Foundation for Educational Excellence
Foundation for Educational Excellence is a private foundation based in Denver, Colorado. It supports educational programs and conducts educational consulting, with stated activity focused on improving education in Colorado’s Front Range and creating conditions for students and teachers to fulfill their growth potential.
Foundation for Educational Excellence at a glance
In short: Foundation for Educational Excellence gave $2.0M across 28 grants in 2024 (avg $71K), top state Colorado. 68% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,988,337
- +7.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 28
- +55.6% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $71,012
- -31.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $53,815
- Total assets
- $1,243,481
- +45.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 68% first-time grantees (19 of 28, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Colorado (48% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Foundation for Educational Excellence
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It lists Allison Stepnitz as the contact, says there is no required application format and that the foundation provides general guidelines, and restricts awards to communities in the Greater Denver metropolitan area relating to educational needs.
- Review Cycle
- Quarterly.
- Deadline
- Quarterly.
- Contact
Application contact: Allison Stepnitz
Mailing address: 240 Saint Paul St Ste 300, Denver, CO 80206
Phone: (720) 807-0608
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Foundation for Educational Excellence funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Brees Dream Foundation ($400K). Together the top 10 received $1.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
109 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 66 grants of 109 (61%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s 2024 grants went to recipients in multiple states. Colorado accounted for 48% of grant dollars, followed by Ohio (20%), Massachusetts (8%), Illinois (7%), and Washington, DC (6%). The foundation also describes its educational consulting as focused on Colorado’s Front Range and its award restrictions as relating to educational needs in Greater Denver metropolitan communities.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 28 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Foundation for Educational Excellence open to new grantees?
68%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 19 of 28 grantees (68%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $62K; repeat grants $90K. How we count
Medians: $35K first-time, $98K repeat.
- 21% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+9%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $117K (2020) to $2.0M (2024). In 2024 it made 28 grants totaling $2.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Brees Dream Foundation Independence, OH | Health and Community | $400,000 |
| Buildstrong Academy Denver, CO | Educational Purposes | $166,379 |
| Greenlight Fund Boston, MA | Educational Purposes | $155,260 |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver Denver, CO | Educational Purposes | $119,000 |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago Chicago, IL | Educational Purposes | $118,880 |
| Home Builders Institute Washington, DC | Educational Purposes | $116,445 |
| Hoola NA Pua- Co Central Union Church Honolulu, HI | Educational Purposes | $116,445 |
| Stead School Commerce City, CO | Educational Purposes | $100,000 |
| Colorado Open Golf Foundation Denver, CO | Educational Purposes | $97,630 |
| Mile High Learning Denver, CO | Educational Purposes | $95,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,243,481 | $5,478,064 | $4,720,355 | $1,988,337 | 28 | $4,502,164 | $9,921 | $28,380 |
| 2023 | $854,249 | $4,636,463 | $4,883,413 | $1,855,797 | 18 | $4,217,500 | — | $32,420 |
| 2022 | $939,486 | $4,851,787 | $5,342,170 | $1,979,500 | 31 | $4,638,028 | — | $34,486 |
| 2021 | $1,151,774 | $5,236,220 | $4,943,666 | $1,821,002 | 19 | $4,596,201 | $384,762 | $33,107 |
| 2020 | $917,946 | $3,151,485 | $2,726,500 | $117,000 | 13 | — | — | $11,826 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Foundation for Educational Excellence reported a distributable amount of $28K for 2024 — 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 stated objective is to create an environment that allows students and teachers to fulfill their full growth potential. Its direct activities include educational consulting in the Front Range and the Colorado Homebuilding Academy, which it describes as an industry-driven academy offering hands-on education, innovation, and collaboration. It also provides grants for innovative educational programs.
Its 2024 grantees reflect varied activities. BuildStrong Academy describes itself as a training organization addressing the construction industry’s need for skilled workers; Home Builders Institute says it prepares people for careers in the building industry. Greenlight Fund describes work to identify needs in high-poverty urban areas and bring programs to address them. Brees Dream Foundation says its mission includes improving the quality of life for cancer patients and providing care, education, and other opportunities for children and families in need.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 28 grants totaling $1,988,337. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $400,000, with a median grant of $53,815. Among the largest awards were $400,000 to Brees Dream Foundation for health and community, $166,379 to BuildStrong Academy for educational purposes, and $155,260 to Greenlight Fund for educational purposes. Other large educational grants included $119,000 to Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver and $118,880 to Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Jamie Van Leeuwen as managing director; Patrick Hamill as chair; and Eric Montoya as secretary/treasurer. Directors listed were Noel Beauchamp, Mordecai Brownlee, Andres Carrera, Eric Holt, Savinay Nathan, Amy Schwartz, and Jay Small.
Foundation for Educational Excellence is led by Patrick Hamill, Chair on every filing since 2020; 1 of 11 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Patrick Hamill
Chair
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jamie Van Leeuwen
Managing Director
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$150K (2024)
Amy Schwartz
Director
Executive Director → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$98K (2020) → $0 (2024)
Andres Carrera
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eric Holt
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jay Small
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mordecai Brownlee
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Noel Beauchamp
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Renee Zentz
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Savinay Nathan
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eric Montoya
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Jeff Carlson (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Kristen White (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Robyn McVicker (2020–2023) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $150K, to Jamie Van Leeuwen (Managing Director).
Frequently asked questions about Foundation for Educational Excellence
How much does Foundation for Educational Excellence give each year?
Foundation for Educational Excellence gave $2.0M across 28 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.9M across 18 grants.
What is Foundation for Educational Excellence's typical grant size?
Foundation for Educational Excellence's median grant in 2024 was $53,815, and its average grant was $71,012, across 28 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Foundation for Educational Excellence that year got $62K on average.
Where does Foundation for Educational Excellence give grants?
Foundation for Educational Excellence's top state is Colorado, with 48% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Ohio (20%) and Massachusetts (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Denver, CO (8 grants), Chicago, IL (2 grants) and Aurora, CO (2 grants).
Does Foundation for Educational Excellence give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 28 grants with a stated purpose on Foundation for Educational Excellence's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Educational Purposes" (27 grants).
Who are Foundation for Educational Excellence's largest grantees?
Foundation for Educational Excellence's largest 2024 grantees include Brees Dream Foundation ($400,000), Buildstrong Academy ($166,379) and Greenlight Fund ($155,260), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 36% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Foundation for Educational Excellence?
Foundation for Educational Excellence reported $1.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $4.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $28K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Foundation for Educational Excellence fund?
The foundation’s stated objective is to create an environment that allows students and teachers to fulfill their full growth potential. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Foundation for Educational Excellence?
The foundation states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Foundation for Educational Excellence's EIN?
Foundation for Educational Excellence's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-1396597. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Foundation for Educational Excellence funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/foundation-for-educational-excellence-morg_8e7af2e6392e45a5ba8885047d16a79f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_841396597_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Foundation for Educational Excellence funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/foundation-for-educational-excellence-morg_8e7af2e6392e45a5ba8885047d16a79f},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Foundation for Educational Excellence'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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