Friends of Football Inc
Friends of Football Inc is a private foundation based in Pueblo, Colorado. Its 2021 filing is marked as its final return; the organization said it would transfer its assets and functions to the Colorado State University Pueblo Foundation and terminate. It appears to have wound down, so the filing’s application policy should not be treated as current.
Friends of Football Inc at a glance
In short: Friends of Football Inc gave $5.8M across 10 grants in 2021 (avg $583K), mostly in Colorado. Source: 2021 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2021)
- $5,828,674
- +7179.6% vs 2020
- Grants made (2021)
- 10
- +100.0% vs 2020
- Average grant
- $582,867
- +3539.8% vs 2020
- Median grant
- $3,650
- Primary geography
- Colorado (100% of itemized 2021 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2021 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2021; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Friends of Football Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation stated that it made contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Because its 2021 filing is marked as final, this policy should not be treated as current.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 606, Pueblo, CO 81002
Phone: (719) 546-3333
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Friends of Football Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2021
The largest 2021 recipient was CSU Pueblo Foundation ($5.8M across 2 grants). Together the top 9 received $5.8M.
Grant Size Distribution
23 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 19 grants of 23 (83%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All reported 2021 grant dollars went to recipients in Colorado. Listed recipients included organizations in Pueblo, Pueblo West, and Aurora.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2021 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2021, annual grant giving ranged from $80K (2020) to $5.8M (2021). In 2021 it made 10 grants totaling $5.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CSU Pueblo Foundation Pueblo, CO | Promote Football | $5,639,804 |
| CSU Pueblo Foundation Pueblo, CO | Promote Youth Football | $119,920 |
| Co High School Atheletics Assn Aurora, CO | Promote Youth Football | $40,050 |
| CSU-Pueblo Athletics Pueblo, CO | Promote Youth Football | $15,000 |
| Pueblo East High School Pueblo, CO | Promote Youth Football | $5,650 |
| Pueblo West High School Pueblo West, CO | Promote Youth Football | $1,650 |
| Pueblo Centennial High School Pueblo, CO | Promote Youth Football | $1,650 |
| Pueblo Central High School Pueblo, CO | Promote Youth Football | $1,650 |
| Pueblo County High School Pueblo, CO | Promote Youth Football | $1,650 |
| Pueblo South High School Pueblo, CO | Promote Youth Football | $1,650 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
2021 grant amounts ranged from $1,650 to $5,639,804, with a median of $3,650.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | — | $209,272 | $6,158,526 | $5,828,674 | 10 | $5,828,674 |
| 2020 | $6,074,254 | $99,866 | $599,854 | $80,069 | 5 | — |
| 2019 | $6,574,242 | $217,091 | $704,180 | $164,337 | 8 | — |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization said it was formed in 2009 to establish and promote a foundation for developing youth football in Pueblo. Its filing describes support for Colorado State University Pueblo programs in men’s football, men’s wrestling, and women’s track and field, as well as local and state youth football programs.
Grantmaking
In 2021, the foundation reported 10 grants totaling $5,828,674. Grant amounts ranged from $1,650 to $5,639,804, with a median of $3,650.
The largest grant was $5,639,804 to CSU Pueblo Foundation to promote football. Other grants included $119,920 to the foundation for youth football, $40,050 to the Colorado High School Athletics Association for youth football, and $15,000 to CSU-Pueblo Athletics for youth football. The remaining listed grants went to Pueblo-area high schools for youth football.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2021 filing listed Dan E. DeRose as president and Robert L. Root as treasurer.
Friends of Football Inc is led by Dan E. Derose, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 2 officers listed in 2021 report compensation.
Officers on the 2021 filing
Dan E. Derose
President
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert L. Root
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2021. "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 Friends of Football Inc
How much does Friends of Football Inc give each year?
Friends of Football Inc gave $5.8M across 10 grants in 2021, according to its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2020 it gave $80K across 5 grants.
What is Friends of Football Inc's typical grant size?
Friends of Football Inc's median grant in 2021 was $3,650, and its average grant was $582,867, across 10 grants on its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Friends of Football Inc give grants?
Friends of Football Inc gives mostly in Colorado: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Pueblo, CO (8 grants).
Does Friends of Football Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2021: none of the 10 grants with a stated purpose on Friends of Football Inc's 2021 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Promote Youth Football" (9 grants).
Who are Friends of Football Inc's largest grantees?
Friends of Football Inc's largest 2021 grantees include CSU Pueblo Foundation ($5,759,724 across 2 grants), Co High School Atheletics Assn ($40,050) and CSU-Pueblo Athletics ($15,000), according to its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF.
What does Friends of Football Inc fund?
The organization said it was formed in 2009 to establish and promote a foundation for developing youth football in Pueblo. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Friends of Football Inc?
The foundation stated that it made 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 Friends of Football Inc's EIN?
Friends of Football Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-4716858. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2021.
Does Friends of Football Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 15, 2020)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2021
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Figures come from Friends of Football 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.
Friends of Football Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?