The Peternell Family Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Wilmington, DE EIN: 20-3864384

The Peternell Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware. In 2024, it reported making 13 grants totaling $165,000, supporting organizations working in areas including conservation, children’s programs, music education, community initiatives, and university programs.

Key facts about The Peternell Family Foundation

In short: The Peternell Family Foundation gave $165K across 13 grants in 2024 (avg $13K), mostly in Colorado. 25% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
20-3864384
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$165,000
Grants made (2024)
13
Average grant
$12,692
Median grant
$15,000
New grantees (estimate)
25% first-time grantees (3 of 12, 2024)
Total assets
$3,197,679
Primary geography
Colorado (78% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to apply
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 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-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$3.2M

+21.2% YoY

Annual Giving

$165K

+3.8% YoY

Grant Count

13

+18.2% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$13K

-12.2% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Peternell Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $162K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Is The Peternell Family Foundation open to new grantees?

25%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 3 of 12 grantees (25%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $17K. How we count

Medians: $3K first-time, $18K repeat.

  • 75% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving grew 21% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 114% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

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

Mission & Focus Areas

No foundation mission is stated in the available information. Its 2024 grants show support for a range of organizations. For example, Roundup River Ranch says it offers free, medically supported camp programs for children with life-altering diagnoses and their families. Eagle Valley Land Trust says it protects land, scenic beauty, recreational opportunities, and wildlife habitats. Inside the Orchestra says it brings music to children through engaging experiences with orchestral music.

Other 2024 recipients include the University of Colorado Foundation, which describes its role as receiving, managing, and investing philanthropic gifts for the University of Colorado; Vail Valley Foundation, which says it works to enhance quality of life through arts, athletics, and education; and Walking Mountains, which says it provides natural science education to inspire environmental stewardship and sustainability.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation reported 13 grants totaling $165,000. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $30,000, with a median grant of $15,000. Notable grants included $30,000 to Trout Unlimited for Rio Grande Basin Improvement; $25,000 to Roundup River Ranch; $20,000 to Eagle Valley Land Trust; $18,050 to Inside the Orchestra; and $17,000 to the University of Colorado Foundation for Crawford WHOLE Student Athlete.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2024, 78% of grant dollars went to recipients in Colorado and 18% to recipients in Washington, DC. Tennessee received 3% and North Carolina 0%, as reported in the grant-dollar distribution.

Grant Distribution by State

5states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.

Cities

DenverAvonSteamboat SprEdwardsGypsumWoolly BuggerSteamboat SpringsWashingtonAuroraBasaltCharlotteMemphisVail

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$50K$100K$150K$200K12 grants2020 12 grants2021 10 grants2022 11 grants2023 13 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $135K (2020) to $165K (2024). In 2024 it made 13 grants totaling $165K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Trout Unlimited Inc: $30KTrout Unlimited Inc$30KRoundup River Ranch: $25KRoundup River Ranch$25KUniversity of Colorado Foundation: $23K across 2 grantsUniversity of ColoradoFoundation$23K · 2 grantsEagle Valley Land Trust: $20KEagle Valley Land Trust$20KInside the Orchestra Inc: $18KInside the Orchestra Inc$18KVail Valley Foundation Inc: $15KVail Valley Foundation Inc$15KWalking Mountains: $15KWalking Mountains$15KYampa Valley Community Foundation: $5KYampa Valley CommunityFoundation$5KSt Jude Childrens Research Hospital Inc: $5KSt Jude Childrens ResearchHospital Inc$5KYampa Valley Sustainability Council: $5KYampa Valley SustainabilityCouncil$5K

The largest 2024 recipient was Trout Unlimited Inc ($30K). Together the top 10 received $162K.

Grant Size Distribution

58 grants across all recorded years

58<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 58 grants of 58 (100%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Trout Unlimited Inc Washington, DCRio Grande Basin Improvement$30,000
Roundup River Ranch Gypsum, COGeneral & Unrestricted$25,000
Eagle Valley Land Trust Edwards, COGeneral & Unrestricted$20,000
Inside the Orchestra Inc Aurora, COGeneral & Unrestricted$18,050
University of Colorado Foundation Denver, COCrawford WHOLE Student Athlete$17,000
Vail Valley Foundation Inc Avon, COYouth Power 365$15,000
Walking Mountains Avon, COGeneral & Unrestricted$15,000
University of Colorado Foundation Denver, COBuff Club$6,450
Yampa Valley Community Foundation Steamboat Springs, COSoda Creek Elementary School$5,000
St Jude Childrens Research Hospital Inc Memphis, TNGeneral & Unrestricted$5,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants
2024 $3,197,679 $764,721 $204,785 $165,000 (13)
2023 $2,637,743 $104,773 $191,068 $159,000 (11)
2022 $2,724,038 $144,245 $199,363 $163,000 (10)
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$250K$500K$750K$1M2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$3,197,679$2,637,743$2,724,038
Revenue$764,721$104,773$144,245
Expenses$204,785$191,068$199,363
Qualifying Distributions$183,604$176,534$181,700
Net Investment Income$727,082$91,139$129,530
Distributable Amount$161,588$154,269$171,349

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Ben C. Peternell as president, director, and secretary; Pamela Peternell as director and vice president; and Andrew Peternell, Jamie Peternell, and Mark A. Peternell as vice presidents.

The Peternell Family Foundation is led by Ben C Peternell, President, Director & Secretary on every filing since 2020; none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Ben C Peternell

    President, Director & Secretary

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Pamela Peternell

    Director & Vice President

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Andrew Peternell

    Vice President

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jamie Peternell

    Vice President

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Mark A Peternell

    Vice President

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (1)
  • Former: Sara Delaney Peternell (2020–2022) — Vice President

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Contact

Mailing address: Foundation Source 501 Silverside Rd, Wilmington, DE 19809-1377
Phone: (800) 839-1754

Frequently asked questions about The Peternell Family Foundation

How much does The Peternell Family Foundation give each year?

The Peternell Family Foundation gave $165K across 13 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $159K across 11 grants.

What is The Peternell Family Foundation's typical grant size?

The Peternell Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $15,000, and its average grant was $12,692, across 13 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Peternell Family Foundation that year got $3K on average.

Where does The Peternell Family Foundation give grants?

The Peternell Family Foundation gives mostly in Colorado: 78% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was District of Columbia (18%). The most frequent recipient cities were Denver, CO (3 grants) and Avon, CO (2 grants).

Does The Peternell Family Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 46% of The Peternell Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (6 of 13) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are The Peternell Family Foundation's largest grantees?

The Peternell Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Trout Unlimited Inc ($30,000), Roundup River Ranch ($25,000) and University of Colorado Foundation ($23,450 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 48% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is The Peternell Family Foundation?

The Peternell Family Foundation reported $3.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $184K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $162K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does The Peternell Family Foundation fund?

No foundation mission is stated in the available information. Its 2024 grants show support for a range of organizations. For example, Roundup River Ranch says it offers free, medically supported camp programs for children with life-altering diagnoses and their families. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from The Peternell Family Foundation?

The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is The Peternell Family Foundation's EIN?

The Peternell Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-3864384. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Does The Peternell Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?

No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑

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

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