Fred and Elli Iselin Foundation
The Fred and Elli Iselin Foundation is a private foundation based in Basalt, Colorado. Its 2023 filing reports grants to organizations supporting youth, scholarships, research, outdoor stewardship, food assistance, and other community programs.
Fred and Elli Iselin Foundation at a glance
In short: Fred and Elli Iselin Foundation gave $122K across 29 grants in 2023 (avg $4K), mostly in Colorado. 0% of 2023 grantees were new. Source: 2023 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2023)
- $121,500
- -1.2% vs 2022
- Grants made (2023)
- 29
- -3.3% vs 2022
- Average grant
- $4,190
- +2.2% vs 2022
- Median grant
- $3,500
- Total assets
- $2,585,282
- +10.1% vs 2022
- New grantees (estimate)
- 0% first-time grantees (0 of 29, 2023)
- Primary geography
- Colorado (87% of itemized 2023 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2023 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2023; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Fred and Elli Iselin Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Applications should be submitted in writing and include proof of the applying organization’s exempt status and the precise use of proceeds. The filing lists no restrictions on awards and says giving is not restricted to preselected organizations. Contact James K Daggs.
- Review Cycle
- October 31.
- Deadline
- October 31.
- Contact
Application contact: James K Daggs
Mailing address: 350 Market St Ste 311, Basalt, CO 81621
Phone: (970) 925-4290
Email: jim@jamesdaggsassociates.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Fred and Elli Iselin Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2023
The largest 2023 recipient was Aspen Valley Ski Club ($20K). Together the top 10 received $82K.
Grant Size Distribution
124 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 124 grants of 124 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2023, recipients in Colorado received 87% of grant dollars, recipients in Utah received 10%, and recipients in the District of Columbia and New York received 2% and 1%, respectively.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2023 grant dollars across all 29 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Fred and Elli Iselin Foundation open to new grantees?
0%
first-time grantees, 2023
In 2023, 0 of 29 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. How we count
- 97% of 2023 grantees were also funded in 2022. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2020 to 2023 (−7%). Method
- In 2023 it paid out 106% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2023). 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 2023, annual grant giving ranged from $122K (2023) to $131K (2020). In 2023 it made 29 grants totaling $122K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Aspen Valley Ski Club Aspen, CO | Scholarship Support | $20,000 |
| Aspen Youth Center Aspen, CO | After-School and Summer Programs | $13,500 |
| Steadman Philippon Research Institu Vail, CO | Program Support | $10,000 |
| Independence Pass FNDT Aspen, CO | Program Support | $8,750 |
| River Bridge Regional Center Glenwood Springs, CO | General Program Support | $5,000 |
| Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers Basalt, CO | Program Support | $5,000 |
| La Puente Home Inc Alamosa, CO | Food Bank Network of the San Luis VA | $5,000 |
| Educ FNDT for the Colo Nat'l Guard Aurora, CO | Tuition Assistance Program | $5,000 |
| Bears Ears Partnership Bluff, UT | Program Support | $5,000 |
| Grand Staircase Escalante NTL MNT P Kanab, UT | Program Support | $5,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $2,585,282 | $136,720 | $183,383 | $121,500 | 29 | $126,124 | $103,774 | $118,689 |
| 2022 | $2,349,081 | $33,708 | $193,583 | $123,000 | 30 | $131,584 | $33,385 | $122,214 |
| 2021 | $2,700,166 | $682,088 | $200,215 | $128,500 | 32 | $134,499 | $642,497 | $121,049 |
| 2020 | $2,435,260 | $96,634 | $196,280 | $130,625 | 33 | — | $60,129 | $111,977 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Fred and Elli Iselin Foundation reported a distributable amount of $119K for 2023 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2023 grants include scholarship support, after-school and summer programs, program support, food assistance, and tuition assistance. The grantees describe their own work in varied ways: Aspen Youth Center provides a safe, supportive out-of-school environment for youth in grades 4–12; La Puente Home says it provides food and shelter to people experiencing homelessness and poverty; and Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers says it promotes stewardship of public lands through community education, conservation, and restoration projects. Other grantees include organizations that describe work in child advocacy, local history, animal welfare, wilderness protection, and recovery support.
Grantmaking
In 2023, the foundation awarded 29 grants totaling $121,500. Grants ranged from $500 to $20,000, with a median of $3,500. Notable awards included $20,000 to Aspen Valley Ski Club for scholarship support; $13,500 to Aspen Youth Center for after-school and summer programs; $10,000 to Steadman Philippon Research Institute for program support; and $8,750 to Independence Pass Foundation for program support. Other 2023 recipients included River Bridge Regional Center ($5,000), Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers ($5,000), La Puente Home ($5,000), and Aspen Historical Society ($4,000).
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2023 filing lists James K Daggs as president, Richard A Knezivich as secretary, and Ellen Gae Daggs and Kristen Henry as directors.
Fred and Elli Iselin Foundation is led by James K. Daggs, President on every filing since 2020; 1 of 4 officers listed in 2023 is compensated.
Officers on the 2023 filing
James K. Daggs
President
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$23K (2020) → $24K (2023)
Ellen Gae Daggs
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kristen Henry
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Richard A. Knezivich
Secretary
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2023. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2023 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2023 filing was $24K, to James K Daggs (President).
Frequently asked questions about Fred and Elli Iselin Foundation
How much does Fred and Elli Iselin Foundation give each year?
Fred and Elli Iselin Foundation gave $122K across 29 grants in 2023, according to its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2022 it gave $123K across 30 grants.
What is Fred and Elli Iselin Foundation's typical grant size?
Fred and Elli Iselin Foundation's median grant in 2023 was $3,500, and its average grant was $4,190, across 29 grants on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Fred and Elli Iselin Foundation give grants?
Fred and Elli Iselin Foundation gives mostly in Colorado: 87% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Utah (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Aspen, CO (7 grants), Glenwood Springs, CO (3 grants), Washington, DC (3 grants) and Vail, CO (2 grants).
Does Fred and Elli Iselin Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 3% of Fred and Elli Iselin Foundation's 2023 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 29) were for general or operating support, per its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (20 grants).
Who are Fred and Elli Iselin Foundation's largest grantees?
Fred and Elli Iselin Foundation's largest 2023 grantees include Aspen Valley Ski Club ($20,000), Aspen Youth Center ($13,500) and Steadman Philippon Research Institu ($10,000), according to its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 36% of its itemized 2023 grant dollars.
How large is Fred and Elli Iselin Foundation?
Fred and Elli Iselin Foundation reported $2.6M in total assets on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $126K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $119K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Fred and Elli Iselin Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2023 grants include scholarship support, after-school and summer programs, program support, food assistance, and tuition assistance. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Fred and Elli Iselin Foundation?
Applications should be submitted in writing and include proof of the applying organization’s exempt status and the precise use of proceeds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Fred and Elli Iselin Foundation's EIN?
Fred and Elli Iselin Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-2521631. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2023.
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 2020–2023
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Figures come from Fred and Elli Iselin Foundation'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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