The Lillis Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private foundation located in Castle Rock, Colorado, supported by founders Charles and Gwendolyn Lillis. The foundation operates as a family foundation with a primary mission to provide access to educational opportunities that could impact an individual's future economic well-being.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.2M
-4.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$372K
-2.9% YoY
Grant Count
101
+9.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$4K
-11.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Lillis Foundation reported a distributable amount of $569K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Lillis Foundation strives to improve educational opportunities and help the most vulnerable segments of society by developing strong internal initiatives and nurturing collaborations with established programs that share in its guiding principles.
The foundation's mission is primarily concerned with connecting youth and young adults to viable educational opportunities, with the goal of helping grantees reach their full potential and afford them the benefits of higher education. A critical component of the mission is enhancing the lives of disadvantaged children and seniors.
The foundation's grantmaking focuses on three areas of society:
- Education
- Children
- Seniors
Grantmaking
The Lillis Foundation operates several programs designed to enhance educational opportunities:
How to Apply
Interested organizations may request an application or send a letter of inquiry by contacting the foundation directly.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Colorado, Nebraska, and California, with particular emphasis on Colorado communities.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | Amount | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,157,581 | 2024 |
| Total Revenues | $310,518 | 2024 |
| Total Expenses | $571,420 | 2024 |
| Total Giving | $371,583 | 2024 |
The foundation has been tax-exempt since December 2001.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,157,581 | $5,418,483 | $5,734,316 |
| Revenue | $310,518 | $231,760 | $974,280 |
| Expenses | $571,420 | $547,593 | $514,017 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $544,789 | $528,397 | $509,791 |
| Net Investment Income | $323,052 | $241,606 | $965,915 |
| Distributable Amount | $569,205 | $508,332 | $516,408 |
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
1 open opportunity from Lillis Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Colorado Women's Education Foundation ($15,000), Hands of the Carpenter Automotive Repair ($15,000), Clothes to Kids of Denver ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A LITTLE HELP DENVER, CO | GRANT - MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM | $7,500 |
| AGING RESOURCES OF DOUGLAS COUNTY CASTLE ROCK, CO | DISCRETIONARY GRANT - LORI HOFF (GENERAL OPERATING) | $2,000 |
| AGING RESOURCES OF DOUGLAS COUNTY CASTLE ROCK, CO | GRANT - COMPANION PROGRAM | $5,000 |
| ANCHOR CENTER FOR THE BLIND DENVER, CO | DISCRETIONARY GRANT - GWEN LILLIS (GENERAL OPERATING) | $1,500 |
| ANGEL EYES CHILD LOSS AND GRIEF SUPPORT DENVER, CO | DISCRETIONARY GRANT - CARRIE KNOX (GENERAL OPERATING) | $1,500 |
| ARAPAHOE COMMUNITY COLLEGE LITTLETON, CO | SCHOLARSHIP GRANT - ABBY SAWICKI | $2,000 |
| ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY TEMPE, AZ | SCHOLARSHIP GRANT - CARLOS PALOMERA | $4,000 |
| BAYLOR UNIVERSITY WACO, TX | SCHOLARSHIP GRANT - GRACE WHITAKER | $2,750 |
| BELMONT UNIVERSITY NASHVILLE, TN | SCHOLARSHIP GRANT - NOELLE MARTIN | $8,000 |
| BLACK HILLS STATE UNIVERSITY SPEARFISH, SD | SCHOLARSHIP GRANT - LIDDY DAY | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Charles and Gwendolyn Lillis - Founders and Trustees
Gwendolyn Lillis - Trustee/Founder
Lori Hoff - Trustee (Grantmaking inquiries: 303-395-2633, lhoff@lillisfoundation.org)
Jessica Isaacs - Trustee (Student Assistance Fund inquiries: 303-395-2641)
Carrie Knox - Administrator (Lillis Scholars Program inquiries: 303-395-2634)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| GWENDOLYN H LILLIS | TRUSTEE | 20 | — |
| CHARLES M LILLIS | TRUSTEE (PASSED ON 9/10/24) | 2 | — |
| JESSICA L ISAACS | TRUSTEE | 10 | — |
| LORI L HOFF | TRUSTEE | 20 | — |
| TIMOTHY S LILLIS | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| CARRIE C KNOX | TRUSTEE/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 30 | $75,000 |
| GENEVA IRENE LILLIS | JUNIOR TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
Contact Information
Phone: 303-999-9999 or 303-395-2633
Email: info@lillisfoundation.org
Address: 221 Wilcox St Ste 201, Castle Rock, CO 80104-4002
Website: www.lillisfoundation.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Lillis Foundation fund?
The Lillis Foundation strives to improve educational opportunities and help the most vulnerable segments of society by developing strong internal initiatives and nurturing collaborations with established programs that share in its guiding principles. The foundation's mission is primarily concerned with connecting youth and young adults to viable educational opportunities, with the goal of helping grantees reach their full potential and afford them the benefits of higher education. A critical co…
How do I apply for a grant from Lillis Foundation?
The Lillis Foundation operates several programs designed to enhance educational opportunities: **Scholarships Program** - The foundation provides scholarship assistance to students. **Student Assistance Fund (SAF)** - Designed to create a financial safety net for students within participating schools. **Grants** - The foundation makes discretionary grants for general operating expenses, providing food, clothing, and educational items to those in need, including needy seniors, single parents, an…
Where does Lillis Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Colorado, Nebraska, and California, with particular emphasis on Colorado communities.
What size grants does Lillis Foundation award?
In 2024, Lillis Foundation awarded 101 grants totaling $372K — an average of about $4K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Lillis Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Lillis Foundation reported a distributable amount of $569K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Lillis Foundation's EIN?
Lillis Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-6520620. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Lillis 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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