El Pomar Foundation
El Pomar Foundation is a private, general-purpose grantmaking foundation established in 1937 by Spencer and Julie Penrose. Headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to philanthropic work across the state of Colorado. Beyond traditional grant distribution, El Pomar engages in community programming, leadership development, and stewardship of historic properties to amplify its impact on Colorado communities.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$447.6M
+0.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$19.5M
+20.1% YoY
Grant Count
1
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$19.5M
+20.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, El Pomar Foundation reported a distributable amount of $31.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: To enhance, encourage, and promote the current and future well-being of the people of Colorado.
El Pomar maintains broad, general-purpose grant making across multiple focus areas:
- Arts and culture
- Civic and community initiatives
- Education
- Health
- Human services
- Community and economic development
- Public affairs
- Wildlife and biodiversity
- Fire prevention and control
- Animal welfare and therapy
The foundation explicitly does not accept applications from individuals or for primary/secondary school (K-12) support, though it may consider limited exceptions in certain circumstances.
Grantmaking
El Pomar offers multiple pathways for nonprofit support:
Grant Types
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with El Pomar Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
El Pomar is a place-based funder with statewide reach across Colorado. While headquartered in Colorado Springs, the foundation makes grants throughout the state, including rural and urban areas. The foundation operates a Regional Partnerships initiative—now in its 20th anniversary—that uses community-informed grant making to support local needs across different regions of Colorado.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total assets: $446 million
- Total liabilities: $0
- Annual revenue: $23.2 million
- Annual expenses: $27.2 million
Historical Giving:
- Total grants and programs distributed: More than $1.5 billion throughout the foundation's history
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $447,556,831 | $446,140,929 | $450,156,817 |
| Revenue | $33,613,889 | $23,158,969 | $24,169,276 |
| Expenses | $32,197,989 | $27,174,857 | $26,453,719 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $29,523,627 | $26,650,840 | $27,671,159 |
| Net Investment Income | $31,304,368 | $17,553,297 | $21,794,077 |
| Distributable Amount | $31,811,687 | $29,692,498 | $30,117,988 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 1 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
103 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
5 open opportunities from El Pomar Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include See Attached Statement ($19,546,032).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| SEE ATTACHED STATEMENT COLORADO SPRINGS, CO | SEE ATTACHED STATEMENT | $19,546,032 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAVID J PALENCHAR | CHAIR | 8 | $83,000 |
| WILLIAM J HYBL | CHAIR EMERIT | 5 | $181,019 |
| NECHIE HALL | VICE CHAIR | 8 | $59,000 |
| ANDREA ARAGON | TRUSTEE | 4 | $49,000 |
| KATHY BOE | TRUSTEE | 3 | $38,000 |
| COLONEL GAIL COLVIN | TRUSTEE | 3 | — |
| MIKE EDMONDS | TRUSTEE | 3 | $43,000 |
| ERIK ESTRADA | TRUSTEE | 4 | $43,000 |
| AMY HUMBLE | TRUSTEE | 3 | $32,000 |
| KEN MONTERA | TRUSTEE | 3 | $33,000 |
| EMILY ROBINSON | TRUSTEE | 5 | $40,000 |
| KYLE H HYBL | PRES & CEO | 40 | $481,264 |
| R THAYER TUTT JR | CIO, VCHAIR | 40 | $442,829 |
| MATTHEW J CARPENTER | COO, SEC | 40 | $304,058 |
| ELAINE MARTINEZ | CFO, TREAS | 40 | $261,270 |
| MAUREEN LAWRENCE | SVP, GENCOUN | 40 | $245,629 |
| NICOLE MAGIC | VP HR | 40 | $116,334 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
El Pomar continues active grant distribution across Colorado regions. Recent grant announcements include:
[PDF] September 2025 Regional Grant AnnouncementsApproval of $35,803 to organizations in the southwest region
El Pomar Foundation approves $35,803 to organizations in southwest regionApproval of $145,000 to organizations in the northwest region
El Pomar Foundation approves $35,803 to organizations in southwest regionApproval of $82,000 to organizations in the San Luis Valley
El Pomar Foundation approves $82,000 to organizations in SLV - The Del NorteApproval of $87,000 to organizations in the Central Peaks region
El Pomar Foundation approves $35,803 to organizations in southwest regionThe foundation published its 2023 Annual Report titled "Colorado at Our Core," reflecting on the 20th anniversary of its Regional Partnerships community-informed grant making initiative.
