The Colava Foundation
The Colava Foundation is a private foundation, based in Chicago, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.5M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 2 grants totaling $20K. Net investment income was $29K.
The Colava Foundation at a glance
In short: The Colava Foundation gave $20K across 2 grants in 2025 (avg $10K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $20,000
- -20.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 2
- -33.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $10,000
- +20.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $1,505,833
- +73.0% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who The Colava Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Muttville ($15K). Together the top 2 received $20K.
Grant Size Distribution
12 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 12 grants of 12 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 2 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Colava Foundation gives
- Giving fell 26% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 40% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 $6K (2019) to $39K (2020). In 2025 it made 2 grants totaling $20K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Muttville San Francisco, CA | To continue the mission of the Colava Foundation | $15,000 |
| Stand Together Bay Area Fund Los Angeles, CA | To continue the mission of the Colava Foundation | $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 | $1,505,833 | $29,137 | $23,564 | $20,000 | 2 | $20,000 | $29,137 | $50,256 |
| 2024 | $870,540 | $26,071 | $28,982 | $25,000 | 3 | $25,000 | $26,071 | $38,376 |
| 2023 | $763,721 | $17,573 | $21,453 | $20,000 | 3 | $20,000 | $17,573 | $35,751 |
| 2022 | $616,949 | $772 | $28,485 | $27,000 | 1 | $27,000 | $772 | $33,614 |
| 2021 | $876,136 | $36,227 | $20,254 | $18,200 | 3 | $18,200 | $36,227 | $38,110 |
| 2020 | $639,027 | $8,397 | $40,990 | $39,000 | 7 | — | $8,397 | $25,676 |
| 2019 | $471,477 | $23,432 | $12,354 | $5,500 | 3 | — | $23,432 | $1,834 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Colava Foundation reported a distributable amount of $50K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Colava Foundation is led by Lauren Barski, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Lauren Barski
President
On filings since 2019
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Pamela Hancock
Director
On filings since 2019
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Conrad Barski
Vice President
On filings since 2019
0.2 hrs/week
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 The Colava Foundation
How much does The Colava Foundation give each year?
The Colava Foundation gave $20K across 2 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $25K across 3 grants.
How large is The Colava Foundation?
The Colava Foundation reported $1.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $20K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $50K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
Where does The Colava Foundation operate?
The Colava Foundation has awarded grants in California, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, South Carolina.
What is The Colava Foundation's EIN?
The Colava Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-1895143. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 18, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 29, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 6, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 10, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 18, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 9, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Colava Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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