The Telluray Foundation
The Telluray Foundation is a private independent foundation established in 2003 in Colorado and based in Littleton, CO. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization with significant philanthropic assets and a commitment to substantial annual giving across multiple focus areas.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$72.6M
+9.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.8M
-38.2% YoY
Grant Count
51
+15.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$56K
-46.7% YoY
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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation focuses on funding initiatives in the following areas:
- Education
- Environment and natural resources
- Health and diseases/conditions
- Religion, particularly Christianity
- Human services
- Youth development and youth organizing
Grantmaking
The foundation operates with substantial annual expenses relative to its asset base. In fiscal year 2023, the foundation had expenses of $5,356,026 against revenue of $1,942,348, demonstrating a commitment to active philanthropic spending.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking extends across multiple states including:
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Massachusetts
- Maryland
- Montana
- Virginia
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of fiscal year 2023:
- Total Assets: $66,427,439
- Annual Revenue: $1,942,348
- Annual Expenses: $5,356,026
- Total Liabilities: $92
The foundation's expense-to-asset ratio reflects an active grantmaking approach, with annual spending significantly exceeding annual revenue.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $72,561,725 | $66,427,439 | $85,174,434 |
| Revenue | $2,981,298 | $1,942,348 | $2,700,778 |
| Expenses | $3,668,567 | $5,356,026 | $8,035,836 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,454,191 | $5,095,511 | $7,757,959 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,420,648 | $1,622,973 | $2,053,258 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,381,109 | $3,450,764 | $5,316,185 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
238 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Children's Hospital Colorado Foundation ($500,000), Craig Hospital Foundation ($259,031), Littleton Public Schools Foundation ($164,728).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ADVOCATES FOR CHILDREN CASA PARKER, CO | FOSTER YOUTH TRANSITION COORDINATION | $35,000 |
| ADVOCATES FOR CHILDREN CASA PARKER, CO | CASA HOLIDAY SHOP AND END-OF-YEAR PROGRAMMING | $3,000 |
| AMBLESIDE SCHOOL OF COLORADO CENTENNIAL, CO | AMBLESIDE BUILDING ACQUISITION | $100,000 |
| ARAPAHOE COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION LITTLETON, CO | LITTLETON COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP PROGRAM | $80,246 |
| ARAPAHOE COUNTY FOUNDATION LITTLETON, CO | PARTNERING FOR THE HOLIDAYS | $3,000 |
| ARAPAHOE SANTA CLAUS SHOP LITTLETON, CO | HOLIDAY GRANT | $3,000 |
| BREAK BREAD LITTLETON, CO | HOLIDAY GRANT | $3,000 |
| BRIDGE HOUSE BOULDER, CO | ENGLEWOOD EXPANSION | $100,000 |
| 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 |
| CITY YEAR DENVER DENVER, CO | SOCIAL WORK FELLOWSHIP PILOT | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Charles W. Ergen - President and Director. Ergen is the co-founder and board chairman of DISH Network (formerly EchoStar Communications Corporation). He has received recognition including being named one of the World's Best CEOs by Barron's magazine, inclusion on the Forbes Magazine Top Ten CEOs list, and the Frost & Sullivan 2001 CEO of the Year of the Satellite Industry.
Molly Chafetz - Foundation Director, serving full-time with annual compensation of $120,000.
Other key figures include Cantey M. Ergen, William R. Gouger, and Robert J. Hooke in significant roles. The foundation operates with a staff of 3 employees, with other directors serving without compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHARLES W ERGEN | PRESIDENT, DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| CANTEY M ERGEN | VICE PRESIDENT, DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| WILLIAM R GOUGER | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| ROBERT J HOOKE | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| CHRISTOPHER W ERGEN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| COURTNEY M ERGEN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KATHERINE NE FLYNN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| REILLY O FLYNN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KEVIN M MURRAY | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KERRY E MURRAY | BOARD CHAIR, DIRECTOR | 5 | $12,000 |
| MOLLY CHAFETZ | FOUNDATION DIRECTOR | 40 | $130,000 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Telluray Foundation fund?
The foundation focuses on funding initiatives in the following areas: • Education • Environment and natural resources • Health and diseases/conditions • Religion, particularly Christianity • Human services • Youth development and youth organizing
How do I apply for a grant from The Telluray Foundation?
The foundation operates with substantial annual expenses relative to its asset base. In fiscal year 2023, the foundation had expenses of $5,356,026 against revenue of $1,942,348, demonstrating a commitment to active philanthropic spending. The foundation supports projects across multiple U.S. states and cities, with a particular presence in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, Montana, and Virginia.
Where does The Telluray Foundation make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking extends across multiple states including: • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Massachusetts • Maryland • Montana • Virginia
What size grants does The Telluray Foundation award?
In 2024, The Telluray Foundation awarded 51 grants totaling $2.8M — an average of about $56K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Telluray Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Telluray Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Telluray Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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