Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation
The Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation is a private foundation based in Denver, Colorado. It supports children’s positive development through grants and partnerships, focusing primarily on Colorado and concentrating its grantmaking on programs that benefit children.
Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation at a glance
In short: Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation gave $19.8M across 486 grants in 2025 (avg $41K), mostly in Colorado. 21% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $19,798,712
- +7.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 486
- +3.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $40,738
- +4.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $477,051,325
- +8.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 21% first-time grantees (85 of 399, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Colorado (98% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- Invitation Only
-
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests through its responsive grant cycles, which are open to projects aligned with its focus. Applications are submitted through the online portal. Applicants are encouraged to speak with a regional Program Officer before applying. Applicants must meet the foundation’s eligibility requirements, and organizations are limited to one request per year (or 12-month period). Some targeted initiatives are generally offered by invitation; early childhood council applications are also by invitation.
- Review Cycle
- The foundation lists 2027 deadlines of January 15, May 3, and September 1. Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. MST/MDT on the deadline date. The May cycle also includes invited early childhood council applications, and the January cycle includes applications for mental health consultation grants.
- Deadline
- The foundation lists 2027 deadlines of January 15, May 3, and September 1.
- Contact
Application contact: Grant Review Committee
Mailing address: 950 S Cherry Street Suite 1500, Denver, CO 80246
Phone: (303) 744-1688
Website: https://buellfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation
Who Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Colorado Forum Fund Inc ($1.0M). Together the top 10 received $3.6M.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 individual scholarships ($50,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
2,456 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1,758 grants of 2,456 (72%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation focuses primarily on Colorado. In 2025, 98% of grant dollars went to recipients in Colorado. Its website reports that, over the last five years, it awarded $64 million outside Metro Denver and $35 million in Metro Denver, and that its grants reached 131 Colorado communities.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 486 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation open to new grantees?
21%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 85 of 399 grantees (21%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $47K; repeat grants $50K. How we count
Medians: $14K first-time, $30K repeat.
- 67% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+1%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 114% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $18.4M (2024) to $19.8M (2025). In 2025 it made 486 grants totaling $19.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado Forum Fund Inc Denver, CO | The Drive Initiative at the Colorado | $1,000,000 |
| Boys and Girls Clubs of the San Lui Alamosa, CO | Ece capital, to be paid when 50 of c | $300,000 |
| Vail Valley Foundation Inc Avon, CO | Capital for the Avon Childcare Cente | $250,000 |
| Colorado Statewide Parent Coalition Denver, CO | FFN Caregiver Policy Implementation, | $220,000 |
| Stratton Area Foundation 2 Inc Stratton, CO | Childcare Center Development in Stra | $220,000 |
| Colorado Community College System F Denver, CO | The Skills Instructor Pilot at Four | $200,000 |
| Early Childhood Council Leadership Arvada, CO | The Family Child Care Home Facilitie | $200,000 |
| TLC Learning Center Longmont, CO | Capital for the TLC Early Learning C | $200,000 |
| Resilient Communities Resilient Fut Denver, CO | Embedding Trauma-Informed Practices | $185,000 |
| Clayton Early Learning Trustee Geor Denver, CO | General Operating Support, to Be PAI | $175,000 |
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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 | $477,051,325 | $39,102,168 | $28,112,543 | $19,798,712 | 486 | $23,319,279 | $27,264,152 | $20,422,833 |
| 2024 | $440,322,882 | $19,076,617 | $26,071,767 | $18,350,862 | 472 | $21,445,830 | $8,759,864 | $19,463,030 |
| 2023 | $395,996,375 | $17,419,429 | $26,444,628 | $19,351,468 | 474 | $22,296,802 | $9,309,719 | $18,071,414 |
| 2022 | $377,422,437 | $27,172,510 | $24,823,770 | $19,532,294 | 485 | $21,617,910 | $21,045,880 | $20,684,912 |
| 2021 | $451,057,990 | $15,336,176 | $24,280,150 | $19,796,907 | 539 | — | $12,139,208 | $21,824,935 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation reported a distributable amount of $20.4M for 2025 — 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’s stated mission is to support the positive development of children through grants and partnerships with other sectors of the community. Its primary funding area is early childhood education and development, with a priority on programs serving children from birth to age five. It also supports quality improvement and meaningful evaluation and assessment. The foundation says it prioritizes rural Colorado; its website reports that more than 65% of recent grants went to communities outside the Denver metro area.
