Gates Family Foundation
Gates Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Denver, Colorado, focused on improving quality of life in Colorado. Established in 1946, it supports work involving education, natural resources, community development, and informed communities, and also makes capital grants for projects benefiting Colorado and its residents.
Key facts about Gates Family Foundation
In short: Gates Family Foundation gave $36.3M across 374 grants in 2025 (avg $97K), mostly in Colorado. 36% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 84-0474837
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $36,321,327
- Grants made (2025)
- 374
- Average grant
- $97,116
- Median grant
- $25,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 36% first-time grantees (119 of 329, 2025)
- Total assets
- $423,740,698
- Primary geography
- Colorado (86% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for strategic grants. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- Capital-grant applications are due March 15 for a mid-June decision and September 1 for a mid-December decision.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$423.7M
-1.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$36.3M
-2.6% YoY
Grant Count
374
+3.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$97K
-6.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Gates Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $32.6M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Gates Family Foundation open to new grantees?
36%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 119 of 329 grantees (36%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $34K; repeat grants $153K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 52% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−11%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 124% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s strategic priorities include K–12 public education, natural resources, community development, and informed communities. Its stated strategies include improving the quality and equity of Colorado’s public education system; stewardship of land and water resources; strengthening urban and rural communities; and work related to informed communities. Capital grants cover a broader range of community needs, including arts and culture, education, natural resources, parks and recreation, community development, and the well-being of children, youth, and families.
The Foundation supports nonprofit and community organizations through capital grants and works with strategic partners on longer-term goals. Examples of grantees’ work include the University of Colorado Foundation, which says it receives, manages, and invests gift funds for the benefit of the University of Colorado; LYRA, which says it incubates and accelerates education initiatives; and River Network, which says it strengthens a network of water, justice, and river advocates.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the Foundation reported 374 grants totaling $36,321,327. Grants ranged from $2,000 to $20 million, with a median of $25,000. Recent totals were $37,294,380 across 360 grants in 2024 and $41,118,891 across 372 grants in 2023.
Review Cycle
Capital-grant applications are due March 15 for a mid-June decision and September 1 for a mid-December decision. The Foundation asks applicants to submit proposals at least 12 weeks before the relevant board meeting.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Gates Family Foundation
Ready to take the next step with Gates Family Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation describes itself as Colorado-focused and invests in capital projects in both rural and urban areas of the state. In 2025, 86% of grant dollars went to recipients in Colorado; other reported recipient states included New Hampshire (6%), California (2%), and Arizona (1%), with 1% going to recipients in Washington, DC.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 374 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $21.7M (2020) to $41.1M (2023). In 2025 it made 374 grants totaling $36.3M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was University of Colorado Foundation ($20.3M across 6 grants). Together the top 10 received $25.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
1,750 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1,257 grants of 1,750 (72%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Colorado Foundation Denver, CO | Project Support | $20,000,000 |
| Cardigan Mountain School Canaan, NH | Endowment | $2,000,000 |
| Lyra Denver, CO | Project Support | $550,000 |
| Rooted Denver, CO | Operating | $400,000 |
| Rose Community Foundation Denver, CO | Project Support | $383,333 |
| Colorado Schools Fund Denver, CO | Project Support | $300,000 |
| River Network Boulder, CO | Project Support | $250,000 |
| Colorado Water Trust Inc Denver, CO | Project Support | $200,000 |
| Elevation Community Land Trust Denver, CO | Project Support | $200,000 |
| Rio Grande Headwaters Land Tr a Col Del Norte, CO | Land Purchase | $200,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Grant total | Number of grants |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $36,321,327 | 374 |
| 2024 | $37,294,380 | 360 |
| 2023 | $41,118,891 | 372 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $423,740,698 | $430,884,754 | $441,371,041 |
| Revenue | $33,859,013 | $31,566,822 | $29,077,917 |
| Expenses | $40,998,255 | $41,769,199 | $45,952,628 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $40,576,486 | $43,783,903 | $46,547,236 |
| Net Investment Income | $34,277,017 | $33,076,277 | $26,716,927 |
| Distributable Amount | $32,633,943 | $31,402,064 | $28,515,090 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 13, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 8, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 5, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 23, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 17, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Richard G. Kiely as chair, Lauren Davis as vice chair, Wesley Brown as treasurer, and Dane Harbaugh, Virginia C. Bayless, Rosemary Rodriguez, and Ernest House as trustees. It also lists Thomas A. Gougeon as president and Leslie Sabin as “VP Impact In.”
