Global Down Syndrome Foundation
To significantly improve the lives of people with down syndrome through research, medical care, education and advocacy. An important part of this mission is to support the global affiliate organizations that we helped establish and continue to fundraise for. Global and our affiliates work together to elongate life and dramatically improve health outcomes to ensure people with the condition can reach their true potential. Global affiliates include: crnic institute for down syndrome, alzheimer's & cognition center, sie center for down syndrome, and global adult clinic. Another important part of our mission is to engage in government advocacy that leads to transformative increases in government funding for down syndrome research and medical care which in turn will create a pipeline of young talent dedicated to this population. Because of global's work, scientists are developing better methods to understand how the triplication leads to a much higher incidence of certain diseases (for exam
Global Down Syndrome Foundation at a glance
In short: Global Down Syndrome Foundation gave $729K across 4 grants in 2025 (avg $182K), mostly in Colorado. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $729,464
- +33.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 4
- -42.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $182,366
- +134.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $111,232
- Total assets
- $8,688,920
- +0.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Colorado (69% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Global Down Syndrome Foundation
Open Grants
4 open opportunities from Global Down Syndrome Foundation
Employment Awards Grant
Global Down Syndrome Foundation
Amount
Up to US $2,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Global Down Syndrome Educational Grants
Global Down Syndrome Foundation
Amount
Up to $15,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Global Down Syndrome Foundation- Education Awards Grant
Global Down Syndrome Foundation
Amount
US $5,000 - US $10,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Global Down Syndrome Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was University of Colorado Foundation ($500K). Together the top 4 received $729K.
Grant Size Distribution
24 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 19 grants of 24 (79%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Global Down Syndrome Foundation gives
- Giving grew 908% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $72K (2022) to $729K (2025). In 2025 it made 4 grants totaling $729K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Colorado Foundation Denver, CO | Education | $500,000 |
| 5K and Under Grants | — | $214,464 |
| Black Down Syndrome Association Fortville, IN | Education | $8,000 |
| Gold Coast Down Syndrome Organizati Boca Raton, FL | Education | $7,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Global Down Syndrome Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $8,688,920 | $4,716,290 | $4,697,476 | $729,464 | 4 | $192,089 |
| 2024 | $8,646,012 | $4,313,796 | $4,670,703 | $545,000 | 7 | $228,054 |
| 2023 | $9,055,430 | $3,826,365 | $3,562,334 | $500,000 | 1 | $137,405 |
| 2022 | $8,604,160 | $946,045 | $1,207,187 | $72,400 | 10 | $-2,598 |
| 2021 | $8,253,735 | $3,228,128 | $2,669,185 | $510,500 | 2 | $13,188 |
| 2020 | $7,860,291 | $3,586,993 | $2,924,422 | $511,000 | 3 | $23,816 |
| 2019 | $7,622,270 | $3,703,167 | $3,329,779 | $578,567 | 12 | $29,182 |
About Global Down Syndrome Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Global Down Syndrome Foundation is a public charity focused on Health, based in Denver, CO. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $8.7M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 4 grants totaling $729K. Net investment income was $192K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Global Down Syndrome Foundation is led by Michelle Sie Whitten, President An since 2022 (on filings since 2019); 1 of 12 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Michelle Sie Whitten
President An
Director & President → President An, 2022
On filings since 2019
20 hrs/week
$116K (2019) → $155K (2025)
John J. Sie
Chair
On filings since 2019
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jay Mills
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John C. McGinley
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ricki Rest
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tomago Collins
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Charlie Monfort
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Frank Stephens
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jamie Nielsen
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Peter Kudla
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mary Beth Wallingford
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Richard Waysdorf
Secretary
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Anna M. Sie (2019–2024) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 $155K, to Michelle Sie Whitten (President an).
Frequently asked questions about Global Down Syndrome Foundation
How much does Global Down Syndrome Foundation give each year?
Global Down Syndrome Foundation gave $729K across 4 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $545K across 7 grants.
What is Global Down Syndrome Foundation's typical grant size?
Global Down Syndrome Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $111,232, and its average grant was $182,366, across 4 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Global Down Syndrome Foundation give grants?
Global Down Syndrome Foundation gives mostly in Colorado: 69% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there.
Does Global Down Syndrome Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 3 grants with a stated purpose on Global Down Syndrome Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Education" (3 grants).
How large is Global Down Syndrome Foundation?
Global Down Syndrome Foundation reported $8.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $4.7M.
What is Global Down Syndrome Foundation?
Global Down Syndrome Foundation is a public charity focused on Health, based in Denver, CO. It holds $8.7M in total assets as of 2025.
What is Global Down Syndrome Foundation's EIN?
Global Down Syndrome Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-4431001. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS September 3, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 23, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 2, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 27, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 12, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS December 12, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS January 21, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Global Down Syndrome Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Colorado Gives Foundation
Arvada, CO
Colorado Gives Foundation funds nonprofits serving Jefferson County in areas including food security, early care and education, workforce development, housing, health and convenient neighborhoods; it also offers statewide nonprofit capacity-building support. Typical giving varies widely: its 2024 median grant was $17,814, while Thriving Jeffco Responsive Grant awards ranged from $2,500 to $100,000. It accepts applications through listed grant opportunities, but whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$527.1M
Grants
2,211
Total Given
$91.0M
The Denver Foundation
Denver, CO
The Denver Foundation supports nonprofits working in economic opportunity, environment and climate, housing, and youth well-being, with an emphasis on racial equity and historically underserved communities in the seven-county Metro Denver region. Its Community Grants typically range from $20,000 to $50,000; the 2024 median across reported grants was $26,500. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.3B
Grants
1,184
Total Given
$131.7M
Daniels Fund
Denver, CO
The Daniels Fund supports nonprofits working in aging, amateur sports, disabilities, addiction, early childhood and K–12 education, homelessness, and youth development. Its 2024 grants had a median of about $14,000, primarily for organizations in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming; select national-impact programs are also eligible, by invitation only.
Assets
$1.4B
Grants
1,593
Total Given
$69.7M
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Saint Louis, MO
The Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports charitable and educational nonprofits in communities where Enterprise Mobility operates, focusing on health, education, arts, and disaster relief; applicants must be actively supported by an Enterprise Mobility team member, spouse, or domestic partner. Giving varies widely: it reported 9,499 grants in 2024, but its 2025 filing showed one grant of $101.4 million, so that amount is not a typical award. Applications are accepted at any time through eligible Enterprise-affiliated applicants; the Foundation does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$594.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$101.4M
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
Ima Foundation
Wichita, KS
Assets
$11.4M
Grants
602
Total Given
$831K
More similar funders
More Funders in Colorado
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Global Down Syndrome 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.
Global Down Syndrome Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?