The foundation funds organizations tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) or government entities; applicants should be public charities rather than private foundations. Its website lists requirements including mission alignment, a non-discrimination policy, no more than nine months of operating reserves, and one grant request per year. It does not fund crisis pregnancy centers, debt relief, or endowments.
Examples of organizations receiving 2025 grants show a range of work. The Colorado Statewide Parent Coalition, which received $220,000, describes its mission as providing equitable educational opportunities for children and families. Early Childhood Council Leadership, which received $200,000, says it strengthens the accessibility, quality, and equity of local services and supports through a statewide system of early childhood councils. Centennial Mental Health Center, which received $170,000, describes its mission as providing behavioral health services. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 486 grants totaling $19,798,712. Grants ranged from $478 to $1,000,000, with a median of $25,000. The foundation’s website says most grants range from $10,000 to $50,000.
Among the largest 2025 awards were $1,000,000 to Colorado Forum Fund for “The Drive Initiative at the Colorado”; $300,000 to Boys and Girls Clubs of the San Luis for early-childhood education capital; and $250,000 to Vail Valley Foundation for capital for the Avon Childcare Center. Other notable awards included $220,000 each to Colorado Statewide Parent Coalition and Stratton Area Foundation 2, and $200,000 each to Colorado Community College System and Early Childhood Council Leadership.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Reginald L. Washington as Chair/Trustee; Arthur H. Bosworth II as Co-Chair/Trustee; Priscilla R. Lucero as Treasurer/Trustee; Noelle Hagan as Secretary/Trustee; Thomas J. Curnes, Thomas G. McGonagle, Margaret C. Morrissey, Douglas Price, and Ellen Roberts as trustees; and Stephen Erkenbrack as President and CEO.
Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation is led by Stephen Erkenbrack, President & CEO on every filing since 2023; all 10 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Stephen Erkenbrack
President & CEO
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$164K (2023) → $343K (2025)
Reginald L. Washington
Chair & Trustee
On filings since 2021
8 hrs/week
$33K (2021) → $74K (2025)
Arthur H. Bosworth II
Co-Chair & Trustee
Co-Chair & Trustee → Trustee, 2024
Trustee → Co-Chair & Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
$28K (2021) → $43K (2025)
Margaret C. Morrissey
Trustee
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
$28K (2021) → $48K (2025)
Thomas G. McGonagle
Trustee
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
$28K (2021) → $42K (2025)
Thomas J. Curnes
Trustee
Trustee → Vice Chair, 2024
Vice Chair → Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
$28K (2021) → $48K (2025)
Douglas Price
Trustee
On filings since 2024
5 hrs/week
$34K (2024) → $45K (2025)
Ellen Roberts
Trustee
On filings since 2024
5 hrs/week
$25K (2024) → $46K (2025)
Noelle Hagan
Secretary
Secretary & Trustee → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
$28K (2021) → $48K (2025)
Priscilla R. Lucero
Treasurer
Treasurer & Trustee → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
$28K (2021) → $50K (2025)
Former officers (3)
- Former: Daniel Ritchie (2021–2024) — Past Chair
- Former: Susan J. Steele (2021–2023) — President & CEO
- Former: Steve Erkenbrack (2021–2022) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $343K, to Stephen Erkenbrack (Pres & CEO). 10 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation
How much does Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation give each year?
Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation gave $19.8M across 486 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $18.4M across 472 grants.
What is Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation's typical grant size?
Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $40,738, across 486 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation that year got $47K on average.
Where does Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation give grants?
Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation gives mostly in Colorado: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Denver, CO (143 grants), Aurora, CO (24 grants), Pueblo, CO (18 grants) and Fort Collins, CO (15 grants).
Does Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 29% of Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (142 of 486) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Infrastructure and Systems Building," (21 grants), "Early Childhood Mental Health Consul" (16 grants) and "Tuition Assistance" (5 grants).
Who are Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation's largest grantees?
Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Colorado Forum Fund Inc ($1,000,000), Early Childhood Council Leadership ($415,000 across 4 grants) and Boys and Girls Clubs of the San Lui ($320,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 individual scholarships ($50,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 9% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation?
Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation reported $477.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $23.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $20.4M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to support the positive development of children through grants and partnerships with other sectors of the community. Its primary funding area is early childhood education and development, with a priority on programs serving children from birth to age five. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation?
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests through its responsive grant cycles, which are open to projects aligned with its focus. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation's EIN?
Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-6037604. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Does Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/temple-hoyne-buell-foundation-morg_62835581a9fc4a889f934e2e339479ec
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_846037604_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/temple-hoyne-buell-foundation-morg_62835581a9fc4a889f934e2e339479ec},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 Temple Hoyne Buell 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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