The LARRK Foundation is a private family foundation established in 2009 and based in Denver, Colorado. As a 501(c)(3) organization, it operates as a grantmaking foundation dedicated to supporting nonprofit organizations that serve vulnerable youth in the Denver metropolitan area and beyond.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$13.9M
-0.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.0M
+10.5% YoY
Grant Count
41
+7.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$25K
+2.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, LARRK Foundation reported a distributable amount of $674K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: The LARRK Foundation supports nonprofit organizations that help under-resourced children and adolescents obtain a high-quality education that provides access to excellent behavioral and mental health services and prepares them for post-secondary success.
Core Philosophy: The foundation believes early intervention is the key to staying ahead of future challenges and uses intervention as the best form of prevention.
Primary Focus Areas:
Education: Support for K-12 students with emphasis on early childhood education and career-connected learning. The foundation believes Denver's students deserve the opportunity to thrive and that enhancing education and well-being early helps unlock their full potential.
Mental Health: Investment in mental health programs with focus on early diagnosis and treatment of emerging mental health struggles. The foundation views mental health as the cornerstone to a healthy society.
Cultural Institutions: Support for Denver's arts and cultural institutions, recognizing their value to the community and all residents and visitors.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$10,000
Average Grant
$109 (based on historical data)
How to Apply
** The foundation indicates it is "preselected only," meaning organizations must be invited or pre-selected to apply. The foundation is open to new applicants, with approximately 12% of new applicants funded.
Ready to take the next step with LARRK Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The LARRK Foundation primarily serves the Denver metropolitan area. The foundation also supports organizations in:
- Rural Colorado
- California
- Kansas
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- Texas
- Washington, D.C.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2023):
- Total Assets: $14 million
- Annual Revenue: $1.18 million
- Annual Expenses: $879,000
- Total Liabilities: $2.56 million
Financial Metrics:
- Expense Ratio: 74.6% of total revenue spent on programs
- Asset growth of 2.6% from previous year
Tax Status: Tax-exempt since December 2009; EIN 26-3818473
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $13,890,422 | $13,963,485 | $13,858,025 |
| Revenue | $1,072,272 | $1,178,177 | $996,697 |
| Expenses | $1,454,004 | $878,555 | $1,348,226 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,027,697 | $929,675 | $991,800 |
| Net Investment Income | $980,406 | $1,079,820 | $898,485 |
| Distributable Amount | $673,716 | $665,344 | $704,929 |
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
137 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Kent Denver School ($150,000), Western Stock Show Association ($130,000), University of Denver Graduate Schoo ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Family Legacy Missions Internationa Irving, TX | General Support | $1,224 |
| Mile High Early Learning Denver, CO | General Support | $10,000 |
| University of Denver Graduate Schoo Denver, CO | General Support | $100,000 |
| Art Students League of Denver Denver, CO | General Support | $15,000 |
| Cottonwood Institute Denver, CO | General Support | $15,000 |
| Daraja Education Fund San Rafael, CA | General Support | $25,000 |
| Girls Athletic Leadership School of Denver, CO | General Support | $10,000 |
| Highline Canal Conservancy Centennial, CO | General Support | $50,000 |
| Invest in Kids Denver, CO | General Support | $15,000 |
| Lifespan Local Denver, CO | General Support | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Louisa Craft Jornayvaz – President & Secretary
- Wendell Fleming – Executive Director (40 hours/week, compensation of $142,162)
- Robert Jornayvaz III – President (mentioned in financial records)
The foundation maintains a small but dedicated staff structure.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisa Craft Jornayvaz | Presid & Secret | 1 | — |
| Wendell Fleming | Executive Dir. | 40 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The LARRK Foundation has demonstrated active grantmaking in recent years, with notable support for:
LARRK Foundation Gives $1M for Perinatal to Five Mental Health | University**St. Vrain Valley Schools:** Multi-year funding beginning in 2020 supporting transformative initiatives including the Innovation Center (offering technical job skills in emerging fields like virtual reality, neuroscience, and bio-engineering) and the Leadership Institute for Transformative Development (a program providing immersive experiences for educators nationwide).
**University of Denver:** A $1 million grant supporting perinatal to five mental health initiatives.
LARRK Foundation Gives $1M for Perinatal to Five Mental Health | UniversityThe foundation continues to expand its impact through strategic partnerships with grantees and maintains active engagement with organizations pursuing its mission of supporting Denver's youth.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does LARRK Foundation fund?
**Mission:** The LARRK Foundation supports nonprofit organizations that help under-resourced children and adolescents obtain a high-quality education that provides access to excellent behavioral and mental health services and prepares them for post-secondary success. **Core Philosophy:** The foundation believes early intervention is the key to staying ahead of future challenges and uses intervention as the best form of prevention. **Primary Focus Areas:** • **Education:** Support for K-12 stude…
How do I apply for a grant from LARRK Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • 41 grants reported in recent filings • Median grant size: $10,000 • Grant range: $1,000 to $150,000 • 38 grants awarded in 2024 totaling approximately $930,000 • Average grant size: $109 (based on historical data) **Application Process:** The foundation indicates it is "preselected only," meaning organizations must be invited or pre-selected to apply. The foundation is open to new applicants, with approximately 12% of new applicants funded. **Geographic Scope:** While prim…
Where does LARRK Foundation make grants?
The LARRK Foundation primarily serves the Denver metropolitan area. The foundation also supports organizations in: • Rural Colorado • California • Kansas • New York • Pennsylvania • Texas • Washington, D.C.
What size grants does LARRK Foundation award?
In 2024, LARRK Foundation awarded 41 grants totaling $1.0M — an average of about $25K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is LARRK Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, LARRK Foundation reported a distributable amount of $674K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is LARRK Foundation's EIN?
LARRK Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-3818473. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in LARRK Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Larimer County Farm Bureau
WELLINGTON, CO
Assets
$986K
Grants
1
Total Given
$16K
Knight Family Foundation
BASALT, CO
Assets
$9.6M
Grants
22
Total Given
$420K
Jumping Mouse Foundation
BOULDER, CO
Assets
$10.0M
Grants
19
Total Given
$700K
Delta Dental of Colorado
CENTENNIAL, CO
Assets
$106.6M
Grants
42
Total Given
$2.8M
German American Chamber of Commerce -
DENVER, CO
Assets
$2.8M
Grants
2
Total Given
$63K
Terra Foundation Inc
NIWOT, CO
Assets
$2.2M
Grants
3
Total Given
$82K
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with LARRK Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching LARRK Foundation to a real strategy.