Thiry-O'Leary Foundation
The Thiry-O'Leary Foundation is a private foundation based in Cherry Hills Village, Colorado. Its 2024 grants supported organizations working in areas including democracy and civic engagement, conservation, education, biomedical research, and human services.
Thiry-O'Leary Foundation at a glance
In short: Thiry-O'Leary Foundation gave $2.9M across 49 grants in 2024 (avg $60K), mostly in Colorado. 53% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,939,452
- +62.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 49
- +40.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $59,989
- +15.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $36,843,061
- +3.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 53% first-time grantees (26 of 49, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Colorado (66% 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 Thiry-O'Leary 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: 2 Cantitoe Lane, Cherry Hills Village, CO 80113
Phone: (303) 405-2000
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Thiry-O'Leary Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Unite America Institute ($609K). Together the top 10 received $2.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
221 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 164 grants of 221 (74%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, grant dollars went primarily to organizations in Colorado (66%), followed by California (15%), Virginia (11%), Massachusetts (4%), and Washington, DC (2%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 49 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Thiry-O'Leary Foundation open to new grantees?
53%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 26 of 49 grantees (53%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $28K; repeat grants $96K. How we count
Medians: $13K first-time, $35K repeat.
- 24% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 38% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 169% 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 $1.8M (2023) to $2.9M (2024). In 2024 it made 49 grants totaling $2.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Unite America Institute Denver, CO | Support and promote democracy reform initiatives across the country | $609,352 |
| The Nature Conservancy Arlington, VA | Conservation of Lands and Waters | $302,000 |
| University of Denver Denver, CO | Support for Students | $255,000 |
| Denver Hybrid College Denver, CO | Support for Students | $250,000 |
| Gladstone Foundation San Francisco, CA | Supporting Biomedical Research | $250,000 |
| League of Women Voters of Colorado Denver, CO | Protect and Expand Voting Rights and Representation | $125,000 |
| DSST Public School Fund Denver, CO | Support for Students | $100,000 |
| La Raza Services Denver, CO | Support Essential Human Services | $100,000 |
| Represent US Education Fund Florence, MA | Support American Democracy | $100,000 |
| Stanford University Development Services Stanford, CA | Denise O'Leary and Kent Thiry Endowed Pending Fund | $100,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Thiry-O'Leary 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 | $36,843,061 | $2,778,002 | $3,082,433 | $2,939,452 | 49 | $2,999,157 | $2,896,806 | $1,776,773 |
| 2023 | $35,573,808 | $592,195 | $2,218,136 | $1,813,650 | 35 | $2,174,056 | $776,908 | $1,547,417 |
| 2022 | $28,094,339 | $823,254 | $2,592,253 | $2,443,780 | 58 | $2,484,740 | $767,865 | $1,751,845 |
| 2021 | $29,831,272 | $623,611 | $2,326,455 | $2,128,875 | 40 | $2,277,210 | $599,193 | $2,017,475 |
| 2020 | $31,542,860 | $12,461,407 | $3,022,613 | $2,773,330 | 39 | — | $8,999,408 | $1,346,927 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Thiry-O'Leary Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.8M 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 mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants went to organizations with varied missions. For example, Unite America Institute says it encourages broad-based, nonpartisan civic engagement and conducts research on political polarization; The Nature Conservancy says its mission is to conserve the lands and waters on which life depends. The University of Denver describes its mission as advancing scholarly inquiry, cultivating critical and creative thought, and generating knowledge. Other 2024 recipients included organizations supporting college students in career pathways, providing election and government information, conducting fundraising for biomedical research institutes, and providing culturally responsive human services.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 49 grants totaling $2,939,452. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $609,352, with a median of $25,000. Among the largest grants were $609,352 to Unite America Institute, $302,000 to The Nature Conservancy, $255,000 to the University of Denver, $250,000 each to Denver Hybrid College and Gladstone Foundation, and $125,000 to the League of Women Voters of Colorado.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Denise M. O'Leary as president, Kent J. Thiry as secretary, Matthew Thiry as vice president, and Christina Thiry as treasurer.
Thiry-O'Leary Foundation is led by Denise M. O'Leary, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Denise M. O'Leary
President
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christina Thiry
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kent J. Thiry
Secretary
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Matthew Thiry
Vice President
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about Thiry-O'Leary Foundation
How much does Thiry-O'Leary Foundation give each year?
Thiry-O'Leary Foundation gave $2.9M across 49 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.8M across 35 grants.
What is Thiry-O'Leary Foundation's typical grant size?
Thiry-O'Leary Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $59,989, across 49 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Thiry-O'Leary Foundation that year got $28K on average.
Where does Thiry-O'Leary Foundation give grants?
Thiry-O'Leary Foundation gives mostly in Colorado: 66% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were California (15%) and Virginia (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Denver, CO (21 grants), San Francisco, CA (4 grants), Stanford, CA (4 grants) and Mill Valley, CA (2 grants).
Does Thiry-O'Leary Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 2% of Thiry-O'Leary Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 49) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Support for Students" (7 grants).
Who are Thiry-O'Leary Foundation's largest grantees?
Thiry-O'Leary Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Unite America Institute ($609,352), The Nature Conservancy ($302,000) and University of Denver ($255,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 40% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Thiry-O'Leary Foundation?
Thiry-O'Leary Foundation reported $36.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.8M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Thiry-O'Leary Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants went to organizations with varied missions. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Thiry-O'Leary 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 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.
Does Thiry-O'Leary 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 4, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 9, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 6, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 15, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Thiry-O'Leary Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/thiry-o-leary-foundation-morg_55a51f3f1c964cb1aefe2c9d97437679
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_454059068_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Thiry-O'Leary Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/thiry-o-leary-foundation-morg_55a51f3f1c964cb1aefe2c9d97437679},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 Thiry-O'Leary 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.
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