Mary Elizabeth Bates Foundation
The Mary Elizabeth Bates Foundation is a private foundation located in Conifer, Colorado. Its 2025 filing lists awards to Colorado humane societies, animal shelters, and other animal-related organizations.
Mary Elizabeth Bates Foundation at a glance
In short: Mary Elizabeth Bates Foundation gave $281K across 46 grants in 2025 (avg $6K), mostly in Colorado. 4% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $281,153
- -24.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 46
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $6,112
- -24.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $4,550
- Total assets
- $2,795,964
- +2.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 4% first-time grantees (2 of 46, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Colorado (100% 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 Mary Elizabeth Bates Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The filing lists a letter as the application material and Ryan Kargol as the contact. It states that the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
- Contact
Application contact: Ryan Kargol
Mailing address: 8899 Black Mountain Drive, Conifer, CO 80433
Phone: (303) 670-7944
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Mary Elizabeth Bates Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Humane Colorado ($40K). Together the top 10 received $133K.
Grant Size Distribution
231 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 230 grants of 231 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars listed for 2025 went to organizations in Colorado.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 46 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Mary Elizabeth Bates Foundation open to new grantees?
4%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 2 of 46 grantees (4%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $21K; repeat grants $5K. How we count
Medians: $21K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 96% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−18%). Method
- In 2025 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
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 $150K (2020) to $370K (2024). In 2025 it made 46 grants totaling $281K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Humane Colorado Denver, CO | Donation | $39,500 |
| Ark Valley Humane Society-Sunshine Shelter Buena Vista, CO | Donation | $12,200 |
| Larimer Humane Society Fort Collins, CO | Donation | $12,000 |
| Upper Rio Grande Animal SocietyConour Shelter Monte Vista, CO | Donation | $10,700 |
| Teller County Regional Animal Center Divide, CO | Donation | $10,500 |
| Humane Society Pikes Peak Region Colorado Springs, CO | Donation | $10,400 |
| Humane Society Pagosa Springs Pagosa Springs, CO | Donation | $9,900 |
| Humane Society South Platte Valley Littleton, CO | Donation | $9,900 |
| Foothills Animal Shelter Golden, CO | Donation | $8,800 |
| Hamlett Spay & Neuter Clinic Inc Colorado Springs, CO | Donation | $8,800 |
Ready to take the next step with Mary Elizabeth Bates 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 | $2,795,964 | $374,154 | $358,816 | $281,153 | 46 | $350,492 | $234,652 | $365,488 |
| 2024 | $2,730,455 | $401,619 | $451,620 | $370,464 | 46 | $443,108 | $219,154 | $346,003 |
| 2023 | $2,780,456 | $457,685 | $446,460 | $370,464 | 48 | $436,464 | $267,689 | $443,108 |
| 2022 | $2,769,231 | $312,174 | $395,301 | $343,929 | 47 | $377,929 | $262,174 | $445,045 |
| 2021 | $2,852,358 | $334,681 | $363,818 | $316,000 | 44 | $350,000 | $242,081 | $421,087 |
| 2020 | $2,881,495 | $2,769,251 | $198,174 | $150,170 | 37 | — | $245,553 | $298,261 |
| 2019 | $313,727 | $171,464 | $206,838 | $158,000 | 41 | — | $159,964 | $217,643 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Mary Elizabeth Bates Foundation reported a distributable amount of $365K 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
No foundation mission statement is provided. The 2025 filing lists award restrictions as “humane societies and animal shelters.” Its grantees’ missions illustrate the kinds of work represented: Hamlett Spay & Neuter Clinic says it provides affordable sterilization to reduce animal overpopulation and suffering, while Freedom Service Dogs says it partners people with custom-trained assistance dogs. Other supported organizations describe work in sheltering, animal care, adoption, and rescue.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 46 grants totaling $281,153. Grant amounts ranged from $1,425 to $39,500, with a median of $4,550. The largest listed awards included $39,500 to Humane Colorado, $12,200 to Ark Valley Humane Society-Sunshine Shelter, $12,000 to Larimer Humane Society, and $10,700 to Upper Rio Grande Animal Society-Conour Shelter. Other listed recipients included Teller County Regional Animal Center ($10,500), Humane Society Pikes Peak Region ($10,400), and Humane Society Pagosa Springs ($9,900).
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Daniel K Wolfe IV, Rebecca A Wolfe, Ryan Kargol, and Jan Wolfe as directors.
Mary Elizabeth Bates Foundation's 2025 filing lists 4 officers; all 4 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Daniel K Wolfe IV
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$7K (2019) → $15K (2025)
Jan Wolfe
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$7K (2019) → $15K (2025)
Rebecca A wolfe
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$7K (2019) → $15K (2025)
Ryan Kargol
Director
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
$8K (2019) → $17K (2025)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Marilyn C Brisco (2019–2023) — Director
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 $17K, to Ryan Kargol (Director). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Mary Elizabeth Bates Foundation
How much does Mary Elizabeth Bates Foundation give each year?
Mary Elizabeth Bates Foundation gave $281K across 46 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $370K across 46 grants.
What is Mary Elizabeth Bates Foundation's typical grant size?
Mary Elizabeth Bates Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $4,550, and its average grant was $6,112, across 46 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Mary Elizabeth Bates Foundation that year got $21K on average.
Where does Mary Elizabeth Bates Foundation give grants?
Mary Elizabeth Bates Foundation gives mostly in Colorado: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Denver, CO (6 grants), Fort Collins, CO (6 grants), Colorado Springs, CO (4 grants) and Boulder, CO (3 grants).
Does Mary Elizabeth Bates Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 46 grants with a stated purpose on Mary Elizabeth Bates Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Donation" (46 grants).
Who are Mary Elizabeth Bates Foundation's largest grantees?
Mary Elizabeth Bates Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Humane Colorado ($39,500), Ark Valley Humane Society-Sunshine Shelter ($12,200) and Larimer Humane Society ($12,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 23% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Mary Elizabeth Bates Foundation?
Mary Elizabeth Bates Foundation reported $2.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $350K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $365K (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 Mary Elizabeth Bates Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. The 2025 filing lists award restrictions as “humane societies and animal shelters.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Mary Elizabeth Bates Foundation?
The filing lists a letter as the application material and Ryan Kargol as the contact. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Mary Elizabeth Bates Foundation's EIN?
Mary Elizabeth Bates Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-6028054. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 12, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS April 30, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 6, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 11, 2024)
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Mary Elizabeth Bates Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/mary-elizabeth-bates-foundation-morg_fae0fc5b507f402f9f845d9fd219ad91
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_846028054_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Mary Elizabeth Bates Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/mary-elizabeth-bates-foundation-morg_fae0fc5b507f402f9f845d9fd219ad91},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Mary Elizabeth Bates 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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