The Maroon Bells above a meadow and lake near Aspen, Colorado

Form 990-PFTax year 2024EIN 84-6030309

Schlessman Foundation Inc

A private foundation in Denver, CO. Its return for tax year 2024 lists 116 grants and $6.8 million paid in grants.

Tax year 2024 (period ending Mar 31, 2025), read from the IRS e-file on Nov 11, 2026. Returns reach the IRS 5 to 18 months after the year they describe.

How to apply

Preselected only

The return checks the box saying the foundation gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Assets and giving by year

6 returns on file
Grants paid by tax year. The latest year is in blue.
  • Tax year 2024

    $6,838,500

    Grants listed
    116
    Assets, end of year
    $86,372,162
  • Tax year 2023

    $6,162,333

    Grants listed
    112
    Assets, end of year
    $84,366,246
  • Tax year 2022

    $5,657,083

    Grants listed
    139
    Assets, end of year
    $84,940,736
  • Tax year 2021

    $8,529,096

    Grants listed
    184
    Assets, end of year
    $82,645,895
  • Tax year 2020

    $4,988,250

    Grants listed
    171
    Assets, end of year
    $80,270,995
  • Tax year 2019

    $3,857,000

    Grants listed
    163
    Assets, end of year
    $32,282,044

Grants paid in 2024

116 grants, largest first

As listed on the return.

