Hunger Free Colorado logo

Hunger Free Colorado

Public charity · Grantmaker Denver, CO EIN: 68-0551464 Website

Hunger Free Colorado is a public charity based in Denver, Colorado. It connects people with food resources and works to change policies and systems to end hunger. Its work includes helping people access SNAP and other nutrition programs, supporting community-led anti-hunger efforts, and advocating for stronger food access programs.

Hunger Free Colorado at a glance

In short: Hunger Free Colorado gave $1.4M across 36 grants in 2025 (avg $38K), mostly in Colorado. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.

Annual giving (2025)
$1,356,878
-17.8% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
36
-2.7% vs 2024
Average grant
$37,691
-15.5% vs 2024
Median grant
$18,935
Total assets
$2,534,348
-20.7% vs 2024
Primary geography
Colorado (100% 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 Hunger Free Colorado

Contact

Mailing address: 3840 York St Ste 245, Denver, CO 80205
Phone: (720) 328-1284
Website: https://hungerfreecolorado.org

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Hunger Free Colorado funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Family Resource Center Assn: $260KFamily Resource Center Assn$260KColoradans for Food Justice: $150KColoradans for Food Justice$150KMile High United Way: $122KMile High United Way$122KFood Bank of Larimer County: $89KFood Bank of Larimer County$89KFood Bank of the Rockies: $87KFood Bank of the Rockies$87KAdams County Public Health: $68KAdams County Public Health$68KArapahoe County Public Health: $61KArapahoe County Public Health$61KCommunity Food Share: $54KCommunity Food Share$54KNourish Colorado: $42KNourish Colorado$42KColorado State University: $30KColorado State University$30K

The largest 2025 recipient was Family Resource Center Assn ($260K). Together the top 10 received $962K.

Grant Size Distribution

158 grants across all recorded years

112<$50K27$50–100K14$100–250K5$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 112 grants of 158 (71%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Hunger Free Colorado describes partnerships and services across the state. All grant dollars reported for 2025 went to Colorado recipients. The Kathy Underhill Scholarship Award is also statewide in Colorado.

Grant Distribution by State

1state

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 36 itemized grants.

States

Cities

DenverLakewoodDurangoAspenFort CollinsTellurideColorado SpringsLovelandArvadaCentennialGreenwood VillageLouisvilleAuroraVailBrightonBroomfieldConiferEvansSteamboat SpringsCortez

How Hunger Free Colorado gives

  • 86% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving fell 27% from 2022 to 2025. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$1M$2M$3M5 grants2019 10 grants2020 18 grants2021 29 grants2022 38 grants2023 37 grants2024 36 grants2025

From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $126K (2019) to $2.3M (2023). In 2025 it made 36 grants totaling $1.4M.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Family Resource Center Assn Denver, COSnap Outreach$259,941
Coloradans for Food Justice Denver, COSupport$150,000
Mile High United Way Denver, COSnap Outreach$122,162
Food Bank of Larimer County Loveland, COSnap Outreach$89,163
Food Bank of the Rockies Denver, COSnap Outreach$86,584
Adams County Public Health Brighton, COSnap Outreach$68,037
Arapahoe County Public Health Centennial, COSnap Outreach$60,542
Community Food Share Louisville, COSnap Outreach$53,696
Nourish Colorado Denver, COComm Org Support$42,000
Colorado State University Fort Collins, COSnap Outreach$30,357
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsNet Investment Income
2025$2,534,348$4,458,872$5,007,591$1,356,87836$36,044
2024$3,194,676$5,935,559$5,550,876$1,651,31437$68,257
2023$2,959,859$5,537,105$6,295,996$2,349,08338$28,095
2022$3,313,902$4,858,628$5,058,728$1,861,66629$52,593
2021$3,635,774$5,396,954$4,085,681$1,121,69818$90,664
2020$2,493,622$2,989,458$3,081,697$643,67610$32,255
2019$2,203,816$1,536,315$2,227,277$125,7385$45,645

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

Hunger Free Colorado’s website states its mission is to connect people to food resources to meet existing needs and drive policy, systems and social change to end hunger. Its work includes SNAP outreach and application assistance, child nutrition programs, food pantry partnerships, and advocacy to strengthen federal nutrition programs and local food systems. The organization says it provides partners with tools, training and funding for community-led anti-hunger work.

The 2025 grants include SNAP outreach, community organization support and general support. Examples include Family Resource Center Association ($259,941) and Food Bank of Larimer County ($89,163), both for SNAP outreach, and Nourish Colorado ($42,000) for community organization support. Among its grantees, Coloradans for Food Justice describes its mission as building community power so Colorado eaters can help shape a more just food system; Food Bank of the Rockies says it works to nourish people facing food insecurity; and Community Food Share says it seeks to eliminate hunger in Boulder and Broomfield counties through engagement, collaboration and leadership.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2025, Hunger Free Colorado reported 36 grants totaling $1,356,878. Awards ranged from $5,302 to $259,941, with a median of $18,935. The largest grants were $259,941 to Family Resource Center Association for SNAP outreach, $150,000 to Coloradans for Food Justice for support, $122,162 to Mile High United Way for SNAP outreach, $89,163 to Food Bank of Larimer County for SNAP outreach, and $86,584 to Food Bank of the Rockies for SNAP outreach.

