The Telluray Foundation
The Telluray Foundation is a private foundation based in Littleton, Colorado. Its 2024 filing reports 51 grants totaling $2,832,232, including support for Colorado organizations working in health, education, arts, human services, and parks, as well as a Montana forest conservation project.
The Telluray Foundation at a glance
In short: The Telluray Foundation gave $2.8M across 51 grants in 2024 (avg $56K), mostly in Colorado. 36% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,832,232
- -38.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 51
- +15.9% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $55,534
- -46.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $35,000
- Total assets
- $72,561,725
- +9.2% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 36% first-time grantees (16 of 45, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Colorado (84% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Telluray Foundation
- 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.
- Contact
Mailing address: 5856 S Lowell Blvd 32-201, Littleton, CO 80123
Phone: (303) 536-5408
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Telluray Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Children's Hospital Colorado Foundation ($500K). Together the top 10 received $1.9M.
Grant Size Distribution
256 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 140 grants of 256 (55%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, Colorado recipients received 84% of grant dollars. California and Montana each received 5%, Virginia received 3%, and Massachusetts received 2%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 51 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Telluray Foundation open to new grantees?
36%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 16 of 45 grantees (36%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $59K; repeat grants $65K. How we count
Medians: $50K first-time, $30K repeat.
- 49% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 57% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 102% 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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.8M (2024) to $7.3M (2022). In 2024 it made 51 grants totaling $2.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Children's Hospital Colorado Foundation Aurora, CO | Addressing the youth mental health crisis: a philanthropic initiative to advance a healthier state of care | $500,000 |
| Craig Hospital Foundation Englewood, CO | Therapeutic and Healing Garden at Craig Hospital | $259,031 |
| Littleton Public Schools Foundation Littleton, CO | Central Production Kitchen | $164,728 |
| Littleton Town Hall Arts Center Littleton, CO | Capital Campaign | $150,000 |
| National Forest Foundation Missoula, MT | Blue Lakes Visitor Use Management Plan Implementation | $150,000 |
| Littleton Public Schools Foundation Littleton, CO | Central Production Kitchen | $116,571 |
| Ambleside School of Colorado Centennial, CO | Ambleside Building Acquisition | $100,000 |
| Bridge House Boulder, CO | Englewood Expansion | $100,000 |
| Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies San Jose, CA | General Operating Support | $100,000 |
| Tact Kids Inc Englewood, CO | General Operating Support | $100,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Telluray Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $72,561,725 | $2,981,298 | $3,668,567 | $2,832,232 | 51 | $3,454,191 | $2,420,648 | $3,381,109 |
| 2023 | $66,427,439 | $1,942,348 | $5,356,026 | $4,584,553 | 44 | $5,095,511 | $1,622,973 | $3,450,764 |
| 2022 | $85,174,434 | $2,700,778 | $8,035,836 | $7,309,442 | 44 | $7,757,959 | $2,053,258 | $5,316,185 |
| 2021 | $136,390,475 | $4,973,313 | $7,156,085 | $6,538,237 | 52 | $6,858,769 | $4,415,601 | $7,604,381 |
| 2020 | $138,266,117 | $2,440,638 | $7,484,400 | $6,511,114 | 65 | — | $2,063,101 | $6,898,338 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Telluray Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2024 grants include support for youth mental health, a therapeutic garden, a school central production kitchen, an arts center capital campaign, forest planning, homelessness services, and community leadership.
Grantees describe their own work in varied terms. Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation says it raises and stewards funds to support care, education, research, and advocacy for children and families. The Littleton Public Schools Foundation says it raises funds to support students’ paths to success through community partnerships. Bridge House describes its mission as addressing immediate needs of people experiencing homelessness and providing resources toward employment, housing, stability, and healing. The National Forest Foundation says it supports the National Forest System through on-the-ground programs and grantmaking.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 51 grants totaling $2,832,232. Grants ranged from $2,450 to $500,000, with a median of $35,000.
Among the largest reported grants were $500,000 to Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation for a youth mental health initiative; $259,031 to Craig Hospital Foundation for a therapeutic and healing garden; $164,728 and $116,571 to the Littleton Public Schools Foundation for a central production kitchen; $150,000 to Littleton Town Hall Arts Center for a capital campaign; and $150,000 to the National Forest Foundation for implementation of the Blue Lakes Visitor Use Management Plan. Other grants included $100,000 to Bridge House for an Englewood expansion and $75,000 to Denver Urban Gardens.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Charles W. Ergen as president and director; Cantey M. Ergen as vice president and director; William R. Gouger as treasurer; Robert J. Hooke as secretary; Christopher W. Ergen, Courtney M. Ergen, Katherine Ne Flynn, Reilly O. Flynn, Kevin M. Murray, and Kerry E. Murray as directors; and Kerry E. Murray as board chair.
The Telluray Foundation is led by Charles W. Ergen, President & Director on every filing since 2020; 2 of 11 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Charles W. Ergen
President & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kerry E. Murray
Board Chair & Director
Director → Board Chair & Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$12K (2024)
Kevin M. Murray
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$592 (2020) → $0 (2024)
Molly Chafetz
Foundation Director
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$120K (2023) → $130K (2024)
Cantey M. Ergen
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christopher W. Ergen
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Courtney M. Ergen
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Katherine Ne Flynn
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Reilly O. Flynn
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert J. Hooke
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
William R. Gouger
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Sharon Schneider (2020–2021) — Executive Director
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $130K, to Molly Chafetz (Foundation Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Telluray Foundation
How much does The Telluray Foundation give each year?
The Telluray Foundation gave $2.8M across 51 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $4.6M across 44 grants.
What is The Telluray Foundation's typical grant size?
The Telluray Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $35,000, and its average grant was $55,534, across 51 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Telluray Foundation that year got $59K on average.
Where does The Telluray Foundation give grants?
The Telluray Foundation gives mostly in Colorado: 84% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were California (5%) and Montana (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Littleton, CO (23 grants), Denver, CO (10 grants), Englewood, CO (4 grants) and Aurora, CO (2 grants).
Does The Telluray Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 10% of The Telluray Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (5 of 51) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Holiday Grant" (5 grants).
Who are The Telluray Foundation's largest grantees?
The Telluray Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Children's Hospital Colorado Foundation ($500,000), Littleton Public Schools Foundation ($325,299 across 4 grants) and Craig Hospital Foundation ($259,031), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 38% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Telluray Foundation?
The Telluray Foundation reported $72.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3.4M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Telluray Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2024 grants include support for youth mental health, a therapeutic garden, a school central production kitchen, an arts center capital campaign, forest planning, homelessness services, and community leadership. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Telluray 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 Telluray Foundation's EIN?
The Telluray Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-1090247. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Telluray Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Telluray Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved November 1, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-telluray-foundation-morg_8b6aa6d456284b65aa14a4aae76df288
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_201090247_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Telluray Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-telluray-foundation-morg_8b6aa6d456284b65aa14a4aae76df288},
note = {Accessed 2026-11-01. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Telluray 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.
The Telluray Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?