Louis Calder Foundation
The Louis Calder Foundation is a private foundation based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1951 by Louis Calder, it continues to operate as a trust and invests in organizations seeking to provide high-quality learning opportunities for children in under-resourced communities.
Louis Calder Foundation at a glance
In short: Louis Calder Foundation gave $8.2M across 38 grants in 2025 (avg $216K), top state Colorado. 16% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $8,196,825
- +19.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 38
- +8.6% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $215,706
- +9.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $150,000
- Total assets
- $199,197,987
- +2.6% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 16% first-time grantees (6 of 37, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Colorado (22% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Louis Calder Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests and says it invites organizations to submit funding requests. Its filing directs applicants to the foundation’s website for application materials, deadlines, and award restrictions; the website also describes proactive cultivation of relationships with organizations and education leaders.
- Contact
Application contact: M Alexander Calder
Mailing address: C/O The Louis Calder Foundation, 1331 17Th Street Suite 602, Denver, CO 80202
Phone: (720) 943-9865
Email: alexander.calder@calderfdn.org
Website: https://louiscalderfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Louis Calder Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Charter Fund Inc ($1.0M). Together the top 10 received $5.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
226 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 98 grants of 226 (43%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state were Colorado (22%), New York (17%), California (12%), Tennessee (12%), and Massachusetts (8%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 38 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Louis Calder Foundation open to new grantees?
16%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 6 of 37 grantees (16%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $100K; repeat grants $245K. How we count
Medians: $125K first-time, $175K repeat.
- 62% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+1%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 102% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $6.6M (2019) to $8.9M (2021). In 2025 it made 38 grants totaling $8.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Charter Fund Inc Denver, CO | Growth of Charter Schools | $1,000,000 |
| Array Education Inc New York, NY | Fiscal sponsor for the literacy group, science of reading | $750,000 |
| Cambiar Education Los Angeles, CA | Fiscal Sponsor for Magpie Literacy, Science of Reading | $600,000 |
| Instruction Partners Nashville, TN | Science of Reading | $500,000 |
| Jeremiah Program Minneapolis, MN | Two-Generation Family Learning | $400,000 |
| The Achievement Network Ltd Boston, MA | Science of Reading | $400,000 |
| Cambiar Education Los Angeles, CA | Fiscal Sponsor for Onyourmark, Science of Reading | $375,000 |
| Achievement First Inc New Haven, CT | Science of Reading | $350,000 |
| Colorado Schools Fund Denver, CO | Growth of Charter Schools | $300,000 |
| Kipp Foundation New York, NY | Science of Reading | $300,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Louis Calder 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $199,197,987 | $13,331,721 | $11,795,473 | $8,196,825 | 38 | $9,836,163 | $11,584,694 | $9,607,144 |
| 2024 | $194,177,460 | $12,952,023 | $10,652,996 | $6,877,700 | 35 | $8,659,599 | $5,234,202 | $9,301,226 |
| 2023 | $171,380,883 | $11,695,845 | $10,920,251 | $7,854,785 | 43 | $9,199,580 | $8,334,512 | $8,702,340 |
| 2022 | $170,366,757 | $15,916,968 | $11,524,032 | $8,121,750 | 43 | $9,413,261 | $12,930,769 | $9,210,658 |
| 2021 | $216,288,032 | $22,000,872 | $12,141,785 | $8,924,340 | 67 | — | $16,164,026 | $10,156,852 |
| 2020 | $188,480,821 | $11,713,417 | $11,087,184 | $7,886,325 | 98 | — | $11,468,225 | $8,910,792 |
| 2019 | $183,822,034 | $14,696,625 | $9,747,598 | $6,591,150 | 61 | — | $10,903,098 | $8,666,727 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Louis Calder Foundation reported a distributable amount of $9.6M for 2025 — 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 invest in organizations that seek to provide high-quality learning opportunities for children in under-resourced communities. Its two stated investment themes are Growth of Charter Schools, including early-stage schools and emerging networks, and Literacy & Science of Reading, supporting early literacy instruction grounded in the evidence-based science of reading.
