Paws Up Foundation
Paws Up Foundation is a private family-owned and operated organization created by the Lipson Family in 1994 and based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It supports charitable organizations, with the foundation describing its giving as intended to promote education, animal welfare, and conservation.
Paws Up Foundation at a glance
In short: Paws Up Foundation gave $306K across 16 grants in 2024 (avg $19K), mostly in Texas. 38% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $306,138
- +187.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 16
- -27.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $19,134
- +295.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $2,500
- Total assets
- $659,103
- +30.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 38% first-time grantees (6 of 16, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Texas (83% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Paws Up Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 7435 S Eastern Ave 613, Las Vegas, NV 89123
Phone: (702) 696-9960
Website: https://pawsupfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Paws Up Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was National Cowgirl Museum ($253K). Together the top 10 received $300K.
Grant Size Distribution
79 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 77 grants of 79 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s 2024 grants went to recipients in Texas, Montana, Nevada, Illinois, and Connecticut. Texas accounted for 83% of grant dollars, Montana 12%, and Nevada 3%; Illinois and Connecticut each accounted for about 1% or less.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Paws Up Foundation open to new grantees?
38%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 16 grantees (38%) were first-time recipients. With only 16 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $45K; repeat grants $3K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 63% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 495% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $51K (2021) to $306K (2024). In 2024 it made 16 grants totaling $306K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| National Cowgirl Museum Fort Worth, TX | Program Service. | $252,500 |
| Blackfoot Challenge Ovando, MT | Program Service. | $15,000 |
| Western Montana Fair and Livestock Sale Missoula, MT | Program Service. | $10,048 |
| St Judes Children's Research Hospital Las Vegas, NV | Program Service. | $5,000 |
| Yoga Haven Las Vegas, NV | Program Service. | $5,000 |
| Brave Hearts Harvard, IL | Program Service. | $3,000 |
| American Quarter Horse Foundation Amarillo, TX | Program Service. | $2,500 |
| Big Blackfoot Chapter of Montana Trout Unlimited Ovando, MT | Program Service. | $2,500 |
| Working Dogs for Conservation Bozeman, MT | Program Service. | $2,500 |
| Ebony Horsewomen Hartford, CT | Program Service. | $1,500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $659,103 | $425,493 | $310,591 | $306,138 | 16 | $306,138 | $29,378 | $26,075 |
| 2023 | $504,254 | $27,109 | $110,947 | $106,573 | 22 | $106,573 | $24,811 | $27,123 |
| 2022 | $586,357 | $48,245 | $171,973 | $171,099 | 20 | $171,099 | $7,669 | $41,430 |
| 2021 | $709,211 | $609,893 | $57,108 | $51,425 | 12 | $51,425 | $24,173 | $20,095 |
| 2020 | $280,751 | $26,991 | $60,045 | $57,865 | 9 | — | $24,811 | $13,214 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Paws Up Foundation reported a distributable amount of $26K for 2024 — 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 describes its giving as intended to promote education, animal welfare, and conservation. It lists Blackfoot Challenge, Watson Children’s Shelter, Working Dogs for Conservation, the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, Humane Society of Western Montana, and scholarships associated with the University of Montana business school and UNLV hospitality program among organizations it supports.
Grantee missions illustrate some of the work funded. Blackfoot Challenge says it coordinates efforts to conserve and enhance natural resources and rural life in the Blackfoot Watershed. The Humane Society of Western Montana says it works to help pets and people thrive through adoption, training, humane education, behavior consultations, and veterinary care. Ebony Horsewomen says it uses horses, assisted therapy, and psychotherapy to empower youths, families, and veterans and build leaders. The American Quarter Horse Foundation says it connects horses and people through charitable giving to preserve the horse’s legacy and support the well-being of the American Quarter Horse family.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 16 grants totaling $306,138. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $252,500, with a median of $2,500. The largest award was $252,500 to the National Cowgirl Museum in Fort Worth, Texas. Other notable grants included $15,000 to Blackfoot Challenge in Ovando, Montana; $10,048 to Western Montana Fair and Livestock Sale in Missoula; and $5,000 each to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital and Yoga Haven, both in Las Vegas.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Nadine E. Lipson is listed as president and director on the 2024 filing. The foundation’s website identifies her as co-founder and owner. It also describes Kelli Sue Sellers and Mindy Marcum in connection with the foundation.
Paws Up Foundation is led by Nadine E. Lipson, President & Director on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Nadine E. Lipson
President & Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Larry E. Lipson (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Paws Up Foundation
How much does Paws Up Foundation give each year?
Paws Up Foundation gave $306K across 16 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $107K across 22 grants.
What is Paws Up Foundation's typical grant size?
Paws Up Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $2,500, and its average grant was $19,134, across 16 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Paws Up Foundation that year got $45K on average.
Where does Paws Up Foundation give grants?
Paws Up Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 83% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Montana (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Missoula, MT (4 grants), Ovando, MT (2 grants), Las Vegas, NV (2 grants) and Seeley Lake, MT (2 grants).
Does Paws Up Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 16 grants with a stated purpose on Paws Up Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Service." (15 grants).
Who are Paws Up Foundation's largest grantees?
Paws Up Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include National Cowgirl Museum ($252,500), Blackfoot Challenge ($15,000) and Western Montana Fair and Livestock Sale ($10,048), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 91% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Paws Up Foundation?
Paws Up Foundation reported $659K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $306K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $26K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Paws Up Foundation fund?
The foundation describes its giving as intended to promote education, animal welfare, and conservation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Paws Up Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Paws Up Foundation's EIN?
Paws Up Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3946129. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Paws Up Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 7, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 7, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 13, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Paws Up Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/paws-up-foundation-morg_9e6e4ef9ac804e51acad254648827ddc
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_363946129_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Paws Up Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/paws-up-foundation-morg_9e6e4ef9ac804e51acad254648827ddc},
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 Paws Up 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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