The Norwood Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $6,255,169 (2024 fiscal year)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: $500 - $2,800,000
• Grant Median: $10,000
• Number of Grants: 40 grants (2024)
• Geographic Focus: Primarily Colorado, with grants also in District of Columbia, Virginia, Arizona, California, Maryland, and Michigan
• Total Assets: $82,614,788 (2024)

Contact Details

Address: 111 S Tejon St Suite 222, Colorado Springs, CO 80903

Phone: (719) 593-2600

Contact Person: Christopher S Jenkins, Secretary/Treasurer

EIN: 01-0705471

Note: The foundation does not have a public website or email address listed.

Overview

The Norwood Foundation is a private family foundation established in 2002 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. With total assets of approximately $82.6 million as of 2024, the foundation distributed $6.3 million in charitable grants during its most recent fiscal year. The foundation is closely connected to the Norwood Development Group, a major real estate development company founded by David Jenkins in 1978 that has significantly shaped Colorado Springs' residential and commercial landscape. The foundation serves as the philanthropic arm of the Jenkins family, focusing on Christian initiatives with particular attention to education, youth, elderly populations, and regional arts and culture. The foundation supports organizations and activities that pursue religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational purposes and for the prevention of cruelty to children. David Jenkins was recognized as the 2011 Business Citizen of the Year by the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce for his contributions to civic, nonprofit, and religious organizations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates as a private independent foundation making general purpose grants. Recent grants have ranged from $500 to $2.8 million, with a median grant size of $10,000. In 2023, the foundation made 49 grants totaling $2,491,879, while in 2024 it made 40 grants totaling $6,255,169.

The foundation also offers scholarship programs for individuals, with specific eligibility requirements:

• College education applicants must be high school graduates
• Trade or vocational skills applicants need not be high school graduates but must comply with the admission requirements of the training institution
• Scholarships require a completed application form (available upon request)

Priority Areas

Education: Support for educational institutions, programs, and individual scholarships

Christian/Religious Organizations: Funding for Christian initiatives and Presbyterian churches, including grants to organizations such as The Outreach Foundation (Presbyterian mission organization)

Youth Programs: Initiatives serving young people

Elderly Services: Programs supporting senior populations

Arts and Culture: Regional arts and cultural organizations

Prevention of Cruelty to Children: Programs addressing child welfare

General Charitable Purposes: Scientific, literary, and other charitable activities

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented, but as a private family foundation with a focus on Colorado Springs and Christian initiatives, funding appears to be concentrated within these parameters.

Governance and Leadership

The Norwood Foundation is managed by three family members, all of whom serve without compensation:

David D Jenkins, President (1 hour/week, $0 compensation)

• Founder of Norwood Development Group (1978)
• Colorado Springs native
• Named 2011 Business Citizen of the Year by Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce
• Led development of major projects including Banning Lewis Ranch, Wolf Ranch, and Mesa Ridge

Carolyn S Jenkins, Vice President (1 hour/week, $0 compensation)

Christopher S Jenkins, Secretary/Treasurer (1 hour/week, $0 compensation)

• CEO of Norwood Development Group
• Co-manages the Norwood Foundation
• Actively involved on boards including United States Olympic and Paralympic Museum and Hall of Fame, UCCS Development Corp., Pikes Peak Community Foundation, Exponential Impact, and Colorado Springs Philharmonic

The foundation's leadership reflects its connection to the Norwood Development Group and demonstrates a multi-generational commitment to Colorado Springs community development and philanthropy.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process for organizational grants. As a private family foundation, grants are typically made at the discretion of the trustees based on their strategic priorities and existing relationships.

For scholarship applications: Individuals seeking scholarships must complete an application form. Contact Christopher S Jenkins at (719) 593-2600 or at the foundation's address to request the scholarship application form and specific requirements.

Getting on Their Radar

Given the foundation's close connection to Norwood Development Group and the Jenkins family's deep involvement in Colorado Springs civic life, potential strategies include:

• Board connections: Christopher Jenkins serves on multiple Colorado Springs boards including the United States Olympic and Paralympic Museum and Hall of Fame, UCCS Development Corp., Pikes Peak Community Foundation, Exponential Impact, and Colorado Springs Philharmonic. Organizations connected to these entities may have better visibility.

