Thiry-o'leary Foundation

Foundation · Grantmaker CHERRY HILLS VILLAGE, CO EIN: 45-4059068

The Thiry-O'Leary Foundation is a private family foundation established in September 2012 and based in Denver, Colorado. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization with a volunteer leadership team.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

Annual Giving

$2.9M

+62.1% YoY

Grant Count

49

+40.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$60K

+15.8% YoY

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

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation focuses on funding initiatives across multiple subject areas, including:

  • Education
  • Environment and natural resources
  • Land resources
  • Philanthropy and grantmaking
  • Human services

Grantmaking

The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Funding is by invitation only.

Grant Range

$10,000

Average Grant

approximately $42,100–$205,000

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation supports projects across multiple U.S. states and cities, including:

  • California
  • Colorado
  • Connecticut
  • Florida
  • Illinois
  • Maryland
  • Minnesota
  • New Jersey
  • New York
  • North Carolina
  • Pennsylvania
  • Texas
  • Virginia
  • Wisconsin

Specific cities supported include Arlington, Boston, and Boulder, among others.

Grant Distribution by State

20states
+12 more states

Cities

ARLINGTONBERKELEYBOSTONBOULDERCENTENNIALCENTER CITYCHICAGOCINCINNATIDALLASDENVERENGLEWOODFLORENCEGARDNERLAKEWOODLITTLETONLOS ANGELESMEDORAMEMPHISMENLO PARKMEPHIS

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Assets:

  • Total assets: $35.6–$36.8 million (as of most recent filings)

Annual Activity:

  • Total giving: $1.8–$2.4 million annually
  • Annual expenses: approximately $2.2 million
  • Revenue: $592,195–$823,300 annually
  • Giving rate: approximately 5.1% of assets

Most Recent Filing: December 2023 (with 2024 data also available)

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$0.275$0.55$0.8250000000000001$1.120202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
Distributable Amount

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$735K$1M$2M$3M39 grants202040 grants202158 grants202235 grants202349 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

UNITE AMERICA INSTITUTE$609KTHE NATURE CONSERVANCY$302KUNIVERSITY OF DENVER$255KDENVER HYBRID COLLEGE$250KGLADSTONE FOUNDATION$250KLEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS O…$125KDSST PUBLIC SCHOOL FUND$100KLA RAZA SERVICES$100KREPRESENT US EDUCATION F…$100KSTANFORD UNIVERSITY DEVE…$100K

Grant Size Distribution

213 grants across all recorded years

159<$50K16$50–100K21$100–250K13$250–500K3$500K–1M1$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Unite America Institute ($609,352), The Nature Conservancy ($302,000), University of Denver ($255,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
UNITE AMERICA INSTITUTE DENVER, COSUPPORT AND PROMOTE DEMOCRACY REFORM INITIATIVES ACROSS THE COUNTRY$609,352
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY ARLINGTON, VACONSERVATION OF LANDS AND WATERS$302,000
UNIVERSITY OF DENVER DENVER, COSUPPORT FOR STUDENTS$255,000
DENVER HYBRID COLLEGE DENVER, COSUPPORT FOR STUDENTS$250,000
GLADSTONE FOUNDATION SAN FRANCISCO, CASUPPORTING BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH$250,000
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF COLORADO DENVER, COPROTECT AND EXPAND VOTING RIGHTS AND REPRESENTATION$125,000
DSST PUBLIC SCHOOL FUND DENVER, COSUPPORT FOR STUDENTS$100,000
LA RAZA SERVICES DENVER, COSUPPORT ESSENTIAL HUMAN SERVICES$100,000
REPRESENT US EDUCATION FUND FLORENCE, MASUPPORT AMERICAN DEMOCRACY$100,000
STANFORD UNIVERSITY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES STANFORD, CADENISE O'LEARY AND KENT THIRY ENDOWED PENDING FUND$100,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Key personnel include:

  • Denise M. O'Leary – President
  • Kent J. Thiry – Secretary
  • Matthew Thiry – Vice President
  • Christina Thiry – Treasurer

All leadership members serve on a voluntary basis without compensation.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
KENT J THIRYSECRETARY5
DENISE M O'LEARYPRESIDENT0.25
MATTHEW THIRYVICE PRESIDENT0.25
CHRISTINA THIRYTREASURER0.25

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Thiry-o'leary Foundation fund?

The foundation focuses on funding initiatives across multiple subject areas, including: • Education • Environment and natural resources • Land resources • Philanthropy and grantmaking • Human services

How do I apply for a grant from Thiry-o'leary Foundation?

**Grant Activity:** • Total annual giving: approximately $1.8–$2.4 million • Number of grants: 34–58 grants annually (varies by year) • Median grant size: $10,000 • Grant range: $1,000–$400,000 • Average grant size: approximately $42,100–$205,000 **Application Policy:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Funding is by invitation only.

Where does Thiry-o'leary Foundation make grants?

The foundation supports projects across multiple U.S. states and cities, including: • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Florida • Illinois • Maryland • Minnesota • New Jersey • New York • North Carolina • Pennsylvania • Texas • Virginia • Wisconsin Specific cities supported include Arlington, Boston, and Boulder, among others.

What size grants does Thiry-o'leary Foundation award?

In 2024, Thiry-o'leary Foundation awarded 49 grants totaling $2.9M — an average of about $60K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

What is Thiry-o'leary Foundation's EIN?

Thiry-o'leary Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-4059068. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

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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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