The foundation’s 2025 grants included support for charter-school growth and literacy initiatives. For example, Charter Fund Inc. describes its work as identifying and funding the expansion of public charter schools. Instruction Partners says it strengthens instructional leadership so teachers can improve student learning experiences and outcomes. Array Education describes itself as an innovation studio supporting teaching and learning projects, starting with early literacy.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 38 grants totaling $8,196,825. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $1,000,000, with a median grant of $150,000.
Among the largest reported grants were $1,000,000 to Charter Fund Inc. for growth of charter schools; $750,000 to Array Education Inc. for a fiscal sponsorship supporting The Literacy Group and the science of reading; $600,000 to Cambiar Education for a fiscal sponsorship supporting Magpie Literacy and the science of reading; and $500,000 to Instruction Partners for the science of reading. Other grants included $400,000 to Jeremiah Program for two-generation family learning and $400,000 to The Achievement Network Ltd. for the science of reading.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists M. Alexander Calder as trustee and executive director, Peter D. Calder as trustee, and Frank E. Shanley as trustee. The foundation’s website also lists Claire Cohen as finance and operations manager, Kristin Pazulski as grants administrator, and Mara Rose and Sabrina Skinner as program officers.
Louis Calder Foundation is led by M. Alexander Calder, Trustee & Executive Director since 2021 (on filings since 2019); all 3 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
M. Alexander Calder
Trustee & Executive Director
Trustee → Trustee & Executive Director From, 2020
Trustee & Executive Director From → Trustee & Executive Director, 2021
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$87K (2019) → $364K (2025)
Frank E. Shanley
Trustee
On filings since 2019
15 hrs/week
$120K (2019) → $150K (2025)
Peter D. Calder
Trustee
Executive Director & Trustee → Trustee & Executive Director to, 2020
Trustee & Executive Director to → Trustee, 2021
On filings since 2019
15 hrs/week
$280K (2019) → $150K (2025)
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
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $364K, to M Alexander Calder (Trustee/Executive Director). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Louis Calder Foundation
How much does Louis Calder Foundation give each year?
Louis Calder Foundation gave $8.2M across 38 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $6.9M across 35 grants.
What is Louis Calder Foundation's typical grant size?
Louis Calder Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $150,000, and its average grant was $215,706, across 38 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Louis Calder Foundation that year got $100K on average.
Where does Louis Calder Foundation give grants?
Louis Calder Foundation's top state is Colorado, with 22% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New York (17%) and California (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (7 grants), Denver, CO (4 grants), Nashville, TN (4 grants) and Jacksonville, FL (3 grants).
Does Louis Calder Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 5% of Louis Calder Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (2 of 38) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Growth of Charter Schools" (13 grants), "Science of Reading" (10 grants) and "Two-Generation Family Learning" (4 grants).
Who are Louis Calder Foundation's largest grantees?
Louis Calder Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Charter Fund Inc ($1,000,000), Cambiar Education ($975,000 across 2 grants) and Array Education Inc ($750,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 33% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Louis Calder Foundation?
Louis Calder Foundation reported $199.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $9.8M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $9.6M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Louis Calder Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to invest in organizations that seek to provide high-quality learning opportunities for children in under-resourced communities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Louis Calder Foundation?
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests and says it invites organizations to submit funding requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Louis Calder Foundation's EIN?
Louis Calder Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-6015562. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Louis Calder Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, 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
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS April 24, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 23, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Louis Calder Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Louis Calder Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/louis-calder-foundation-morg_c13d51fcfbac41d4980170556cd27ad1
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_136015562_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Louis Calder Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/louis-calder-foundation-morg_c13d51fcfbac41d4980170556cd27ad1},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. 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 Louis Calder 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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