• Colorado Springs community involvement: The foundation has a strong local focus on Colorado Springs organizations, particularly those aligned with Christian values and serving youth, elderly, education, and arts.

• Presbyterian network: The foundation has supported Presbyterian mission organizations such as The Outreach Foundation, suggesting connections within Presbyterian circles may be valuable.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. As a private foundation with trustee-directed grantmaking, decisions are likely made on a rolling basis throughout the year based on trustee meetings and priorities.

Success Rates

Success rates for unsolicited proposals are not available, as the foundation does not operate a formal public application process for organizational grants.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable for organizational grants given the invitation-only nature of grantmaking. For scholarship applicants, reapplication policies should be confirmed by contacting the foundation directly.

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation operates primarily through trustee discretion rather than open applications, the following factors appear important based on grant patterns:

Geographic alignment: Strong preference for Colorado Springs and Colorado-based organizations, though grants have been made in other states including District of Columbia, Virginia, Arizona, California, Maryland, and Michigan.

Mission alignment with Christian values: The foundation explicitly supports religious purposes and has a documented focus on Christian initiatives, including Presbyterian organizations.

Focus on priority populations: Organizations serving youth, elderly populations, or children (particularly child welfare) align with stated priorities.

Educational mission: Educational institutions and programs represent a core funding priority, from individual scholarships to institutional support.

Arts and culture: Regional arts and cultural organizations in Colorado Springs area fit the foundation's stated interests.

Established presence: As grants are trustee-directed, organizations with existing connections to the Jenkins family, Norwood Development Group, or the Colorado Springs business and philanthropic community are more likely to be considered.

Relationship-based funding: The foundation's structure suggests that relationship-building within the Colorado Springs community and demonstrating alignment with the Jenkins family's philanthropic values are critical factors.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process: This is a private family foundation that makes grants at trustee discretion; there is no open RFP or application portal for organizations

• Local focus: Strong preference for Colorado Springs and Colorado organizations, though not exclusively

• Christian emphasis: Explicit focus on Christian initiatives and religious purposes is central to the foundation's mission

• Relationship-driven: As a family foundation connected to Norwood Development Group, grants likely flow through existing networks and relationships in the Colorado Springs business and philanthropic community

• Wide grant range: Grants vary dramatically from $500 to $2.8 million, with a median of $10,000, suggesting flexibility based on project scope and relationship

• Multi-generational leadership: Both founder David Jenkins and son Christopher Jenkins are actively involved, indicating long-term commitment and stability

• Scholarship opportunities: Unlike organizational grants, individual scholarships do have an application process—contact the foundation directly for forms and requirements

References

1. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Norwood Foundation (EIN 01-0705471), Form 990-PF filed January 16, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/10705471 (Accessed January 9, 2026)

2. Grantmakers.io - Norwood Foundation Profile (2024 data). https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/010705471-norwood-foundation/ (Accessed January 9, 2026)

3. Cause IQ - The Norwood Foundation, Colorado Springs, CO. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/the-norwood-foundation,010705471/ (Accessed January 9, 2026)

4. Instrumentl - Norwood Foundation 990 Report. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/norwood-foundation (Accessed January 9, 2026)

5. Norwood Development Group - Team page. https://norwood.dev/team/ (Accessed January 9, 2026)

6. Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum - Nor'wood history. https://www.cspm.org/cos-150-story/norwood/ (Accessed January 9, 2026)

7. Colorado Springs Gazette - "Developer David Jenkins named Chamber's Business Citizen of the Year" (November 4, 2011). https://gazette.com/2011/11/04/developer-david-jenkins-named-chambers-business-citizen-of-the-year-08211bcd-42f6-5d89-b83e-6bdb9fd91946/ (Accessed January 9, 2026)

8. UCCS Communique - "Developer, community leader to receive CU Distinguished Service Citation." https://communique.uccs.edu/?p=18773 (Accessed January 9, 2026)