inc?
**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $100 to $100,000. **Annual Giving:** The foundation invests approximately $1 million annually in people, projects, and programs. Most recent annual giving reported at $241,998. **Grant Focus Areas:** Education, philanthropy, voluntarism, grantmaking, and human services, primarily in Colorado with some activity in Idaho and the District of Columbia. **Approach:** The foundation emphasizes collaborative conversations and partnerships. Their grantmaking…
Where does Donnell-kay Foundation Inc make grants?
Primary focus on Colorado. Secondary activity in Idaho and the District of Columbia.
What size grants does Donnell-kay Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Donnell-kay Foundation Inc awarded 38 grants totaling $242K — an average of about $6K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Donnell-kay Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Donnell-kay Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.6M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Donnell-kay Foundation Inc's EIN?
Donnell-kay Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 59-6169704. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Donnell-kay Foundation Inc'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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