Ness Family Foundation
Ness Family Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Boulder, CO. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $3.4M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 6 grants totaling $47K.
Key facts about Ness Family Foundation
In short: Ness Family Foundation gave $47K across 6 grants in 2024 (avg $8K), mostly in Colorado. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 85-4316657
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $46,500
- Grants made (2024)
- 6
- Average grant
- $7,750
- Median grant
- $7,500
- Total assets
- $3,398,282
- Primary geography
- Colorado (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.4M
-12.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$47K
-54.0% YoY
Grant Count
6
-60.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$8K
+15.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ness Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $17K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
How Ness Family Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−7%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 277% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Ready to take the next step with Ness Family Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 6 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 6 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
39 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CU FOUNDATION Denver, CO | EDUCATION PROGRAMS | $15,000 |
| THE SUMMIT FOUNDATION Breckenridge, CO | CHARITABLE GIVING | $12,500 |
| BOULDER MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART Boulder, CO | MUSEUM | $10,000 |
| FRIENDS OF BCSIS Boulder, CO | EDUCATION PROGRAMS | $5,000 |
| PROTECT OUR WINTERS Boulder, CO | ENVIORNMENTAL ADVOCACY | $2,000 |
| RAINBOW SOCKS Boulder, CO | EDUCATION | $2,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,398,282 | $3,865,012 | $4,249,498 |
| Revenue | $-417,230 | $-282,954 | $-1,164,501 |
| Expenses | $49,500 | $101,532 | $164,251 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $46,500 | $101,000 | $161,691 |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | $16,793 | $46,358 | $110,827 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Ness Family Foundation is led by Stephanie Ness, President on every filing since 2021; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Stephanie Ness
President
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Kevin Ness
Treasurer & Secretary
Treasurer → Treasurer & Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Daniel Walker (2021–2022) — Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Ness Family Foundation
How much does Ness Family Foundation give each year?
Ness Family Foundation gave $47K across 6 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $101K across 15 grants.
What is Ness Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Ness Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $7,500, and its average grant was $7,750, across 6 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Ness Family Foundation give grants?
Ness Family Foundation gives mostly in Colorado: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Boulder, CO (4 grants).
Does Ness Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 6 grants with a stated purpose on Ness Family Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Ness Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Ness Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Cu Foundation ($15,000), The Summit Foundation ($12,500) and Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art ($10,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 81% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Ness Family Foundation?
Ness Family Foundation reported $3.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $47K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $17K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Ness Family Foundation?
Ness Family Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Boulder, CO. It holds $3.4M in total assets as of 2024.
What is Ness Family Foundation's EIN?
Ness Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 85-4316657. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Here's the math on researching Ness Family Foundation by hand.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Ness Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Colorado Gives Foundation
Arvada, CO
Colorado Gives Foundation funds nonprofits serving Jefferson County, Colorado, with priorities including essential needs, housing, food security, education, workforce development, health, and connected neighborhoods. Its 2024 median grant was $17,814; current opportunities offer $2,500–$100,000 for responsive support and $5,000–$25,000 for housing. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$527.1M
Grants
2,211
Total Given
$91.0M
The Denver Foundation
Denver, CO
The Denver Foundation supports community organizations working on economic opportunity, climate and environment, housing, youth well-being, and related charitable work, with racial equity guiding its grantmaking. Its Community Grants typically award $20,000–$50,000 to organizations serving the seven-county Metro Denver region; other funds have different award levels and may support work beyond the region.
Assets
$1.3B
Grants
1,184
Total Given
$131.7M
Xcel Energy Foundation
Minneapolis, MN
The Xcel Energy Foundation funds STEM career pathways, environmental sustainability, and community vitality programs in Xcel Energy’s service area across Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota, Colorado, Texas, and New Mexico. Its 2024 grants ranged from $5 to $619,552, with a median of $512. It does not accept unsolicited requests; applications are by invitation only.
Assets
—
Grants
1,820
Total Given
$7.7M
The Janus Henderson Foundation
Denver, CO
The Janus Henderson Foundation funds youth development, education, community initiatives, and employee charitable giving across Asia Pacific, EMEA, and North America. Its 2024 grants ranged from $8 to $300,000, with a median of $278. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$3.7M
Grants
336
Total Given
$1.4M
Rose Community Foundation
Denver, CO
Rose Community Foundation funds nonprofits in the seven-county Greater Denver region across Jewish life, education and economic opportunity, health, and community wellbeing, with some statewide initiatives. Its 2024 itemized grants ranged from $5,050 to $1,348,353, with a median of $25,000; it accepts inquiries for listed funding opportunities, but whether it accepts unsolicited requests generally is not stated.
Assets
$399.6M
Grants
531
Total Given
$27.8M
Shell USA Company Foundation
Houston, TX
In 2024, the foundation supported health and medical research, human services, education, and community organizations, with the largest share of grants going to Texas, followed by Louisiana. Grants ranged from $15 to $290,782, with a median of $1,000; it funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$52.3M
Grants
4,650
Total Given
$16.0M
The Colorado Health Foundation
Denver, CO
The Colorado Health Foundation funds Colorado organizations working to improve health and health equity, including projects in primary care, housing, recovery, advocacy, and community solutions; it offers project, operating, capacity-building, and capital support. Its 2024 grants had a median of $80,000, though awards ranged widely, and its work is statewide, with 96% of 2024 grant dollars going to Colorado recipients. Applicants must apply through an open funding opportunity; the profile does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$2.9B
Grants
684
Total Given
$102.2M
Christian Community Foundation Inc
Colorado Springs, CO
WaterStone funds charitable and educational efforts, especially direct Christian ministries, through donor-recommended grants to eligible U.S. and international nonprofits whose missions align with its Statement of Faith. Its 2025 grants had a median of $20,000, though amounts varied widely; it does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests, and grants are recommended by donors.
Assets
$746.4M
Grants
1,651
Total Given
$161.8M
Daniels Fund
Denver, CO
The Daniels Fund supports nonprofit organizations in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming, with grants focused on areas including aging, amateur sports, disabilities, addiction, early childhood education, homelessness and disadvantage, K–12 education reform, and youth. The profile does not state a typical grant size or whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$1.4B
Grants
1,593
Total Given
$69.7M
The Bold Foundation Inc
Denver, CO
The Bold Foundation supports scholarships, fellowships, and grants for students’ higher-education expenses, serving students nationwide. It reported 769 grants totaling about $1.2 million in 2022, but no typical award size is stated; the available information does not say whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$4.9M
Grants
769
Total Given
$1.2M
Otter Cares Foundation
Fort Collins, CO
Otter Cares supports K–12 entrepreneurship and philanthropy education, youth programs, and hands-on learning spaces, primarily in Colorado’s Larimer and Weld counties, with some support reaching Northern Colorado and beyond. Its program grants typically range from $1,000 to $25,000; across all 2024 grants, the median award was $275. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$9.7M
Grants
490
Total Given
$693K
Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation
Denver, CO
The Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation primarily funds early childhood education and development for children from birth to age five, along with related quality improvement and evaluation, especially in underserved communities and rural Colorado. Most grants are $10,000–$50,000, and funding is focused primarily on Colorado. It accepts unsolicited requests through its responsive grant cycles, though some targeted initiatives are by invitation.
Assets
$477.1M
Grants
486
Total Given
$19.8M
More Funders in Colorado
Ness Family Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?