Gates Family Foundation is led by Thomas A. Gougeon, President & S since 2022 (on filings since 2020); 2 of 9 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Thomas A. Gougeon
President & S
President & Secretary → President & S, 2022
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$357K (2020) → $383K (2025)
Richard G. Kiely
Chair
New on the 2025 filing
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dane Harbaugh
Trustee
Chair → Trustee, 2023
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rosemary Rodriguez
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Virginia C. Bayless
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ernest House
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Leslie Sabin
Vice President Impact in
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$113K (2024) → $240K (2025)
Lauren Davis
Vice Chair
Trustee → Vice Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Wesley Brown
Treasurer
Trustee → Treasurer, 2021
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (6)
- Former: Richard G. Keily (2021–2024) — Chair
- Former: Richard C. Celeste (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Susan N. Dorsey (2020–2023) — Senior Vice President Impac
- Former: Marshall C. Wallach (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Wally Obermeyer (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Doris J Biester (2020) — Treasurer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $383K, to Thomas a Gougeon (President, S). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Application contact: Na
Mailing address: N/A, NA, CO 80204
Phone: (303) 722-1881
Email: www.gatesfamilyfoundation.org
Website: https://gatesfamilyfoundation.org
Frequently asked questions about Gates Family Foundation
How much does Gates Family Foundation give each year?
Gates Family Foundation gave $36.3M across 374 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $37.3M across 360 grants.
What is Gates Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Gates Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $97,116, across 374 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Gates Family Foundation that year got $34K on average.
Where does Gates Family Foundation give grants?
Gates Family Foundation gives mostly in Colorado: 86% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New Hampshire (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Denver, CO (101 grants), Long Beach, CA (16 grants), Steamboat Springs, CO (15 grants) and Honolulu, HI (14 grants).
Does Gates Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 28% of Gates Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (105 of 374) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Project Support" (137 grants), "Construction" (48 grants) and "Renovation" (36 grants).
Who are Gates Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Gates Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include University of Colorado Foundation ($20,290,000 across 6 grants), Cardigan Mountain School ($2,000,000) and Lyra ($550,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 63% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Gates Family Foundation?
Gates Family Foundation reported $423.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $40.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $32.6M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Gates Family Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s strategic priorities include K–12 public education, natural resources, community development, and informed communities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Gates Family Foundation?
The Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for strategic grants. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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 2020–2025.
Does Gates Family Foundation 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.
Here's the math on researching Gates Family Foundation by hand.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Gates Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
El Pomar Foundation
Colorado Springs, CO
El Pomar Foundation funds Colorado nonprofits and government agencies, with emphasis on arts and culture, civic and community initiatives, education, health, and human services; it supports operating, program, and capital needs statewide. Typical grants are $2,500–$10,000 for operating or program support and $15,000–$25,000 for capital projects. It accepts unsolicited applications on a rolling basis.
Assets
$468.2M
Grants
1
Total Given
$20.4M
Gary Philanthropy
Denver, CO
Gary Philanthropy funds Colorado organizations and public or intermediary partners working to improve outcomes for children and families, including school readiness and after-school and summer enrichment; school readiness has a stated focus on Adams, Arapahoe, Denver, and Jefferson counties. Its active enrichment grant offers up to $40,000, and it issues a request for proposals once a year. It welcomes opportunities to connect with aligned organizations, but the profile does not say whether it accepts unsolicited grant requests.
Assets
$191.2M
Grants
1
Total Given
$5.6M
Western Union Foundation
Denver, CO
The Western Union Foundation, which closed at the end of 2025, funded workforce readiness, education, job creation, and economic opportunity programs, including support for migrants and displaced people. Its 2024 grants ranged from $50,000 to $500,000, with a median of about $125,000, and went to organizations in multiple U.S. states and around the world. It accepted only requests from preselected organizations and did not accept unsolicited applications.
