The Denver Children’s Foundation (DCF) is a Denver, Colorado–based public charity that raises funds for organizations supporting at-risk and disadvantaged children. Founded in 1987, it began as a chartered organization under Active 20-30 International and became an independent foundation in 2022. Its members are business professionals ages 20 to 39, and the organization says it has raised and distributed more than $20 million in the community since its founding.
Key facts about The Denver Children's Foundation
In short: The Denver Children's Foundation gave $1.3M across 62 grants in 2024 (avg $21K), mostly in Colorado. 27% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.
- EIN
- 74-2535078
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990 filing, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,312,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 62
- Average grant
- $21,161
- Median grant
- $10,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 27% first-time grantees (17 of 62, 2024)
- Total assets
- $1,697,609
- Primary geography
- Colorado (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- Register through the foundation’s grant portal during the application period. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- July 31, 2026.
Data from IRS Form 990 filing, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990 filing · View filing
Total Assets
$1.7M
+20.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.3M
+12.4% YoY
Grant Count
62
+21.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$21K
-7.6% YoY
Is The Denver Children's Foundation open to new grantees?
27%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 17 of 62 grantees (27%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $11K; repeat grants $25K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $12K repeat.
- 69% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−1%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2021–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
DCF’s stated mission is to develop philanthropic leaders who mobilize the community to improve the lives of disadvantaged children. Its funding strategy focuses on four areas: education, health and well-being, child advocacy, and personal enrichment. Desired outcomes include educational readiness and graduation, access to healthcare and improved health outcomes, safety and long-term advocacy for children in crisis, and opportunities for mentorship and enrichment.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate the range of work funded. Illuminate Colorado says it works to prevent child maltreatment; Minds Matter Colorado connects students from low-income families with support to succeed in college; and Kids Mobility Network provides mobility and medical equipment to children with disabilities. Clothes to Kids of Denver provides clothing to students from low-income or in-crisis families, while the Listen Foundation supports children who are deaf or hard of hearing and their families.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, DCF reported 62 itemized grants totaling $1,312,000. Individual grants ranged from $10,000 to $500,000, with a median of $10,000. The filing’s program narrative separately states that DCF distributed $1,315,500 during 2024.
Review Cycle
July 31, 2026.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from The Denver Children's Foundation
Ready to take the next step with The Denver Children's Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
DCF states that its grantmaking serves Colorado, with a focus on Denver and surrounding areas. All itemized 2024 grant dollars went to Colorado recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 62 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.2M (2023) to $1.3M (2021). In 2024 it made 62 grants totaling $1.3M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Denver Post Community Foundation ($500K). Together the top 10 received $705K.
Grant Size Distribution
224 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 219 grants of 224 (98%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Denver Post Community Foundation Denver, CO | Program Operation - Restricted | $500,000 |
| Illuminate Colorado Denver, CO | Program Operation - Restricted | $30,000 |
| Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center Breckenridge, CO | Program Operation - Restricted | $25,000 |
| Minds Matter Colorado Denver, CO | Program Operation - Restricted | $25,000 |
| Third Way Center Denver, CO | Program Operation - Restricted | $25,000 |
| Clothes to Kids of Denver Denver, CO | Program Operation - Restricted | $20,000 |
| Denver Kids Inc Denver, CO | Program Operation - Restricted | $20,000 |
| Kids Mobility Network Centennial, CO | Program Operation - Restricted | $20,000 |
| Listen Foundation Inc Greenwood Village, CO | Program Operation - Restricted | $20,000 |
| Safehouse Denver Denver, CO | Program Operation - Restricted | $20,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grant sum | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,697,609 | $1,757,578 | $1,594,415 | $1,312,000 | 62 |
| 2023 | $1,411,757 | $1,380,745 | $1,399,548 | $1,167,500 | 51 |
| 2022 | $1,450,643 | $1,307,076 | $1,435,715 | $1,217,500 | 53 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,697,609 | $1,411,757 | $1,450,643 |
| Revenue | $1,757,578 | $1,380,745 | $1,307,076 |
| Expenses | $1,594,415 | $1,399,548 | $1,435,715 |
| Net Investment Income | $24,316 | $2,699 | $2,016 |
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
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing listed Adam Cohen as executive director; Nick Pirnack as president; Cody Phifer as president-elect; and Beau Jenkins as past president, each with the listed role as of October 2024. James Samuelsen was listed as treasurer and grants chair; David Haudenshield and Gino Scarpelli as co-treasurers; Eric Carlson as director; and Rob Falick as secretary through September 2024 and director. Devon Bolton was listed as a director through September 2024.
