Tau Foundation
Tau Foundation is a private foundation, based in Denver, CO. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $537K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 7 grants totaling $120K. Net investment income was $18K.
Tau Foundation at a glance
In short: Tau Foundation gave $120K across 7 grants in 2025 (avg $17K), mostly in Colorado. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $120,000
- +50.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 7
- +600.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $17,143
- -78.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $537,192
- +144.6% vs 2024
- 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 November 2026.
Who Tau Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 6 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Tennyson Center for Children ($60K). Together the top 6 received $105K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($15,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
9 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 7 grants of 9 (78%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Tau Foundation gives
- In 2025 it paid out 529% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $800 (2021) to $120K (2025). In 2025 it made 7 grants totaling $120K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Tennyson Center for Children Denver, CO | Supporting Children & Families | $60,000 |
| Haven of Hope Denver, CO | Recource Center for the Homeless | $20,000 |
| 1 grant to individuals Recipients not named | — | $15,000 |
| Women's Bean Project Denver, CO | Empowering Women Through Work | $10,000 |
| Harvest of Hope Pantry Boulder, CO | Helping Those Facing Food Insecurity | $5,000 |
| Habitat for Humanity Denver, CO | Build Affordable Housing | $5,000 |
| University of Colorado Foundation Denver, CO | Supporting Students & Faculty | $5,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $537,192 | $404,301 | $121,737 | $120,000 | 7 | $120,433 | $17,983 | $22,768 |
| 2024 | $219,628 | $137,610 | $81,597 | $80,000 | 1 | $80,390 | $5,023 | $12,741 |
| 2023 | $163,615 | $4,560 | $1,121 | — | — | $242 | $3,286 | $8,948 |
| 2022 | $160,176 | $3,995 | $1,051 | — | — | $234 | $3,441 | $8,569 |
| 2021 | $157,232 | $9,012 | $1,890 | $800 | 1 | $1,047 | $8,169 | $9,038 |
| 2020 | $150,110 | $49,320 | $22,424 | $20,500 | 3 | — | $3,509 | $7,241 |
| 2019 | $123,214 | $36,945 | $6,461 | $5,000 | 1 | — | $15,243 | $5,674 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Tau Foundation reported a distributable amount of $23K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Tau Foundation's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jody Harper Alderman
Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
John Alderman
Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about Tau Foundation
How much does Tau Foundation give each year?
Tau Foundation gave $120K across 7 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $80K across 1 grant.
What is Tau Foundation's typical grant size?
Tau Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $17,143, across 7 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Tau Foundation give grants?
Tau 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 (5 grants).
Does Tau Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 7 grants with a stated purpose on Tau Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Tau Foundation's largest grantees?
Tau Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Tennyson Center for Children ($60,000), Haven of Hope ($20,000) and Women's Bean Project ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($15,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 75% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Tau Foundation?
Tau Foundation reported $537K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $120K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $23K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Tau Foundation's EIN?
Tau Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-5560809. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated November 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(9)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 31, 2026)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS September 9, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 8, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 3, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 18, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 8, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 8, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 27, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Live grants for the work Tau Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in Tau Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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