The Joseph Henry Edmondson Foundation logo

The Joseph Henry Edmondson Foundation

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO EIN: 84-1090456 Website

The Joseph Henry Edmondson Foundation is a private foundation established in 1987 and based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Founded by General Charles and Mrs. Sallie Duff, the foundation was named after Sallie's father, Joseph Henry Edmondson. The foundation operates with a philosophy of quiet giving and strategic philanthropy, working alongside nonprofit partners to leverage resources and create equitable, impactful community change.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$25.9M

+1.8% YoY

Annual Giving

$815K

+29.5% YoY

Grant Count

125

+6.8% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$7K

+21.2% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Joseph Henry Edmondson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation believes that nonprofits are the foundation of a thriving community. Its mission centers on providing philanthropic support to the Pikes Peak region with a focus on:

  • Welfare of children, the ill, and the elderly
  • Preservation and improvement of the environment
  • Historic and folk art museums
  • Medical research
  • United Church of Christ outreach programs
  • Education
  • Health and human services
  • Arts and culture
  • Animal welfare
  • Youth organizations
  • Community building

Grantmaking

All potential grantees must contact the foundation office prior to applying. The foundation focuses its funding on organizations with which it has an established funding history. Applicants should reach out to hcarroll@jhedmondson.org before submitting a proposal.

Grant Range

$500 to $100,000

Average Grant

$10,000

How to Apply

**

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation primarily serves the Pikes Peak region, with most funding concentrated in Colorado Springs, Colorado. While grants are periodically awarded outside this geographic area under unique circumstances, the foundation's primary focus remains the greater Colorado Springs community.

Grant Distribution by State

13states
+5 more states

Cities

ArvadaAuroraBoulderBuena VistaCentennialCheyenneColorado SpringsCrested ButteDenverDundalkDurangoElbertElkhornFort CollinsFountainFruitaGoldenGreenwood VillageHartvilleHighlands Ranch

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

  • Total Assets: $25,875,314 (as of 2024)
  • Annual Income: $3.9 million
  • Total Giving: $814,760 (most recent filing)
  • Asset Growth: Total assets have grown from $13.4 million in 2011 to $25.9 million in 2024
  • Historical Giving: Since inception, the foundation has awarded grants in excess of $15,000,000 throughout the greater Colorado Springs community
  • Recent Grant Activity: 291 grants totaling $2 million documented in available records; annual giving decreased from $838,000 in 2022 to $629,000 in 2024
  • Grantee Reach: The foundation has supported 168 unique organizations
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$491K$982K$1M$2M20212022202320242025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$25,875,314$25,414,899$24,648,615
Revenue$1,476,256$1,301,643$1,153,433
Expenses$1,358,492$1,105,669$984,504
Qualifying Distributions$1,280,350$1,087,193$1,018,462
Net Investment Income$1,440,197$1,265,052$1,096,158
Distributable Amount$1,060,781$1,005,126$976,985

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$210K$419K$629K$838K80 grants202187 grants202287 grants2023117 grants2024125 grants2025

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Peak Education$50KPeak Education$45KHumane Society of the Pi…$21KEarly Connections Learni…$20KGlobal Livingston Instit…$16KTeach for America Inc$15KColorado Humanities$10KEl Paso County Bar Found…$10KGive Campaign$5KSalvation Army$5K

Grant Size Distribution

250 grants across all recorded years

245<$50K5$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Open Grants

1 open opportunity from The Joseph Henry Edmondson Foundation

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Peak Education ($50,000), Peak Education ($45,000), Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region ($21,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
A Woman's Work Longmont, COGeneral Operating Support event$1,000
Adaptive Sports Center Crested Butte, COGeneral Operating Support$1,000
African American Youth Leadership Conference Colorado Springs, COGeneral Operating Support$1,000
Atlas Preparatory School Colorado Springs, COHoliday Grant Project$1,000
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado Colorado Springs, COHoliday Grant Celebration$1,000
Bob Telmosse Foundation Colorado Springs, COHoliday Grant$1,000
Canine Partners of the Rockies Inc Northglenn, COGeneral Operating Support$1,500
Care & Share Colorado Springs, COHoliday Grant$2,500
Catholic Charities of Central Colorado Colorado Springs, COHoliday Grant$1,000
Centro de la Familia Colorado Springs, COHoliday Grant$1,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Heather Carroll - Executive Director (serving since 1998)

The foundation was established with guidance from two key community advisors: Ruth Rouss, an attorney, and Robert Ramsay, an investment advisor, who served as leaders and driving force for the foundation's early years.

Compensation Overview

From 2025 IRS filing

HEATHER CARROLLPresident/EXEC. DIR.$232KSEAN DUFFVice Chair$6KCAROLYN SUE RAMSAYDIRECTOR$6KREUBEN SPARKSChairman$6KLARRY GADDISDIRECTOR$6KKatrina Miller-StevensDIRECTOR$6KSHARON HAHNDIRECTOR$6KCARLOS JIMENEZDIRECTOR$6KSheri Duff-MerzDirector$6K

From 2025 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
HEATHER CARROLLPresident/EXEC. DIR.50$231,500
SEAN DUFFVice Chair1$5,500
CAROLYN SUE RAMSAYDIRECTOR1$5,500
REUBEN SPARKSChairman2.5$5,500
LARRY GADDISDIRECTOR1$5,500
Katrina Miller-StevensDIRECTOR1$5,500
SHARON HAHNDIRECTOR1$5,500
CARLOS JIMENEZDIRECTOR1$5,500
Sheri Duff-MerzDirector1$5,500

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

The foundation continues to be an active funder in the Colorado Springs region. Recent grantmaking has reached organizations across Colorado, Wyoming, New York, and California, with 97% of grants concentrated in Colorado. The foundation maintains an active grant opportunity and continues to accept applications from eligible nonprofits in its service area.

Foundation for Edmonds School District receives grant to support postsecondary

Frequently Asked Questions

What does The Joseph Henry Edmondson Foundation fund?

The foundation believes that nonprofits are the foundation of a thriving community. Its mission centers on providing philanthropic support to the Pikes Peak region with a focus on: • Welfare of children, the ill, and the elderly • Preservation and improvement of the environment • Historic and folk art museums • Medical research • United Church of Christ outreach programs • Education • Health and human services • Arts and culture • Animal welfare • Youth organizations • Community building

How do I apply for a grant from The Joseph Henry Edmondson Foundation?

**Grant Amounts & Types:** • Grant range: $500 to $100,000 • Average grant: $10,000 • Median grant: $2,000 • The majority of grants support capacity building and general operating support **Types of Support:** • General operating support • Capacity building • Project and program support • Building funds • Equipment **Application Process:** All potential grantees must contact the foundation office prior to applying. The foundation focuses its funding on organizations with which it has an establi…

Where does The Joseph Henry Edmondson Foundation make grants?

The foundation primarily serves the Pikes Peak region, with most funding concentrated in Colorado Springs, Colorado. While grants are periodically awarded outside this geographic area under unique circumstances, the foundation's primary focus remains the greater Colorado Springs community.

What size grants does The Joseph Henry Edmondson Foundation award?

In 2025, The Joseph Henry Edmondson Foundation awarded 125 grants totaling $815K — an average of about $7K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is The Joseph Henry Edmondson Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, The Joseph Henry Edmondson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is The Joseph Henry Edmondson Foundation's EIN?

The Joseph Henry Edmondson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-1090456. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.

Explore Open Grants

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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.

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