Lillis Foundation
The Lillis Foundation is a private foundation based in Castle Rock, Colorado. It supports access to educational opportunities, disadvantaged young children, and the quality of life of seniors, with a primary mission of helping connect young people with education that may improve their future economic well-being.
Lillis Foundation at a glance
In short: Lillis Foundation gave $372K across 101 grants in 2024 (avg $4K), mostly in Colorado. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $371,583
- -2.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 101
- +9.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $3,679
- -11.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $2,500
- Total assets
- $5,157,581
- -4.8% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Colorado (64% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Lillis Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations. Organizations that are tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) and/or classified as public charities under Section 509(a)(1), (2), or (3) may submit a letter of inquiry. The letter should be no more than two pages, excluding attachments, and describe the organization, project, need, expected benefits and how success will be measured, timeline, budget, other committed and projected support, and amount sought. Attach a board list with addresses, phone numbers, and professions, and an IRS determination letter. The foundation may take up to four weeks to respond; invited applicants may proceed to a full proposal. Its board meets four times a year, and grants are approved at one of those meetings. Grantees must submit a report within three months after the grant period ends.
- Contact
Mailing address: 221 Wilcox Street 201, Castle Rock, CO 80104
Phone: (303) 395-2633
Website: https://lillisfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Lillis Foundation
Who Lillis Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Colorado Women's Education Foundation ($16K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $115K.
Organizations only. It also paid 7 individual scholarships ($16,500), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
484 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 483 grants of 484 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 64% of grant dollars went to recipients in Colorado. Other listed recipient-state shares were California (6%), Nebraska (3%), Florida (3%), and Wyoming (2%). The foundation also made grants to organizations in other states, including Tennessee and West Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 101 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Lillis Foundation gives
- Giving grew 35% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 96% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $274K (2021) to $383K (2023). In 2024 it made 101 grants totaling $372K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado Women's Education Foundation Boulder, CO | Grant - Colorado women's education foundation - mentoring program for graduates | $15,000 |
| Hands of the Carpenter Automotive Repair Golden, CO | Grant -hands of the carpenter automotive repair (apprentice program) | $15,000 |
| Clothes to Kids of Denver Denver, CO | Grant - Wardrobe Program | $10,000 |
| Denver Asset Building Coalition Denver, CO | Grant - denver asset building coalition - volunteer tax preparation services | $10,000 |
| Education Through Music Colorado Denver, CO | Grant - education through music -expand music instruction to financially constrained schools | $10,000 |
| Friends Foundation Denver Public Library Denver, CO | Denver Public Library Mobile Outreach Services | $10,000 |
| Habitat for Humanity of Pueblo Pueblo, CO | Grant - Ramp up! Program | $10,000 |
| Wellspring Community Castle Rock, CO | Grant - Wellspring Community (Wage Program) | $10,000 |
| Laguna College of Art and Design Laguna Beach, CA | Scholarship Grant - Noam Egan | $9,000 |
| University of Wyoming Laramie, WY | Scholarship Grant - Rylie Ingram | $9,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Lillis Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $5,157,581 | $310,518 | $571,420 | $371,583 | 101 | $544,789 | $323,052 | $569,205 |
| 2023 | $5,418,483 | $231,760 | $547,593 | $382,505 | 92 | $528,397 | $241,606 | $508,332 |
| 2022 | $5,734,316 | $974,280 | $514,017 | $371,450 | 88 | $509,791 | $965,915 | $516,408 |
| 2021 | $5,274,053 | $495,779 | $392,726 | $274,354 | 111 | $380,181 | $337,263 | $551,915 |
| 2020 | $5,196,289 | $806,348 | $392,937 | $303,350 | 92 | — | $656,418 | $405,153 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to improve educational opportunities and help vulnerable populations through its own initiatives and collaborations with established programs. Its stated focus areas are educational access, support for disadvantaged young children, and quality of life for seniors. Senior-focused grants may address basic needs and social isolation.
Grantees’ work in 2024 included the following: Clothes to Kids of Denver says it provides free clothing to students from low-income or in-crisis families; the Denver Asset Building Coalition says it provides free tax preparation, tax legal services, financial education, and financial services to underserved people and families; and Habitat for Humanity of Pueblo says it provides affordable housing to low-income families. These are descriptions of the grantees’ missions, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 101 grants totaling $371,583. Grants ranged from $500 to $15,000, with a median of $2,500. Among the largest were $15,000 to the Colorado Women’s Education Foundation for a mentoring program for graduates and $15,000 to Hands of the Carpenter Automotive Repair for an apprentice program. The foundation also awarded $10,000 each to Clothes to Kids of Denver for its wardrobe program, the Denver Asset Building Coalition for volunteer tax preparation services, and Habitat for Humanity of Pueblo for its Ramp Up! program. It made scholarship grants of $9,000 to Laguna College of Art and Design and the University of Wyoming.
The foundation generally does not fund ongoing operating support, endowments or reserve funds, general fund drives, debt retirement, fundraising-event sponsorships, capital campaigns, religious organizations for religious purposes, or election- or legislation-related activity.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Gwendolyn H. Lillis, Charles M. Lillis, Jessica L. Isaacs, Lori L. Hoff, and Timothy S. Lillis as trustees; Carrie C. Knox as trustee and executive director; and Geneva Irene Lillis as junior trustee. The filing notes that Charles M. Lillis passed away on September 10, 2024. The foundation’s website identifies Lori Hoff and Jessica Isaacs as trustees and Carrie Knox as administrator.
Lillis Foundation is led by Carrie C. Knox, Trustee & Executive Director on every filing since 2022; 1 of 7 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Carrie C. Knox
Trustee & Executive Director
On filings since 2022
30 hrs/week
$64K (2022) → $75K (2024)
Charles M. Lillis
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gwendolyn H. Lillis
Trustee
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jessica L. Isaacs
Trustee
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lori L. Hoff
Trustee
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Geneva Irene Lillis
Junior Trustee
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Timothy S. Lillis
Trustee
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Michael B. Lillis (2020) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $75K, to Carrie C Knox (Trustee/Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Lillis Foundation
How much does Lillis Foundation give each year?
Lillis Foundation gave $372K across 101 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $383K across 92 grants.
What is Lillis Foundation's typical grant size?
Lillis Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $2,500, and its average grant was $3,679, across 101 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Lillis Foundation give grants?
Lillis Foundation gives mostly in Colorado: 64% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was California (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Denver, CO (11 grants), Colorado Springs, CO (8 grants), Boulder, CO (7 grants) and Golden, CO (6 grants).
Does Lillis Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 26% of Lillis Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (26 of 101) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Lillis Foundation's largest grantees?
Lillis Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Colorado Women's Education Foundation ($16,250 across 2 grants), Hands of the Carpenter Automotive Repair ($16,250 across 2 grants) and Colorado Mesa University ($11,750 across 4 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 7 individual scholarships ($16,500), which are not listed by name. Together they received 12% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Lillis Foundation?
Lillis Foundation reported $5.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $545K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $569K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Lillis Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to improve educational opportunities and help vulnerable populations through its own initiatives and collaborations with established programs. Its stated focus areas are educational access, support for disadvantaged young children, and quality of life for seniors. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Lillis Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Does Lillis Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Lillis Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/lillis-foundation-morg_fe9f3de6c62e434b8dad9c79e1a253e5
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_916520620_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Lillis Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/lillis-foundation-morg_fe9f3de6c62e434b8dad9c79e1a253e5},
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 Lillis 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.
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