  1. YMCA of the RockiesEstes Park, CO

    General operations

    $1,000,000
  2. Fort Lewis College FoundationDurango, CO

    General operations

    $700,000
  3. Denver Zoological FoundationDenver, CO

    General operations

    $425,000
  4. Roundup River RanchGypsum, CO

    General operations

    $320,000
  5. Warren VillageDenver, CO

    General operations

    $320,000
  6. High Line CanalCentennial, CO

    General operations

    $315,000
  7. University of DenverDenver, CO

    General operations

    $315,000
  8. Greeley-Weld Habitat for HumanityGreeley, CO

    General operations

    $255,000
  9. We Don't WasteDenver, CO

    General operations

    $237,500
  10. Craig HospitalEnglewood, CO

    General operations

    $225,000
  11. Denver Botanic GardensDenver, CO

    General operations

    $215,000
  12. Denver Museum of Nature & ScienceDenver, CO

    General operations

    $200,000
  13. Sun Valley Kitchen and Community CenterDenver, CO

    General operations

    $117,500
  14. Women's Bean ProjectDenver, CO

    General operations

    $113,750
  15. Casa de PazAurora, CO

    General operations

    $110,000
  16. Colorado CollegeColorado SPGS, CO

    Colorado pledge endowed scholarship

    $100,000
  17. Denver Scholarship FoundationDenver, CO

    Schlessman family foundation scholarship

    $100,000
  18. Scottish RiteDenver, CO

    General operations

    $40,000
  19. Young American'sDenver, CO

    Ameritowne & youthbiz

    $38,000
  20. Minds Matter ColoradoDenver, CO

    General operations

    $35,000
  21. Metro CaringDenver, CO

    General operations

    $30,000
  22. Whiz KidsDenver, CO

    General operations

    $30,000
  23. Adams County Emergency Food BankCommerce City, CO

    General operations

    $25,000
  24. DMNSDenver, CO

    General operations

    $25,000
  25. Girls Inc of Metropolitan DenverDenver, CO

    General operations

    $25,000
  26. Grid Alternatives ColoradoDenver, CO

    General operations

    $25,000
  27. Kids First Health CareCommerce City, CO

    General operations

    $25,000
  28. Mile High MinistriesDenver, CO

    General operations

    $25,000
  29. Sewall Child Development CenterDenver, CO

    General operations

    $25,000
  30. The Laboratory to Combat Human TraffickingDenver, CO

    General operations

    $25,000
  31. American Red CrossDenver, CO

    General operations

    $22,500
  32. Emily Griffith FoundationDenver, CO

    General operations

    $22,500
  33. Mountain Resource CenterConifer, CO

    General operations

    $22,500
  34. The Gathering PlaceDenver, CO

    General operations

    $21,000
  35. EarthlinksDenver, CO

    General operations

    $20,000
  36. Food Bank of the RockiesAurora, CO

    General operations

    $20,000
  37. Kids in Need of DentistryCommerce City, CO

    Kind oral health centers

    $20,000
  38. Lutheran Medical Center FoundationWheat Ridge, CO

    General operations

    $20,000
  39. Mi CasaDenver, CO

    General operations

    $20,000
  40. National Jewish HealthDenver, CO

    General operations

    $20,000
  41. Raise the FutureDenver, CO

    General operations

    $20,000
  42. Reading PartnersOakland, CA

    General operations

    $20,000
  43. Second Wind FundDenver, CO

    General operations

    $20,000
  44. The Delores ProjectDenver, CO

    General operations

    $20,000
  45. Iliff School of TheologyDenver, CO

    General operations

    $19,000
  46. Denver Street SchoolDenver, CO

    General operations

    $18,000
  47. Hope CommunitiesDenver, CO

    General operations

    $18,000
  48. Hope House ColoradoArvada, CO

    General operations

    $18,000
  49. Parkinson Association of the RockiesDenver, CO

    General operations

    $18,000
  50. The Colorado Association of Black Professional Engineers and ScientistsDenver, CO

    General operations

    $18,000
  51. Celebrate EduBoulder, CO

    General operations

    $17,500
  52. Children's Museum of Denver at Marsico CampusDenver, CO

    General operations

    $17,500
  53. Colorado Institute of Developmental Pediatrics (adam's Camp)Englewood, CO

    General operations

    $17,500
  54. Colorado UpliftAurora, CO

    General operations

    $17,500
  55. Ekar FarmDenver, CO

    General operations

    $17,500
  56. Environmental Learning for KidsDenver, CO

    General operations

    $17,500
  57. Lighthouse Writers WorkshopDenver, CO

    General operations

    $17,500
  58. Metro Denver PartnersDenver, CO

    General operations

    $17,500
  59. Mile High 360Denver, CO

    General operations

    $17,500
  60. Rocky Mountain Youth Medical and Nursing (DBA Every Child Pediatrics)Thornton, CO

    General operations

    $17,500
  61. Teaching Peace DBA Longmont Community Justice PartnershipLongmont, CO

