Windy Pines Foundation
Windy Pines Foundation is a private foundation based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Established in 2021, it provides financial resources to BIPOC-led and BIPOC-serving organizations working toward transformative social and economic change, with an emphasis on Colorado’s Pikes Peak region.
Windy Pines Foundation at a glance
In short: Windy Pines Foundation gave $1.4M across 26 grants in 2024 (avg $54K), mostly in Colorado. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,405,420
- +154.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 26
- -10.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $54,055
- +183.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $12,252,759
- -7.8% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Colorado (96% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Windy Pines Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states on its 2024 filing that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Its website also describes a rolling grant application and invites questions through its contact form; it does not specify application materials or eligibility requirements for that process.
- Contact
Mailing address: 118 N Tejon St Suite 202, Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Phone: (719) 649-0918
Website: https://www.windypinesfd.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Windy Pines Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Community Anchor Academy ($355K). Together the top 10 received $1.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
61 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 45 grants of 61 (74%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s stated geographic emphasis is Colorado, particularly the Pikes Peak region. Its 2024 grant dollars were reported as 96% to recipients in Colorado and 4% to recipients in Massachusetts. The Massachusetts recipient listed among the largest awards was Boston Impact Initiative in Roxbury.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 26 itemized grants.
Cities
How Windy Pines Foundation gives
- 38% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 210% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (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 2022 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $320K (2022) to $1.4M (2024). In 2024 it made 26 grants totaling $1.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Community Anchor Academy Colorado Springs, CO | General Fund Support | $355,000 |
| Unity Project Inc Colorado Springs, CO | General Fund Support | $322,600 |
| Food to Power Colorado Springs, CO | General Fund Support | $150,000 |
| Womens Comm Leadership Initiative Colorado Springs, CO | General Fund Support | $150,000 |
| Go Farm Golden, CO | General Fund Support | $145,000 |
| Boston Impact Initiative Roxbury, MA | General Fund Support | $50,000 |
| Blackpackers Colorado Springs, CO | General Fund Support | $30,000 |
| Millenium Allstars Cheer & Dance Team Colorado Springs, CO | General Fund Support | $25,000 |
| Solid Rock CDC Colorado Springs, CO | General Fund Support | $25,000 |
| Rise Southeast Coalition Colorado Springs, CO | General Fund Support | $20,000 |
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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 | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $12,252,759 | $666,879 | $1,623,577 | $1,405,420 | 26 | $1,463,874 | $349,254 | $697,673 |
| 2023 | $13,293,140 | $412,966 | $722,518 | $553,250 | 29 | $598,345 | $287,291 | $668,055 |
| 2022 | $13,607,807 | $76,470 | $458,300 | $320,000 | 6 | $334,930 | $140,424 | $665,974 |
| 2021 | $13,999,041 | $14,000,000 | — | — | — | — | — | $9,445 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Windy Pines Foundation reported a distributable amount of $698K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation says it aims to support transformative social and economic change in communities negatively affected by systemic inequity. Its stated priorities include work that changes inequitable systems or creates just systems, serves people harmed by inequitable systems, promotes change within existing systems, or builds connections and understanding among diverse social, economic, and racial groups. It also supports organizations that fund other groups doing this work.
Grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the range of work supported. Unity Project says it builds healthy, equitable communities through service, education, and singing. Women’s Community Leadership Initiative says it empowers women in Colorado Springs to develop their leadership and help create a more inclusive and equitable community. Food to Power describes its mission as cultivating a healthy, equitable food system in Greater Colorado Springs. Blackpackers describes providing outdoor gear, activities, and education, along with connections to career and education opportunities.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 26 grants totaling $1,405,420. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $355,000, with a median of $10,000. Its largest reported awards included $355,000 to Community Anchor Academy, $322,600 to Unity Project Inc., $150,000 to Food to Power, $150,000 to Women’s Community Leadership Initiative, and $145,000 to GO FARM. Other listed awards included $50,000 to Boston Impact Initiative, $30,000 to Blackpackers, and $25,000 each to Millenium Allstars Cheer & Dance Team and Solid Rock CDC.
The foundation’s website describes a Community Awarded Grant Program that shifts some grantmaking decisions to a Community Advisory Committee. It reports that six committee members each had $20,000 to award in 2023, and nine members distributed $180,000 in 2024. The website also described a planned 2025 round of $225,000; that cycle is in the past. The committee’s stated selection conditions were that organizations align with the foundation’s mission, not be organizations committee members work for, and not have received prior funding from Windy Pines.
The website also describes impact investments separately from grants. It reports a $500,000 investment in Boston Impact Initiative’s Fund 2, in addition to two years of general operating support of $50,000 per year, and a $500,000 investment in Colorado Housing Accelerator Initiative in 2024.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Melanie Lindsay-Brisbin as President, Randall Lindsay-Brisbin as Vice President, Jenna Mathews and Luke Brisbin as Directors, and Jacob Mathews as Secretary. Taylor Brisbin is also listed as a Director.
Windy Pines Foundation is led by Melanie Lindsay-Brisbin, President on every filing since 2021; none of the 6 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Melanie Lindsay-Brisbin
President
On filings since 2021
15 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jenna Mathews
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Luke Brisbin
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Taylor Brisbin
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Randall Lindsay-Brisbin
Vice President
On filings since 2021
15 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jacob Mathews
Secretary
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2024. "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 Windy Pines Foundation
How much does Windy Pines Foundation give each year?
Windy Pines Foundation gave $1.4M across 26 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $553K across 29 grants.
What is Windy Pines Foundation's typical grant size?
Windy Pines Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $54,055, across 26 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Windy Pines Foundation give grants?
Windy Pines Foundation gives mostly in Colorado: 96% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Colorado Springs, CO (22 grants) and Denver, CO (2 grants).
Does Windy Pines Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Windy Pines Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (26 of 26) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Windy Pines Foundation's largest grantees?
Windy Pines Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Community Anchor Academy ($355,000), Unity Project Inc ($322,600) and Food to Power ($150,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 59% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Windy Pines Foundation?
Windy Pines Foundation reported $12.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $698K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Windy Pines Foundation fund?
The foundation says it aims to support transformative social and economic change in communities negatively affected by systemic inequity. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Windy Pines Foundation?
The foundation states on its 2024 filing that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and 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 Windy Pines Foundation's EIN?
Windy Pines Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-3209367. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Does Windy Pines 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Windy Pines Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/windy-pines-foundation-morg_d59e53adfe4d417cbdac4c4becc74221
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_873209367_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Windy Pines Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/windy-pines-foundation-morg_d59e53adfe4d417cbdac4c4becc74221},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 Windy Pines 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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