The Nagel Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1994 and based in Denver, Colorado. It operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to philanthropic giving within its community.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$23.5M
+8.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.9M
+21.5% YoY
Grant Count
11
+37.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$172K
-11.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Nagel Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation gives primarily for higher education. Its grantmaking supports organizations working in education and related fields.
Grantmaking
The foundation has demonstrated significant growth in its grantmaking capacity over time. In 1997, it granted $250,000 to 17 community organizations. By 2003, annual grants exceeded $500,000, and the foundation reached $1 million in annual grants by 2007.
Ready to take the next step with Nagel Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Colorado, with Denver as its base of operations.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $23,461,471
- Total Revenues: $3,743,970
- Total Expenses: $1,918,873
- Total Giving: $1,560,000 (2023)
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $21,600,000
- Total Revenues: $599,000
- Total Expenses: $1,570,000
The foundation's assets and giving capacity have grown substantially since its establishment, reflecting both family contributions and investment returns.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $23,461,471 | $21,636,374 | $22,608,731 |
| Revenue | $3,743,970 | $599,413 | $-27,300 |
| Expenses | $1,918,873 | $1,571,770 | $1,831,770 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,900,353 | $1,565,270 | $1,830,420 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,916,059 | $841,758 | $642,797 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,817,741 | $1,627,844 | $1,683,708 |
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
58 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include The Catholic Foundation of Northern Colorado ($1,080,000), Advance Colorado ($475,000), Inner-city School ($85,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ADVANCE COLORADO ENGLEWOOD, CO | GENERAL SUPPORT | $475,000 |
| ALLIANCE FOR CHOICE IN EDUCATION GREENWOOD VILLAGE, CO | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| ART STUDENTS LEAGUE OF DENVER DENVER, CO | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| CARUSO FAMILY CHARITIES LAKEWOOD, CO | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| GIRLS WITH BOOKS BOULDER, CO | GENERAL SUPPORT | $35,000 |
| INNER-CITY SCHOOL DENVER, CO | GENERAL SUPPORT | $85,000 |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT ROCKY MOUNTAIN GREENWOOD VILLAGE, CO | GENERAL SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| KIWANIS CLUB OF LAKEWOOD FOUNDATION LAKEWOOD, CO | SUPPORT FOR DREAM INSPIRATION ACADEMY SIGNATURE PROJECT | $35,000 |
| MOTHERING ACROSS CONTINENTS CHARLOTTE, NC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $35,000 |
| STEP DENVER DENVER, CO | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The John F. Nagel Foundation was formed in 1989 by Mildred Nagel to honor the memory of her late husband John F. Nagel and son Jack Nagel. Vance Miller, former CEO of Nagel Beverage Company, serves as President of the foundation. He committed to continuing the foundation's leadership following the sale of Nagel Beverage Company in 2009.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RALPH J NAGEL | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 1225 17th Street, Suite 2440, Denver, CO 80202-5524
Phone: 303-376-1401
EIN: 84-1285137
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Nagel Foundation fund?
The foundation gives primarily for higher education. Its grantmaking supports organizations working in education and related fields.
How do I apply for a grant from Nagel Foundation?
The foundation has demonstrated significant growth in its grantmaking capacity over time. In 1997, it granted $250,000 to 17 community organizations. By 2003, annual grants exceeded $500,000, and the foundation reached $1 million in annual grants by 2007. Recent grantmaking activity shows the foundation continues substantial support. In 2024, the foundation made 21 grants, including: • Catholic Foundation Northern Colorado: $1,080,000 • Advance Colorado: $475,000 • Inner-City School: $85,000
Where does Nagel Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Colorado, with Denver as its base of operations.
What size grants does Nagel Foundation award?
In 2024, Nagel Foundation awarded 11 grants totaling $1.9M — an average of about $172K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Nagel Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Nagel Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.8M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Nagel Foundation's EIN?
Nagel Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-1285137. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Nagel Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Larimer County Farm Bureau
WELLINGTON, CO
Assets
$986K
Grants
1
Total Given
$16K
Knight Family Foundation
BASALT, CO
Assets
$9.6M
Grants
22
Total Given
$420K
Jumping Mouse Foundation
BOULDER, CO
Assets
$10.0M
Grants
19
Total Given
$700K
Delta Dental of Colorado
CENTENNIAL, CO
Assets
$106.6M
Grants
42
Total Given
$2.8M
German American Chamber of Commerce -
DENVER, CO
Assets
$2.8M
Grants
2
Total Given
$63K
Terra Foundation Inc
NIWOT, CO
Assets
$2.2M
Grants
3
Total Given
$82K
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Nagel 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
Go from researching Nagel Foundation to a real strategy.