Thefish Foundation
Thefish Foundation is a private foundation based in Denver, Colorado. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, including groups working in education, animal welfare, food assistance, financial education, and writing.
Thefish Foundation at a glance
In short: Thefish Foundation gave $33K across 11 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), mostly in Colorado. 36% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $32,700
- +13.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 11
- -8.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,973
- +23.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,000
- Total assets
- $408,938
- +41.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 36% first-time grantees (4 of 11, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Colorado (82% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Thefish Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 2556 S Milwaukee St, Denver, CO 80210-6215
Phone: (720) 635-3852
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Thefish Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Sewall Child Development Center ($12K). Together the top 10 received $32K.
Grant Size Distribution
50 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 50 grants of 50 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 82% of grant dollars went to recipients in Colorado, 12% to recipients in Oregon, and 6% to recipients in Iowa.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Thefish Foundation open to new grantees?
36%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 11 grantees (36%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $4K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 55% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 39% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 116% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $21K (2020) to $33K (2025). In 2025 it made 11 grants totaling $33K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Sewall Child Development Center Denver, CO | Education | $11,500 |
| Denver Dumb Friends League Denver, CO | General Operations | $6,500 |
| Food Bank of the Rockies Denver, CO | General Operations | $2,500 |
| Young Americans Center for Financial Education Denver, CO | General Operating | $2,500 |
| Oregon Food Bank Portland, OR | General Operating | $2,500 |
| University of Iowa Iowa City, IA | General Operating | $2,000 |
| Solve Oregon Portland, OR | General Operating | $1,500 |
| Colorado Pet Pantry Boulder, CO | 2023 contribution paid in 2024 | $1,350 |
| Metro Caring Denver, CO | General Operating | $1,350 |
| Rocky Mountain Feline Rescue Denver, CO | General Operating | $500 |
Ready to take the next step with Thefish 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $408,938 | $154,786 | $33,941 | $32,700 | 11 | $32,700 | $153,545 | $28,221 |
| 2024 | $289,093 | $12,815 | $29,150 | $28,900 | 12 | $28,900 | $12,815 | $27,579 |
| 2023 | $305,828 | $7,942 | $24,100 | $22,000 | 8 | $23,400 | $7,967 | $22,906 |
| 2022 | $320,586 | $6,809 | $24,560 | $23,600 | 8 | $23,600 | $6,828 | $23,035 |
| 2021 | $339,387 | $8,744 | $27,500 | $26,550 | 11 | $26,550 | $9,144 | $26,152 |
| 2020 | $357,093 | $8,891 | $24,247 | $21,150 | 7 | — | $8,891 | $20,902 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Thefish Foundation reported a distributable amount of $28K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s own mission is not stated in the available information. Its 2025 grants included support for organizations whose stated missions include providing inclusive learning environments (Sewall Child Development Center), ending pet homelessness and animal suffering (Denver Dumb Friends League), and nourishing people facing food insecurity (Food Bank of the Rockies). Other supported organizations describe work to eliminate hunger and its root causes (Oregon Food Bank), provide food while addressing hunger’s underlying causes (Metro Caring), and help Colorado families keep their pets (Colorado Pet Pantry). Rocky Mountain Feline Rescue says it cares for homeless cats and kittens until they find permanent homes; Lighthouse Writers Workshop describes itself as a community-based center promoting literary engagement, growth, and connection.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 11 grants totaling $32,700. Grants ranged from $500 to $11,500, with a median grant of $2,000.
The largest reported grants were $11,500 to Sewall Child Development Center for education and $6,500 to Denver Dumb Friends League for general operations. Other grants included $2,500 each to Food Bank of the Rockies, Young Americans Center for Financial Education, and Oregon Food Bank; $2,000 to the University of Iowa; and $1,500 to Solve Oregon. The filing also lists $1,350 to Colorado Pet Pantry, described as a 2023 contribution paid in 2024, and $1,350 to Metro Caring. Rocky Mountain Feline Rescue and Lighthouse Writers Workshop each received $500.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Wendy Ann Fish as president, Charles E Fish as secretary, Charles L Fish as treasurer, and Andrew J Fish as vice president.
