Gates Family Foundation
The Gates Family Foundation is a private, independent foundation headquartered in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1946, it is one of Colorado's oldest private foundations and operates as a 501(c)(3) organization. The foundation is committed to advancing long-term quality of life for all Coloradans through strategic philanthropic investments.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$430.9M
-2.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$37.3M
-9.3% YoY
Grant Count
360
-3.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$104K
-6.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Gates Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $31.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Gates Family Foundation invests in Colorado-based projects and organizations with meaningful impact that enhance quality of life for those visiting, working, and living in the state. The foundation seeks to promote self-sufficiency, excellence, and innovation across four primary areas:
- Educational Equity — Supporting excellence and innovation in education
- Vibrant and Sustainable Communities — Community enrichment and development
- Natural Resources Stewardship — Connection to nature and stewardship of Colorado's natural inheritance
- Informed Communities — Supporting civic capacity and informed decision-making
The foundation's actions remain consistent with the founders' intentions and the principles of citizenship, entrepreneurship, and free enterprise.
Grantmaking
The foundation has made over $384 million in philanthropic investments since 1946. Recent grantmaking activity shows:
Grant Range
** $25,000
Grant Types
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds exclusively in Colorado, with particular emphasis on rural and low-income areas and communities of color throughout the state.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $430.9 million
- Total Revenues: $31.6 million
- Total Expenses: $41.8 million
- Total Giving: $41.1 million (2023)
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $441.4 million
- Total Liabilities: $9,190
- Revenue: $29.1 million
- Expenses: $46 million
Staffing: The foundation employs 7-12 staff members (figures vary by source and reporting period).
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $430,884,754 | $441,371,041 | $458,247,303 |
| Revenue | $31,566,822 | $29,077,917 | $68,267,243 |
| Expenses | $41,769,199 | $45,952,628 | $45,488,457 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $43,783,903 | $46,547,236 | $47,047,208 |
| Net Investment Income | $33,076,277 | $26,716,927 | $70,679,843 |
| Distributable Amount | $31,402,064 | $28,515,090 | $30,009,479 |
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Gates Family Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include University of Colorado Foundation ($20,000,000), University of Denver ($2,150,000), North Park Fire Rescue Authority ($750,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| STRINGS MUSIC FESTIVAL STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO | UNRESTRICTED | $20,000 |
| ROUTT COUNTY SEARCH AND RESCUE INC STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO | UNRESTRICTED | $15,000 |
| YAMPA VALLEY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO | UNRESTRICTED | $20,000 |
| OPERA STEAMBOAT STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO | UNRESTRICTED | $15,000 |
| STEAMBOAT ART MUSEUM STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO | UNRESTRICTED | $20,000 |
| STEAMBOAT HEALTH & RECREATION ASSOC STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO | UNRESTRICTED | $15,000 |
| THE NEW HORIZONS FOUNDATION INC COLORADO SPRINGS, CO | UNRESTRICTED | $25,000 |
| TREAD OF PIONEERS HISTORICAL COMMIS STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO | UNRESTRICTED | $25,000 |
| BORN FREE WILDLIFE REHABILITATION STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO | UNRESTRICTED | $25,000 |
| STEAMBOAT READING INC STEAMBOAT, CO | UNRESTRICTED | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board & Executive Leadership:
- Richard G. Keily — Chair
- Lauren Davis — Vice Chair
- Wesley Brown — Treasurer
- Thomas A. Gougeon — President
- Leslie Sabin — Vice President for Finance
- Susan N. Dorsey — Senior Vice President, Impact
- Melissa Milios — Vice President, Informed Communities
- Russell Ramsey — Vice President, Education
- Cris Gonzalez-Avram — Director, Learning
- Ana Soler — Senior Program Officer
- Lisa Rucker — Senior Program Officer
Trustees: Dane Harbaugh, Virginia C. Bayless, Rosemary Rodriguez, Ernest House
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DANE HARBAUGH | TRUSTEE | 1.5 | — |
| LAUREN DAVIS | VICE CHAIR | 1.5 | — |
| WESLEY BROWN | TREASURER | 1.5 | — |
| RICHARD G KEILY | CHAIR | 1.5 | — |
| VIRGINIA C BAYLESS | TRUSTEE | 1.5 | — |
| ROSEMARY RODRIQUEZ | TRUSTEE | 1.5 | — |
| ERNEST HOUSE | TRUSTEE | 1.5 | — |
| THOMAS A GOUGEON | PRESIDENT, S | 40 | $382,559 |
| LESLIE SABIN | VP IMPACT IN | 40 | $112,705 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Gates Family Foundation announced support for 32 RISE Fund grantees, sharing over $40 million to innovate and transform public education in Colorado. The foundation continues to actively accept applications for its Capital Grants Program and Public Leadership Fellowship, with rolling deadlines throughout the year.
Gates Salutes 32 RISE Fund Grantees Sharing Over $40 Million to InnovateSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Gates Family Foundation fund?
The Gates Family Foundation invests in Colorado-based projects and organizations with meaningful impact that enhance quality of life for those visiting, working, and living in the state. The foundation seeks to promote self-sufficiency, excellence, and innovation across four primary areas: • **Educational Equity** — Supporting excellence and innovation in education • **Vibrant and Sustainable Communities** — Community enrichment and development • **Natural Resources Stewardship** — Connection t…
How do I apply for a grant from Gates Family Foundation?
The foundation has made over $384 million in philanthropic investments since 1946. Recent grantmaking activity shows: • **360 grants** documented in recent filings • **Median grant size:** $25,000 • **Grant range:** $2,000 to $20 million • **2024 total giving:** $32,378,326 (based on available grant data) The foundation offers multiple grant programs: • **Capital Grants Program** — For building purchases, construction, expansion, renovation, and land acquisition. The foundation prioritizes proj…
Where does Gates Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds exclusively in Colorado, with particular emphasis on rural and low-income areas and communities of color throughout the state.
What size grants does Gates Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Gates Family Foundation awarded 360 grants totaling $37.3M — an average of about $104K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Gates Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Gates Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $31.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Gates Family Foundation's EIN?
Gates Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-0474837. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Gates Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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