[PDF] September 2025 Regional Grant AnnouncementsContact Information
Address: 10 Lake Circle, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80906
Phone: 719-633-7733
Email: communications@elpomar.org (general inquiries)
Website: www.elpomar.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does El Pomar Foundation fund?
**Mission Statement:** To enhance, encourage, and promote the current and future well-being of the people of Colorado. El Pomar maintains broad, general-purpose grant making across multiple focus areas: • Arts and culture • Civic and community initiatives • Education • Health • Human services • Community and economic development • Public affairs • Wildlife and biodiversity • Fire prevention and control • Animal welfare and therapy The foundation explicitly does not accept applications from indi…
How do I apply for a grant from El Pomar Foundation?
**Grant Activity & Scale:** • Since 1937, El Pomar has made over 25,000 grants totaling more than $600 million to over 5,000 nonprofits across Colorado • Current annual giving: more than $25 million through grants and community programming • 2023 expenses: $27.2 million **Grant Types & Vehicles:** El Pomar offers multiple pathways for nonprofit support: • **Competitive Grants:** The foundation's primary grantmaking vehicle for local nonprofits, accepting unsolicited applications • **Named Funds…
Where does El Pomar Foundation make grants?
El Pomar is a place-based funder with statewide reach across Colorado. While headquartered in Colorado Springs, the foundation makes grants throughout the state, including rural and urban areas. The foundation operates a **Regional Partnerships** initiative—now in its 20th anniversary—that uses community-informed grant making to support local needs across different regions of Colorado.
What size grants does El Pomar Foundation award?
In 2024, El Pomar Foundation awarded 1 grants totaling $19.5M — an average of about $19.5M per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is El Pomar Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, El Pomar Foundation reported a distributable amount of $31.8M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is El Pomar Foundation's EIN?
El Pomar Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-6002373. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in El Pomar Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Colorado Gives Foundation
ARVADA, CO
Assets
$527.1M
Grants
2,211
Total Given
$91.0M
National Philanthropic Trust
JENKINTOWN, PA
Assets
$42.2B
Grants
18,583
Total Given
$5.1B
The Colorado Health Foundation
DENVER, CO
Assets
$2.9B
Grants
684
Total Given
$102.2M
Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program
SOUTHEASTERN, PA
Assets
$22.2B
Grants
24,269
Total Given
$3.0B
Xcel Energy Foundation
MINNEAPOLIS, MN
Assets
—
Grants
1,820
Total Given
$7.7M
The Blackbaud Giving Fund
CHARLESTON SC, SC
Assets
$52.7M
Grants
1,860
Total Given
$41.4M
Anschutz Family Foundation
DENVER, CO
Assets
$46.9M
Grants
305
Total Given
$2.6M
Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation
DENVER, CO
Assets
$477.1M
Grants
486
Total Given
$19.8M
Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc
INDIANAPOLIS, IN
Assets
$9.1B
Grants
19,253
Total Given
$1.2B
Natl Christian Charitable Fdn Inc
ALPHARETTA, GA
Assets
$6.1B
Grants
16,327
Total Given
$2.6B
The Pfizer Foundation Inc
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$255.3M
Grants
9,306
Total Given
$23.2M
Daniels Fund
DENVER, CO
Assets
$1.4B
Grants
1,593
Total Given
$69.7M
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with El Pomar Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching El Pomar Foundation to a real strategy.