Melvin & Elaine Wolf Foundation
The Melvin & Elaine Wolf Foundation is a private foundation established in 1979, headquartered in Castle Rock, Colorado. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to donate to public charities. The foundation maintains a small operational structure with no employees.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$8.1M
-1.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$378K
-13.1% YoY
Grant Count
42
+16.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$9K
-25.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Melvin & Elaine Wolf Foundation reported a distributable amount of $371K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary purpose is to support public charities through strategic grantmaking. Key funding areas include:
- General support for nonprofits
- Innovative cancer research
- Education, particularly summertime literacy programs
- Human services
- Support for transitional living programs
- Children's services and supplies
- Community-based initiatives in Colorado
Grantmaking
The foundation made 33 grants in its most recent funding cycle (2024). Typical grant awards range from $1,000 to $157,500.
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Melvin & Elaine Wolf Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations and initiatives in Colorado, with a particular emphasis on the Denver metropolitan area.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $8,147,153
- Total revenues: $428,595
- Total expenses: $572,435
- Total giving: $377,937
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $8,147,153 | $8,290,993 | $8,036,864 |
| Revenue | $428,595 | $839,221 | $944,681 |
| Expenses | $572,435 | $586,333 | $626,150 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $528,406 | $542,403 | $573,477 |
| Net Investment Income | $385,230 | $793,291 | $895,373 |
| Distributable Amount | $370,739 | $347,533 | $418,763 |
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
198 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Melvin & Elaine Wolf Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Jewish Family Service of Colorado Inc ($50,000), Jewish Community Centers of Denver ($20,993), Denver Museum of Nature and Science ($20,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| THE DOUGLAS COUNTY FAIR FOUNDATION CASTLE ROCK, CO | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,300 |
| CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF DENVER DENVER, CO | CONSTRUCTION AND COMPLETION OF ADVENTURE FOREST | $15,000 |
| ANTI DEFAMATION LEAGUE MOUNTAIN STATES Denver, CO | NO PLACE FOR HATE PROGRAM | $10,000 |
| CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL COLORADO FOUNDATION AURORA, CO | 2023 Children's Gala - Gold Sponsor | $19,104 |
| NATIONAL JEWISH HEALTH Denver, CO | Intended for Beaux Arts Ball & the Morgridge Academy for chronically ill children. | $6,500 |
| CLOTHES TO KIDS OF DENVER Denver, CO | "Shoes for Every Shopper" Program | $5,000 |
| WONDERBOUND Denver, CO | GENERAL SUPPORT OF MISSION TO CREATE LIVING ART | $5,000 |
| PRODIGY COFFEEHOUSE DENVER, CO | In support of Prodigy's Apprenticeship Program | $15,000 |
| OPERA COLORADO Denver, CO | Grant to help the education department bring this beautiful art form to a wide range of audiences | $10,000 |
| BOULDER JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER BOULDER, CO | Tuition assistance early childhood center at the J | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sandra Wolf | Secretary | — | — |
| Kelly A Hodges | President | — | $71,969 |
| Ashly A Wolf | Vice President | — | — |
| Josh Hume | Treasurer | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has supported notable initiatives including:
A transformative gift to the Global Down Syndrome Foundation to support inspirational dancers with Down Syndrome
Global Down Syndrome Foundation Receives Transformative Gift from Long-TimeA $1 million commitment to add an additional full scholarship to a scholars program
Wolf Foundation $1 million commitment will add additional full scholarshipOngoing support for the Denver Museum of Nature and Science's scholarship fund
[PDF] 2024 Gratitude Report - Denver Museum of Nature and ScienceSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Melvin & Elaine Wolf Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary purpose is to support public charities through strategic grantmaking. Key funding areas include: • General support for nonprofits • Innovative cancer research • Education, particularly summertime literacy programs • Human services • Support for transitional living programs • Children's services and supplies • Community-based initiatives in Colorado
How do I apply for a grant from Melvin & Elaine Wolf Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** The foundation made 33 grants in its most recent funding cycle (2024). Typical grant awards range from $1,000 to $157,500. **Recent Grants (2024):** • Jewish Family Service of Colorado: $50,000 (Building the Mushroom Farm at the JFS Altius Campus in Denver) • Jewish Community Centers of Denver: $20,993 (Theater Equipment) • Denver Museum of Nature and Science: $20,000 (The Melvin and Elaine Wolf Foundation Scholarship Fund) **Application Process:** The foundation is currentl…
Where does Melvin & Elaine Wolf Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations and initiatives in Colorado, with a particular emphasis on the Denver metropolitan area.
What size grants does Melvin & Elaine Wolf Foundation award?
In 2024, Melvin & Elaine Wolf Foundation awarded 42 grants totaling $378K — an average of about $9K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Melvin & Elaine Wolf Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Melvin & Elaine Wolf Foundation reported a distributable amount of $371K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Melvin & Elaine Wolf Foundation's EIN?
Melvin & Elaine Wolf Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-0797937. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Melvin & Elaine Wolf 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.