Galen and Ada Belle Spencer Foundation
The Galen and Ada Belle Spencer Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) foundation established in 1982 and incorporated in May 1983. Located in Denver, Colorado, the foundation is a grantmaking organization that honors the philanthropic interests of its founders through charitable giving to organizations across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.8M
-3.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$341K
-5.5% YoY
Grant Count
19
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$18K
-5.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Galen and Ada Belle Spencer Foundation reported a distributable amount of $256K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation honors the Spencers' primary interests in music and community through grants to vocal music organizations, vocal music education, and other broad community efforts. The foundation primarily focuses on:
- Arts & Culture (58% of giving): Support for opera companies and related organizations, vocal music programs
- Education (approximately 20% of giving): Vocal music education at higher education institutions, young persons' musical training and interests
- Health & Social Services (13% of giving): Community organizations and social service providers
Specific areas of interest include opera companies, vocal music education programs, organizations supporting young musicians, and various community charitable efforts.
Grantmaking
Review Cycle
is September 30.
How to Apply
** The foundation does not accept applications directly. Organizations must be pre-selected by the foundation, and there is no formal application process. The deadline is September 30.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
97% of grants remain in Colorado. The foundation has historically supported Colorado organizations including the Central City Opera House Association, Colorado Opera Festival, Denver Lyric Opera Guild, Rocky Mountain District Regional Auditions, vocal music programs at Colorado College and University of Colorado, the Lamont School of Music at University of Denver, Young Musicians' Foundation of Colorado, Jefferson Symphony Association, Art Student League of Denver, Denver Rescue Mission, and Denver Zoological Foundation.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending June 2024:
- Total Assets: $3,924,196
- Total Revenues: $611,696
- Total Expenses: $400,306
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Investment Income and Dividends: $123,159
- Net Gain from Sale of Non-Inventory Assets: $481,655
Staffing: 0 employees
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,797,562 | $3,924,196 | $3,712,806 |
| Revenue | $265,903 | $611,696 | $139,617 |
| Expenses | $393,345 | $400,306 | $339,036 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $340,500 | $360,500 | $300,500 |
| Net Investment Income | $229,307 | $577,200 | $106,178 |
| Distributable Amount | $256,191 | $244,801 | $243,852 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
92 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Girls Scouts of Colorado ($50,000), Central City Opera House Association ($45,000), The Eating Disorder Foundation ($45,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ART STUDENTS LEAGUE OF DENVER DENVER, CO | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS | $5,000 |
| BAYAUD ENTERPRISES INC DENVER, CO | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS | $10,000 |
| BUNTPORT THEATRE DENVER, CO | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS | $6,000 |
| CENTRAL CITY OPERA HOUSE ASSOCIATION DENVER, CO | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS | $45,000 |
| COLORADO CHILDREN'S CHORALE DENVER, CO | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS | $5,000 |
| DENVER CHILDREN'S CHOIR DENVER, CO | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS | $10,000 |
| DENVER LYRIC OPERA GUILD ENGLEWOOD, CO | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS | $10,000 |
| GIRLS SCOUTS OF COLORADO DENVER, CO | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS | $50,000 |
| HAVERN SCHOOL LITTLETON, CO | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS | $25,000 |
| JUDI'S HOUSE JAG INSTITUTE AURORA, CO | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Thomas P. Kearns – President
- John Silver – Director
- John K Weck Baught – Director
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| THOMAS P KEARNS | DIRECTOR, PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| JOHN K WECKBAUGH | DIRECTOR, FIRST | 0.5 | — |
| JOHN J SILVER | DIRECTOR, SECOND | 0.5 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Galen and Ada Belle Spencer Foundation fund?
The foundation honors the Spencers' primary interests in music and community through grants to vocal music organizations, vocal music education, and other broad community efforts. The foundation primarily focuses on: • **Arts & Culture** (58% of giving): Support for opera companies and related organizations, vocal music programs • **Education** (approximately 20% of giving): Vocal music education at higher education institutions, young persons' musical training and interests • **Health & Social…
How do I apply for a grant from Galen and Ada Belle Spencer Foundation?
**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $3,000 to $70,000. **Recent Grants (2024):** • Havern School: $70,000 • Girl Scouts of Colorado: $45,000 • The Eating Disorder Foundation: $45,000 • Opera Colorado: $40,000 • University of Denver Lamont School of Music: $25,000 • University of Colorado Foundation: $10,000 **Total Giving:** $300,500–$340,500 annually (recent years) **Application Process:** The foundation does not accept applications directly. Organizations must be pre-selected by the …
Where does Galen and Ada Belle Spencer Foundation make grants?
97% of grants remain in Colorado. The foundation has historically supported Colorado organizations including the Central City Opera House Association, Colorado Opera Festival, Denver Lyric Opera Guild, Rocky Mountain District Regional Auditions, vocal music programs at Colorado College and University of Colorado, the Lamont School of Music at University of Denver, Young Musicians' Foundation of Colorado, Jefferson Symphony Association, Art Student League of Denver, Denver Rescue Mission, and De…
What size grants does Galen and Ada Belle Spencer Foundation award?
In 2025, Galen and Ada Belle Spencer Foundation awarded 19 grants totaling $341K — an average of about $18K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Galen and Ada Belle Spencer Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Galen and Ada Belle Spencer Foundation reported a distributable amount of $256K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Galen and Ada Belle Spencer Foundation's EIN?
Galen and Ada Belle Spencer Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-2259763. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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