    General operations

    $17,500
  62. Volunteers for Outdoor ColoradoDenver, CO

    General operations

    $17,500
  63. Work OptionsDenver, CO

    General operations

    $17,500
  64. Blind Institute of TechnologyThornton, CO

    General operations

    $17,000
  65. The Conflict CenterDenver, CO

    General operations

    $16,000
  66. Ability Connection ColoradoDenver, CO

    Statewide family support services

    $15,000
  67. Anchor Center for Blind ChildrenDenver, CO

    General operations

    $15,000
  68. Archway Housing and ServicesLakewood, CO

    General operations

    $15,000
  69. Augie's Quest to Cure ALSLittleton, CO

    General operations

    $15,000
  70. Bayaud EnterprisesDenver, CO

    General operations

    $15,000
  71. Book TrustDenver, CO

    General operations

    $15,000
  72. Boys Hope Girls Hope of ColoradoAurora, CO

    General operations

    $15,000
  73. Brothers Redevelopment IncEdgewater, CO

    Home modification & repair

    $15,000
  74. Butterfly PavilionWestminster, CO

    General operations

    $15,000
  75. Chanda Plan FoundationLakewood, CO

    General operations

    $15,000
  76. Clothes to Kids of DenverDenver, CO

    General operations

    $15,000
  77. Coal Creek Meals on WheelsLafayette, CO

    General operations

    $15,000
  78. Colorado Center for the BlindLittleton, CO

    General operations

    $15,000
  79. Colorado Fourteeners InitiativeLakewood, CO

    General operations

    $15,000
  80. Colorado Village CollaborativeDenver, CO

    General operations

    $15,000
  81. CrosspurposeDenver, CO

    General operations

    $15,000
  82. Dental Lifeline Network - ColoradoDenver, CO

    Donated dental services

    $15,000
  83. Denver Children's Advocacy CenterDenver, CO

    General operations

    $15,000
  84. Denver Inner City ParishDenver, CO

    General operations

    $15,000
  85. Denver Kids IncDenver, CO

    General operations

    $15,000
  86. Denver Santa Claus ShopDenver, CO

    General operations

    $15,000
  87. Denver Urban GardensDenver, CO

    General operations

    $15,000
  88. Douglas Land ConservancyCastle Rock, CO

    General operations

    $15,000
  89. Eaton Senior Communities FoundationLakewood, CO

    General operations

    $15,000
  90. Groundwork DenverDenver, CO

    General operations

    $15,000
  91. Integrated Family Community ServicesEnglewood, CO

    General operations

    $15,000
  92. Laradon Hall Society for Exceptional Children and AdultsDenver, CO

    General operations

    $15,000
  93. Listen Foundation IncGreenwood VLG, CO

    General operations

    $15,000
  94. Lutheran Family Services Rocky MountainsDenver, CO

    General operations

    $15,000
  95. Maria Droste Services of ColoradoDenver, CO

    General operations

    $15,000
  96. Mile High WorkshopDenver, CO

    General operations

    $15,000
  97. Mount Evans Hospice Inc (DBA Mount Evans Home Health Care and Hospice)Evergreen, CO

    General operations

    $15,000
  98. Project Angel HeartDenver, CO

    General operations

    $15,000
  99. Rocky Mountain Down Syndrome AssociationDenver, CO

    General operations

    $15,000
  100. Safehouse DenverDenver, CO

    General operations

    $15,000
  101. Senior Support ServicesDenver, CO

    General operations

    $15,000
  102. Seniors' Resource CenterWheat Ridge, CO

    General operations

    $15,000
  103. The Greenway FoundationDenver, CO

    General operations

    $15,000
  104. The GrowhausDenver, CO

    General operations

    $15,000
  105. The Kiva CenterBoulder, CO

    General operations

    $15,000
  106. WapiyapiDenver, CO

    General operations

    $15,000
  107. WeecycleDenver, CO

    General operations

    $15,000
  108. Food for HopeEastlake, CO

    General operations

    $12,500
  109. Mercy HousingDenver, CO

    General operations

    $12,500
  110. Mother HouseBoulder, CO

    General operations

    $12,500
  111. Nourish Meals on WheelsCentennial, CO

    General operations

    $12,500
  112. Phamaly Theatre CompanyDenver, CO

    General operations

    $12,500
  113. Project PaveDenver, CO

    General operations

    $12,500
  114. Scholars UnlimitedDenver, CO

    General operations

    $12,500
  115. Big Brothers Big SistersEnglewood, CO

    General operations

    $11,250
  116. Audio Information Network of ColoradoBoulder, CO

    General operations

    $10,000

Where the money goes

By cause: grants to organizations we matched to the IRS list of exempt organizations, by their category.

  1. Human services14 grants $1,623,00029% of the total
  2. Education13 grants $1,380,00025% of the total
  3. Animals2 grants $440,0008% of the total
  4. Sports and recreation5 grants $385,0007% of the total
  5. Housing and shelter7 grants $359,0006% of the total
  6. Health8 grants $353,0006% of the total
  7. 9 other causes31 grants $1,027,75018% of the total

By State

Grants to organizations with a US address, latest year.

  1. Colorado116 grants $6,838,500

Officers, directors and trustees

12 people as filed

As filed on the return, with average hours per week and pay from the foundation.

  • Eric BennettTREASURER Hours 1Pay $0
  • Jennifer BonicelliSECRETARY Hours 1Pay $0
  • Gary SchlessmanVICE PRESIDENT Hours 1Pay $0
  • Lauren WatelPRESIDENT Hours 1Pay $0
  • Margaret Schlessman EmmerichTRUSTEE Hours 1Pay $0
  • Michael D FredericksTRUSTEE Hours 1Pay $0
  • Aaron GarnettTRUSTEE Hours 1Pay $0
  • Benjamin GarnettTRUSTEE Hours 1Pay $0
  • Colin GarnettTRUSTEE Hours 1Pay $0
  • Sandra GarnettTRUSTEE Hours 1Pay $0
  • Dolores J SchlessmanTRUSTEE Hours 1Pay $0
  • Gloria PriceEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Hours 40Pay $162,907

The return

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