The organization’s Kathy Underhill Scholarship Award is listed as currently open. It provides a $1,000 scholarship to an individual leading change in advocacy or health equity related to hunger and healthy food access. Eligible applicants must have lived in Colorado for at least one year and demonstrate recent progress toward solutions in the hunger field, community impact through social justice or health equity, and alignment with the organization’s stated values and beliefs. Funds may support coaching, conferences, classes or training, or materials and technology related to the recipient’s work. The stated geographic scope is statewide Colorado.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Adela Flores-Brennan as chair, Carmen Martin as vice chair, and Kevin Koehler as treasurer. It lists Steve Cates, Esther Fuentes, Iffie Jennings, Jessica Lay, Karim Lopez, Gaby Medina and Kevin Mitchell as members.

Hunger Free Colorado is led by Marc Jacobson, CEO since 2020 (on filings since 2019); 2 of 13 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Marc Jacobson

    CEO

    Ceo- → CEO, 2020

    On filings since 2019

    40 hrs/week

    $126K (2020) → $134K (2025)

  • Adela Flores-Brennan

    Chair

    Member → Chair, 2024

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Theo Shaw

    COO

    On filings since 2024

    40 hrs/week

    $65K (2024) → $116K (2025)

  • Jessica Johnson Lay

    Member

    Treasurer → Member, 2021

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Carmen Martin

    Vice Chair

    Member → Chair, 2022

    Chair → Vice Chair, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kevin Koehler

    Treasurer

    Member → Treasurer, 2021

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Esther Fuentes

    Member

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Gaby Medina

    Member

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Iffie Jennings

    Member

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Karim Lopez

    Member

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kevin Mitchell

    Member

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Khalid Morris

    Member

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Steve Cates

    Member

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (24)
  • Former: Martha Lassen (2022–2024) — Member
  • Former: Anne Zeckser (2019–2023) — Member
  • Former: Jana Henthorn (2019–2023) — Member
  • Former: Gretchen Gaede (2020–2023) — Secretary
  • Former: Jonathan Reinemund (2020–2023) — Member
  • Former: Katie Gigliotti (2020–2023) — Vice Chair
  • Former: Mike Ostojic (2020–2023) — Member
  • Former: Luz Valencia (2023) — Member
  • Former: Cameron Tune (2019–2022) — Member
  • Former: Lori Casillas (2020–2022) — COO
  • Former: Diane Zile (2019–2021) — Member
  • Former: Jack Arrowsmith (2019–2021) — Member
  • Former: Khanh Nguyen (2019–2021) — Member
  • Former: Marty Lassen (2019–2021) — Vice Chair
  • Former: Karen Kleiman (2020–2021) — Member
  • Former: Gwenael Hagan (2019–2020) — Chair
  • Former: Kristin Stork (2019–2020) — Member
  • Former: Lydia Kerr (2019–2020) — Member
  • Former: Susie Roh (2019–2020) — Member
  • Former: Vikki O'Neil Allen (2019–2020) — Senior Vice President
  • Former: Kathy Underhill (2019) — CEO
  • Former: Noey Congdon (2019) — Member
  • Former: Ruth Warren (2019) — Member
  • Former: Sandy Stenmark (2019) — Member

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

Marc Jacobson — CEO: $134KMarc JacobsonCEO$134KTheo Shaw — COO: $116KTheo ShawCOO$116K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $134K, to Marc Jacobson (CEO). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Frequently asked questions about Hunger Free Colorado

How much does Hunger Free Colorado give each year?

Hunger Free Colorado gave $1.4M across 36 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.7M across 37 grants.

What is Hunger Free Colorado's typical grant size?

Hunger Free Colorado's median grant in 2025 was $18,935, and its average grant was $37,691, across 36 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.

Where does Hunger Free Colorado give grants?

Hunger Free Colorado gives mostly in Colorado: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Denver, CO (14 grants), Fort Collins, CO (2 grants), Durango, CO (2 grants) and Lakewood, CO (2 grants).

Does Hunger Free Colorado give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 36 grants with a stated purpose on Hunger Free Colorado's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Snap Outreach" (33 grants).

Who are Hunger Free Colorado's largest grantees?

Hunger Free Colorado's largest 2025 grantees include Family Resource Center Assn ($259,941), Coloradans for Food Justice ($150,000) and Mile High United Way ($122,162), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 39% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Hunger Free Colorado?

Hunger Free Colorado reported $2.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $4.5M.

What does Hunger Free Colorado fund?

Hunger Free Colorado’s website states its mission is to connect people to food resources to meet existing needs and drive policy, systems and social change to end hunger. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Hunger Free Colorado?

Hunger Free Colorado has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check hungerfreecolorado.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.

What is Hunger Free Colorado's EIN?

Hunger Free Colorado's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 68-0551464. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

Data update history

(7)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 3, 2025)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 4, 2026)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 25, 2020)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS January 11, 2021)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 7, 2022)
  6. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 30, 2023)
  7. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 1, 2024)

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Hunger Free Colorado funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/hunger-free-colorado-morg_c2d6550c8de543f49310714ec983fb8d

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_680551464_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Hunger Free Colorado funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/hunger-free-colorado-morg_c2d6550c8de543f49310714ec983fb8d},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-11. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}

The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.

Figures come from Hunger Free Colorado'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.

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