Assets
$1.9M
Grants
21
Total Given
$3.9M
Kenneth Kendal King Foundation
Denver, CO
The Kenneth Kendal King Foundation funds Colorado nonprofits serving Colorado residents, focusing on entrepreneurship and job creation, removing barriers to employment, and general support that advances self-sufficiency and quality of life. In 2025, grants ranged from $2,500 to $75,000, with a median of $25,000; applications are by invitation only, so it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$35.0M
Grants
115
Total Given
$2.9M
The Colorado Health Foundation
Denver, CO
The Colorado Health Foundation funds Colorado organizations working to improve health and health equity, including projects in primary care, housing, recovery, advocacy, and community solutions; it offers project, operating, capacity-building, and capital support. Its 2024 grants had a median of $80,000, though awards ranged widely, and its work is statewide, with 96% of 2024 grant dollars going to Colorado recipients. Applicants must apply through an open funding opportunity; the profile does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$2.9B
Grants
684
Total Given
$102.2M
Caring for Colorado Centennial Fund
Denver, CO
The fund supports Colorado organizations advancing health, well-being, and opportunity for young people and families, including community health, youth development, and reproductive health programs. Its 2025 grants ranged from $6,097 to $200,000, with a median of $50,000; it primarily funds work in Colorado. The website says there are currently no open funding opportunities, so unsolicited requests are not currently invited.
Assets
$30.9M
Grants
73
Total Given
$4.5M
Rose Community Foundation
Denver, CO
Rose Community Foundation funds nonprofits in the seven-county Greater Denver region across Jewish life, education and economic opportunity, health, and community wellbeing, with some statewide initiatives. Its 2024 itemized grants ranged from $5,050 to $1,348,353, with a median of $25,000; it accepts inquiries for listed funding opportunities, but whether it accepts unsolicited requests generally is not stated.
Assets
$399.6M
Grants
531
Total Given
$27.8M
Colorado Gives Foundation
Arvada, CO
Colorado Gives Foundation funds nonprofits serving Jefferson County, Colorado, with priorities including essential needs, housing, food security, education, workforce development, health, and connected neighborhoods. Its 2024 median grant was $17,814; current opportunities offer $2,500–$100,000 for responsive support and $5,000–$25,000 for housing. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$527.1M
Grants
2,211
Total Given
$91.0M
The Denver Foundation
Denver, CO
The Denver Foundation supports community organizations working on economic opportunity, climate and environment, housing, youth well-being, and related charitable work, with racial equity guiding its grantmaking. Its Community Grants typically award $20,000–$50,000 to organizations serving the seven-county Metro Denver region; other funds have different award levels and may support work beyond the region.
Assets
$1.3B
Grants
1,184
Total Given
$131.7M
Community Foundation Boulder County
Boulder, CO
Community Foundation Boulder County funds nonprofits working in areas including health and human services, education, environment, arts and culture, animal welfare, civic engagement, and support for Latino, LGBTQ+, and Veterans communities, with grants focused on Boulder County or its residents. Its 2024 grants had a median of $16,480; Community Trust grants are typically $3,000–$9,000. The profile does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$95.9M
Grants
281
Total Given
$14.1M
Mile High United Way Inc
Denver, CO
Mile High United Way funds nonprofits addressing basic needs, early childhood education, youth development, education, and economic opportunity, primarily across Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, and Jefferson counties in Colorado. Its Strategic Investment Grants typically range from $10,000 to $200,000. The profile describes a competitive application process but does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$80.2M
Grants
314
Total Given
$24.3M
Caring for Colorado Foundation
Denver, CO
Caring for Colorado Foundation funds Colorado organizations and public agencies working to improve health, well-being, and opportunity for young people and families, with a focus on youth ages 9–25 and communities facing health inequities. Its 2025 grants had a median of $60,000; its Youth Health and Well-Being awards are listed at $25,000–$125,000.
Assets
$253.5M
Grants
126
Total Given
$13.5M
More Funders in Colorado
Gates Family Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?