The Elf Foundation
The Elf Foundation is a private foundation, based in Fort Collins, CO. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.4M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 2 grants totaling $28K.
The Elf Foundation at a glance
In short: The Elf Foundation gave $28K across 2 grants in 2025 (avg $14K), mostly in Colorado. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $28,000
- +1766.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 2
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $14,000
- +1766.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $14,000
- Total assets
- $1,408,500
- -16.0% 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 September 2026.
Who The Elf Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Fort Collins Museum of Discovery ($23K). Together the top 2 received $28K.
Grant Size Distribution
14 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 13 grants of 14 (93%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 2 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Elf Foundation gives
- Giving fell 63% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 309% 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 $2K (2024) to $75K (2022). In 2025 it made 2 grants totaling $28K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Collins Museum of Discovery Fort Collins, CO | Community Educationcommunity Education | $23,000 |
| Mosaic Fort Collins, CO | Human Rights | $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 | $1,408,500 | $2,670 | $270,037 | $28,000 | 2 | $208,566 | — | $67,524 |
| 2024 | $1,676,005 | $13,721 | $158,245 | $1,500 | 2 | $119,281 | — | $50,599 |
| 2023 | $1,983,777 | $98,751 | $250,767 | $34,000 | 3 | $196,900 | $46,006 | $92,900 |
| 2022 | $2,175,590 | $34,804 | $277,015 | $75,000 | 4 | $225,775 | — | $101,806 |
| 2021 | $2,363,673 | $1,010,532 | $194,374 | $24,000 | 3 | — | $780,123 | $39,659 |
| 2020 | $1,558,668 | $214,820 | $259,334 | $60,000 | 1 | — | $77,104 | $71,341 |
| 2019 | $1,712,209 | $88,910 | $264,481 | $69,000 | 5 | — | $79,339 | $84,774 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Elf Foundation reported a distributable amount of $68K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Elf Foundation is led by Sean Shelley, Trustee on every filing since 2019 — the only officer listed, and compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Sean Shelley
Trustee
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$169K (2019) → $210K (2025)
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $210K, to Sean Shelley (Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about The Elf Foundation
How much does The Elf Foundation give each year?
The Elf Foundation gave $28K across 2 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $2K across 2 grants.
How large is The Elf Foundation?
The Elf Foundation reported $1.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $209K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $68K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
Where does The Elf Foundation operate?
The Elf Foundation has awarded grants in Colorado, New Mexico, Texas.
What is The Elf Foundation's EIN?
The Elf Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-1548560. 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
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 7, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 27, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 2, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS January 26, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS January 17, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 9, 2024)
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Elf Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Figures come from The Elf 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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