Thefish Foundation is led by Wendy Ann Fish, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Wendy Ann Fish
President
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Charles L Fish
Secretary & Treasurer
Vice President → Vice President & Treasurer, 2022
Vice President & Treasurer → Secretary & Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Andrew J Fish
Vice President
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Sandra Fish (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Charlie Fish (2020–2021) — Assistant Treasurer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Thefish Foundation
How much does Thefish Foundation give each year?
Thefish Foundation gave $33K across 11 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $29K across 12 grants.
What is Thefish Foundation's typical grant size?
Thefish Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $2,000, and its average grant was $2,973, across 11 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Thefish Foundation that year got $2K on average.
Where does Thefish Foundation give grants?
Thefish Foundation gives mostly in Colorado: 82% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Oregon (12%) and Iowa (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Denver, CO (7 grants) and Portland, OR (2 grants).
Does Thefish Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 82% of Thefish Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (9 of 11) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Thefish Foundation's largest grantees?
Thefish Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Sewall Child Development Center ($11,500), Denver Dumb Friends League ($6,500) and Food Bank of the Rockies ($2,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 63% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Thefish Foundation?
Thefish Foundation reported $409K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $33K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $28K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Thefish Foundation fund?
The foundation’s own mission is not stated in the available information. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Thefish Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Thefish Foundation's EIN?
Thefish Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-2922694. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Thefish 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
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 25, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Thefish Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Colorado
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Saint Louis, MO
The Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports charitable and educational nonprofits in communities where Enterprise Mobility operates, focusing on health, education, arts, and disaster relief; applicants must be actively supported by an Enterprise Mobility team member, spouse, or domestic partner. Giving varies widely: it reported 9,499 grants in 2024, but its 2025 filing showed one grant of $101.4 million, so that amount is not a typical award. Applications are accepted at any time through eligible Enterprise-affiliated applicants; the Foundation does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$594.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$101.4M
Colorado Gives Foundation
Arvada, CO
Colorado Gives Foundation funds nonprofits serving Jefferson County in areas including food security, early care and education, workforce development, housing, health and convenient neighborhoods; it also offers statewide nonprofit capacity-building support. Typical giving varies widely: its 2024 median grant was $17,814, while Thriving Jeffco Responsive Grant awards ranged from $2,500 to $100,000. It accepts applications through listed grant opportunities, but whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$527.1M
Grants
2,211
Total Given
$91.0M
Christian Community Foundation Inc
Colorado Springs, CO
WaterStone supports domestic and international nonprofits, including Christian ministries and charitable and educational organizations, through donor-directed grants; eligible organizations must be IRS-recognized 501(c)(3)s whose mission aligns with its Statement of Faith. Its 2025 grants had a median of $20,000, with awards ranging from $5,028 to $11 million, and were concentrated in Texas and Colorado. Grant recommendations come from donor-advised fund holders; the profile does not state that it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$746.4M
Grants
1,651
Total Given
$161.8M
Daniels Fund
Denver, CO
The Daniels Fund supports nonprofits working in aging, amateur sports, disabilities, addiction, early childhood and K–12 education, homelessness, and youth development. Its 2024 grants had a median of about $14,000, primarily for organizations in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming; select national-impact programs are also eligible, by invitation only.
Assets
$1.4B
Grants
1,593
Total Given
$69.7M
The Denver Foundation
Denver, CO
The Denver Foundation supports nonprofits working in economic opportunity, environment and climate, housing, and youth well-being, with an emphasis on racial equity and historically underserved communities in the seven-county Metro Denver region. Its Community Grants typically range from $20,000 to $50,000; the 2024 median across reported grants was $26,500. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.3B
Grants
1,184
Total Given
$131.7M
The Bold Foundation Inc
Denver, CO
The Bold Foundation supports access to higher education and academic research through scholarships, fellowships, grants, and other student funding for students around the country. Its typical giving level is not stated, and the available information does not say whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$4.9M
Grants
769
Total Given
$1.2M
More similar funders
More Funders in Colorado
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Thefish 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.
Thefish Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?