They Were Here First Inc
They Were Here First Inc is a Westcliffe, Colorado, funder that filed as a Form 990-PF (a private foundation). Its 2022 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, including animal welfare and wildlife conservation organizations. Its most recent filing on record is for 2022, with nothing filed since; the funder appears to have wound down or stopped grantmaking.
They Were Here First Inc at a glance
In short: They Were Here First Inc gave $5K across 14 grants in 2022 (avg $326.786), mostly in Colorado. Source: 2022 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2022)
- $4,575
- +1.4% vs 2021
- Grants made (2022)
- 14
- +16.7% vs 2021
- Average grant
- $327
- -13.1% vs 2021
- Median grant
- $100
- Total assets
- $89,715
- +99.8% vs 2021
- Primary geography
- Colorado (77% of itemized 2022 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2022 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2022; updated October 2026.
How to apply to They Were Here First Inc
- 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: 301 Snowcrest Rd, Westcliffe, CO 81252
Phone: (719) 783-0303
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who They Were Here First Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2022
The largest 2022 recipient was Wet Mountain Wildlife ($3K). Together the top 10 received $4K.
Grant Size Distribution
26 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 26 grants of 26 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2022, Colorado organizations received 77% of grant dollars. Other recipient states listed were Utah (5%), and the District of Columbia, New Mexico, and Virginia (4% each).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2022 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
Cities
How They Were Here First Inc gives
- 86% of 2022 grantees were also funded in 2021. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2022). 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 2021 to 2022, annual grant giving ranged from $5K (2021) to $5K (2022). In 2022 it made 14 grants totaling $5K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Mountain Wildlife Westcliffe, CO | Charitable | $3,000 |
| Best Friends Animal Society Kanab, UT | Charitable | $250 |
| Pawsitive Reaction Silver Cliff, CO | Charitable | $250 |
| Heart & Soul Animal Sanctuary Glorieta, NM | Charitable | $200 |
| Mission Wolf Westcliffe, CO | Charitable | $100 |
| Wet Mountain Animal Welfare Westcliffe, CO | Charitable | $100 |
| Defenders of Wildlife Washington, DC | Charitable | $100 |
| National Wildlife Federation Merrifield, VA | Charitable | $100 |
| Dundee Memorial Park Omaha, NE | Charitable | $100 |
| World Wildlife Fund Washington, DC | Charitable | $100 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $89,715 | $50,000 | $5,185 | $4,575 | 14 | $4,585 | — |
| 2021 | $44,895 | — | $4,510 | $4,510 | 12 | $4,510 | $5 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the funder is provided. Its 2022 grants went to organizations whose work includes animal welfare and wildlife conservation. For example, Best Friends Animal Society describes its mission as ending the killing of dogs and cats in America’s shelters, while Mission Wolf says it provides sanctuary for wolves and horses and educates the public to promote wildlife and habitat conservation. Defenders of Wildlife describes its work as protecting native animals and plants in their natural communities.
Grantmaking
In 2022, the foundation gave $4,575 through 14 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $50 to $3,000, with a median of $100. The largest grant was $3,000 to Wet Mountain Wildlife in Westcliffe, Colorado. Other grants included $250 each to Best Friends Animal Society in Kanab, Utah, and Pawsitive Reaction in Silver Cliff, Colorado; $200 to Heart & Soul Animal Sanctuary in Glorieta, New Mexico; and $100 each to Mission Wolf and Wet Mountain Animal Welfare in Westcliffe, Colorado.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2022 filing lists Tracy Stoneman as president and Douglas Schulz as vice president.
They Were Here First Inc is led by Tracy Stoneman, President on every filing since 2021; none of the 2 officers listed in 2022 report compensation.
Officers on the 2022 filing
Tracy Stoneman
President
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Douglas Schulz
Vice President
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2022. "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 They Were Here First Inc
How much does They Were Here First Inc give each year?
They Were Here First Inc gave $5K across 14 grants in 2022, according to its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2021 it gave $5K across 12 grants.
What is They Were Here First Inc's typical grant size?
They Were Here First Inc's median grant in 2022 was $100, and its average grant was $327, across 14 grants on its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does They Were Here First Inc give grants?
They Were Here First Inc gives mostly in Colorado: 77% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Utah (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Westcliffe, CO (3 grants), Washington, DC (2 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants).
Does They Were Here First Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2022: none of the 14 grants with a stated purpose on They Were Here First Inc's 2022 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (14 grants).
Who are They Were Here First Inc's largest grantees?
They Were Here First Inc's largest 2022 grantees include Wet Mountain Wildlife ($3,000), Best Friends Animal Society ($250) and Pawsitive Reaction ($250), according to its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 77% of its itemized 2022 grant dollars.
How large is They Were Here First Inc?
They Were Here First Inc reported $90K in total assets on its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $50K.
What does They Were Here First Inc fund?
No mission statement for the funder is provided. Its 2022 grants went to organizations whose work includes animal welfare and wildlife conservation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from They Were Here First Inc?
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 They Were Here First Inc's EIN?
They Were Here First Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 86-3027940. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2022.
Does They Were Here First Inc 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2022
Live grants for the work They Were Here First Inc funds
Environment & Animals Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in They Were Here First Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Figures come from They Were Here First Inc'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.
They Were Here First Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?