Donnell-Kay Foundation Inc
Donnell-Kay Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Denver, Colorado. The foundation says it was founded in 1965 through a trust by the Kay family and works to improve public education in Colorado, with a focus on opportunities for children and families, including low-income and historically marginalized communities.
Donnell-Kay Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Donnell-Kay Foundation Inc gave $351K across 43 grants in 2025 (avg $8K), mostly in Colorado. 53% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $350,636
- +44.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 43
- +13.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $8,154
- +28.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $500
- Total assets
- $36,384,767
- +7.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 53% first-time grantees (23 of 43, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Colorado (98% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Donnell-Kay Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states on its 2025 filing that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Its website says it typically directs its time, money, and energy to its specific projects, while noting that in specific circumstances it issues startup grants of up to $10,000 to nonprofit entities and invites interested organizations to submit a contact request.
- Contact
Mailing address: 730 17Th Street, Denver, CO 80202
Phone: (720) 932-1544
Website: https://www.dkfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Donnell-Kay Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Kit Carson Rural Development ($50K). Together the top 10 received $280K.
Grant Size Distribution
185 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 179 grants of 185 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website describes its work as focused on Colorado. In filing year 2025, 98% of grant dollars went to recipients in Colorado; the remaining reported shares were California at 1%, and Arizona, Virginia, and New Mexico at 0% each.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 43 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Donnell-Kay Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
53%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 23 of 43 grantees (53%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $6K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $416 repeat.
- 33% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−1%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 97% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF 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 $121K (2023) to $356K (2022). In 2025 it made 43 grants totaling $351K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Kit Carson Rural Development Kit Carson, CO | General Operating Grant | $50,000 |
| Colorado Food Cluster Fort Collins, CO | General Operating Grant | $35,000 |
| Bright by Text Centennial, CO | General Operating Grant | $30,000 |
| Chef Ann Foundation Boulder, CO | General Operating Grant | $25,000 |
| Early Milestones Colorado Denver, CO | General Operating Grant | $25,000 |
| High Rockies Community School Fairplay, CO | General Operating Grant | $25,000 |
| Nourish Colorado Denver, CO | General Operating Grant | $25,000 |
| Wildflower Montessori Public Schools of Colorado Aurora, CO | General Operating Grant | $25,000 |
| Anastasis Academy Highlands Ranch, CO | General Operating Grant | $20,000 |
| Justice for the People Legal Center Aurora, CO | General Operating Grant | $20,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $36,384,767 | $2,496,284 | $1,986,211 | $350,636 | 43 | $1,586,085 | $2,337,118 | $1,630,593 |
| 2024 | $33,937,454 | $2,321,786 | $1,728,228 | $241,998 | 38 | $1,387,022 | $1,781,611 | $1,582,036 |
| 2023 | $31,900,331 | $403,297 | $1,436,126 | $120,729 | 36 | $1,328,282 | $707,125 | $1,316,879 |
| 2022 | $27,472,221 | $2,723,106 | $1,516,789 | $355,530 | 26 | $1,332,959 | $2,567,958 | $1,526,306 |
| 2021 | $26,461,627 | $2,182,723 | $1,554,476 | $293,235 | 42 | — | $1,952,088 | $1,374,932 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Donnell-Kay Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.6M for 2025 — 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’s current work spans four areas: advancing early childhood education; increasing access to affordable housing; supporting child nutrition and community food access; and improving K–12 education. Its website describes its food-access work as partnering with farmers, early-childhood providers, advocates, and agencies, and addressing food systems through community networks, childcare, school meals, and policy.
Its 2025 grants included organizations whose own stated missions illustrate the range of recipients. Kit Carson Rural Development describes its mission as community enhancement and economic development. Colorado Food Cluster says it provides free food resources to communities. Chef Ann Foundation works to resource and support school food professionals providing fresh, healthy, cooked-from-scratch meals. Early Milestones Colorado says it advances success for young children through innovation, best practices, and systemic change. Nourish Colorado describes work connecting farms and communities to improve equitable access to fresh, nutritious food. High Rockies Community School describes an individualized, exploratory learning environment; Anastasis Academy provides K–8 tuition-based educational services; and Justice for the People Legal Center provides legal services, organizing, and education to communities harmed by the justice system.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 43 grants totaling $350,636. Grants ranged from $100 to $50,000, with a median of $500. The listed 2025 grants were for general operating support.
Among the largest grants were $50,000 to Kit Carson Rural Development; $35,000 to Colorado Food Cluster; $30,000 to Bright by Text; $25,000 each to Chef Ann Foundation, Early Milestones Colorado, High Rockies Community School, Nourish Colorado, and Wildflower Montessori Public Schools of Colorado; and $20,000 each to Anastasis Academy and Justice for the People Legal Center.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Connie Dines as president, Kim Knous Dolan as vice president, Kaylin Dines as secretary, and Anthony Lewis as treasurer. The foundation’s website also lists these individuals on its Board of Trustees, identifying Tony Lewis as treasurer.
Donnell-Kay Foundation Inc is led by Connie Dines, President on every filing since 2021; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Connie Dines
President
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Anthony Lewis
Treasurer
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kaylin Dines
Secretary
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kim Knous Dolan
Vice President
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about Donnell-Kay Foundation Inc
How much does Donnell-Kay Foundation Inc give each year?
Donnell-Kay Foundation Inc gave $351K across 43 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $242K across 38 grants.
What is Donnell-Kay Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Donnell-Kay Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $500, and its average grant was $8,154, across 43 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Donnell-Kay Foundation Inc that year got $10K on average.
Where does Donnell-Kay Foundation Inc give grants?
Donnell-Kay Foundation Inc gives mostly in Colorado: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Denver, CO (13 grants), Boulder, CO (5 grants), Aurora, CO (2 grants) and Centennial, CO (2 grants).
Does Donnell-Kay Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Donnell-Kay Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (43 of 43) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Donnell-Kay Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Donnell-Kay Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Kit Carson Rural Development ($50,000), Colorado Food Cluster ($35,000) and Bright by Text ($30,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 33% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Donnell-Kay Foundation Inc?
Donnell-Kay Foundation Inc reported $36.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.6M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Donnell-Kay Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s current work spans four areas: advancing early childhood education; increasing access to affordable housing; supporting child nutrition and community food access; and improving K–12 education. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Donnell-Kay Foundation Inc?
The foundation states on its 2025 filing that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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 2021–2025.
Does Donnell-Kay 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
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 18, 2024)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 23, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Donnell-Kay Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/donnell-kay-foundation-inc-morg_6e23b680151b4fcc9aeedecd516624ac
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_596169704_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Donnell-Kay Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/donnell-kay-foundation-inc-morg_6e23b680151b4fcc9aeedecd516624ac},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Donnell-Kay 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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