The Denver Children's Foundation is led by Adam Cohen, Executive Director on every filing since 2021; 1 of 16 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Adam Cohen
Executive Director
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$108K (2021) → $130K (2024)
Nick Pirnack
President
Director → President-Elect & Director, 2023
President-Elect & Director → President, 2024
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James Samuelsen
Treasurer & Grants Chair
Treasurer & Secretary → Treasurer -Grant Chair, 2023
Treasurer -Grant Chair → Treasurer & Grants Chair, 2024
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
$3K (2021) → $0 (2024)
Jj Simon
Grants Chair
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Devon Bolton
Director
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tyler Snover
Director
Treasurer → Treasurer & Director, 2023
Treasurer & Director → Director, 2024
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jack Hoyt
Director
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Eric Carlson
Director
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sean Hughes
Director
New on the 2024 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Beau Jenkins
Past President
President-Elect → President, 2023
President → Past President, 2024
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
$775 (2023) → $0 (2024)
Cody Phifer
President-Elect
President-Elect → President, 2022
President → President-Elect, 2024
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Vincent Luparell
Games Manager
General Counsel → Games Manager, 2024
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Haudenshield
Co-Treasurer
Treasurer-Raffle Chair → Co-Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rob Falick
Secretary
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Chris Kenney
General Counsel
New on the 2024 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gino Scarpelli
Co-Treasurer
New on the 2024 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (15)
- Former: Adam Massaro (2021–2023) — Past-President
- Former: Lucas Kulma (2022–2023) — Secretary
- Former: Raymond Paolini (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Brett Cunningham (2021–2022) — Grants Chair
- Former: Ethan Gilbert (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Taylor Kennedy (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Erik Taylor (2022) — Events Chair
- Former: Brandon Canfield (2021) — Director
- Former: Bryant Mazzetti (2021) — Director
- Former: Cameron Richards (2021) — Director
- Former: Christian Dinsdale (2021) — Director
- Former: David Shirazi (2021) — Past-President
- Former: Kenneth Monfort (2021) — Treasurer
- Former: Michael Fancher (2021) — Director
- Former: Sam Evasick (2021) — 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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $130K, to Adam Cohen (Executive Director).
Contact
Mailing address: 84 Spruce Street No 504, Denver, CO 80230
Phone: (303) 832-8390
Website: https://denverchildrensfoundation.org
Frequently asked questions about The Denver Children's Foundation
How much does The Denver Children's Foundation give each year?
The Denver Children's Foundation gave $1.3M across 62 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. In 2023 it gave $1.2M across 51 grants.
What is The Denver Children's Foundation's typical grant size?
The Denver Children's Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $21,161, across 62 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Denver Children's Foundation that year got $11K on average.
Where does The Denver Children's Foundation give grants?
The Denver Children's Foundation gives mostly in Colorado: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Denver, CO (22 grants), Aurora, CO (4 grants), Boulder, CO (3 grants) and Colorado Springs, CO (3 grants).
Does The Denver Children's Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 62 grants with a stated purpose on The Denver Children's Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990 filing were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Operation - Restricted" (62 grants).
Who are The Denver Children's Foundation's largest grantees?
The Denver Children's Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Denver Post Community Foundation ($500,000), Illuminate Colorado ($30,000) and Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center ($25,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. Together they received 42% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Denver Children's Foundation?
The Denver Children's Foundation reported $1.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. Its revenue that year was $1.8M.
What does The Denver Children's Foundation fund?
DCF’s stated mission is to develop philanthropic leaders who mobilize the community to improve the lives of disadvantaged children. Its funding strategy focuses on four areas: education, health and well-being, child advocacy, and personal enrichment. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Denver Children's Foundation?
Register through the foundation’s grant portal during the application period. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Denver Children's Foundation's EIN?
The Denver Children's Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-2535078. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching The Denver Children's Foundation by hand.
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