The Lewis Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests and works by invitation only, so a cold application is unlikely to be considered and should not be sent.
- Its filings show that 85% of grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had funded in earlier filings, so the realistic route in is an existing relationship or a warm introduction.
- Typical grants fall between $150,000 and $1,000,000, with a median of $500,000 and half of its grants at $500,000 or less, so any request should be sized with that pattern in mind, though the largest single grant was $4,000,000, so the typical band is not a ceiling.
- The filings show grants mainly in Colorado, District of Columbia, California and Illinois, but no geographic focus is stated, so an organisation elsewhere should not rule itself out on that basis.
- Its purposes vary widely across education, culture, environment, philanthropy and media, so fit depends more on the relationship than on a single field.
Overview
The Lewis Foundation is a US private foundation based in Aspen, CO.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The recorded grants support charitable organisations in several ways. Their stated purposes include general support and connecting donors to community needs, alongside teacher wellness, food and society, environmental education, documentary production and a campaign. Recipients include an institute, community foundations, a school, a museum, environmental organisations and a film centre. The recipient mix spans educational, cultural, environmental, philanthropic and media-related bodies, as well as organisations receiving broad operating support. The filings show varied purposes and kinds of recipient rather than a single stated field of grantmaking.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Colorado, District of Columbia, California and Illinois.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 85% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 22 grants to organisations were $500,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 29% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 85% of grant dollars went to organisations The Lewis Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 31% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 7 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $1M (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Aspen Institute · General support$2,000,0002024 tax year
- Aspen Institute · General support$1,000,0002024 tax year
- Aspen Community Foundation · Support nonprofit organizations by connecting donors to community needs$1,000,0002024 tax year
- Aspen Country Day School · Teacher wellness fund$1,000,0002024 tax year
- Rocky Mountain Institute · General support$1,000,0002024 tax year
- Earthjustice · General support$500,0002024 tax year
- Aspen Institute · Food & society program$200,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Melony M Lewis — Vice President
- Adam J Lewis — President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $3,053,214 | $2,200,000 | $116,372,442 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $12,954,208 | $8,150,000 | $132,051,517 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $6,478,996 | $6,700,000 | $146,080,818 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to The Lewis Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
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Contact
- Aspen, CO
Applying to The Lewis Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Aspen, CO