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
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.
Ready to take the next step with Lillis Foundation?
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
No grants recorded for .
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
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Lillis 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