Chrest Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 75-2840026 · since 2000chrestfoundation.org·Colorado, Texas, United States·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$1.7M

Annual giving, 2024 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

$10,000 to $100k

Grant range

From grants in the 990-PF filings

$80,000

Typical grant (median)

24 grants in the latest filing

Invitation only

Unsolicited applications are not accepted

This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.

Key takeaways

Its filing says the foundation works by invitation only and does not accept unsolicited requests, so a small nonprofit should first try to speak with its staff, who ask applicants to discuss possible amounts before submitting a Part I. The work fits best if it falls within criminal justice reform, such as diversion, re-entry or evidence-based policy, or within environmental work on public lands, climate change or renewable energy, and organisations seeking grants to individuals or for debt financing should not apply.
About 8 in 10 of its grants to organisations fall between $10,000 and $100,000, and half are $50,000 or less, so a modest request in that range is the realistic size to discuss.
Repeat giving is strong, with 74% of its grant dollars to organisations going to groups it had funded in earlier filings, so building a relationship matters more than a cold approach.
Part II applications and supporting documentation are due by October 30 for those invited to take the process further.

Overview

Chrest Foundation is a US private foundation based in Irving, TX.

What they fund

Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

The Foundation supports organisations whose missions complement its criminal justice reform and environment programmes. In criminal justice reform, it backs evidence-based policies informed by robust data and advocacy, alongside systemic policy work, diversion and re-entry programmes, and efforts to improve conditions and support people affected by the carceral system. Its environmental grantmaking seeks to safeguard public lands, expand green spaces, address climate change and reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, including through conservation and renewable energy. It seeks to work with community-based organisations, primarily in Colorado and Texas, while also considering other US areas and nationally focused endeavours. The Foundation values long-term partnerships, community knowledge, organisational integrity and accountability, and grantees’ own evaluation and learning.

Themes

Criminal justice reform
Public land conservation
Climate change
Renewable energy
Diversion programs
Re-entry programs

Geographic Focus

United States. Priority: Texas; Colorado.

What They Don't Fund

Grants to individuals or for debt financing

How to apply

Applicants submit Part I for review; if the endeavour is a good match, staff request Part II and supporting documentation.

Deadlines: Part II applications and supporting documentation are due by October 30.

Application success factors

Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 74% 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 77 grants to organisations were $50,000 or less.

What the foundation says:

Applicants are encouraged to discuss possible request amounts with Foundation staff before submitting Part I.
The Foundation values grantees’ responsiveness to their fields, commitment to a vision of change and programme implementation.
It values relationships across social divides and leveraging financial, technical and human resources.
Organisations should have sound management and use funds efficiently.
Organisations should report finances transparently and professionally.
The Foundation expects its support to be complemented by other funding sources.
Grantees develop their own evaluation indicators and techniques and prepare final reports reflecting on them.

Where grants go

From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.

Grant dollars by state

Texas26%

Colorado22%

California18%

Montana9%

District of Columbia6%

Georgia1%

2 other states: 1%

Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 18%

The largest single recipient received 9% of grant dollars to organisations.
In tax year 2024, 74% of grant dollars went to organisations Chrest Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
18% of grant dollars went directly to organisations outside the US (Turkey).
<1% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.

Grants

24 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $80,000

How much do they typically give?

Share of 24 grants in tax year 2024 by size

$10k–$25k13%

$25k–$50k8%

$50k–$100k29%

$100k–$250k50%

Median $80,000 (tax year 2024)

The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:

Recidiviz · Support for data platforms to help more justice-involved people safely transition back into their communities.
$150,0002024 tax year
Texas Public Policy Foundation · Promote accountability and rehabilitation in the criminal justice system.
$100,0002024 tax year
Trust for Public Land · Support to increase greenspace in Colorado schoolyards and expand public access to after school hours.
$100,0002024 tax year
Trust for Public Land · Support for land conservation and preservation across northwest Montana.
$100,0002024 tax year
Montana Wilderness Association · General support to help protect 50% of Montana's public lands by 2050.
$100,0002024 tax year
Western Resource Advocates · Accelerate the transition to clean energy in the Western portion of the United States.
$100,0002024 tax year
Colorado Fourteeners Initiative · General support to protect Colorado's 14,000-foot peaks through stewardship and public education.
$100,0002024 tax year
World Wildlife Fund · Conserve climate-protective grasslands in the Northern Great Plains.
$100,0002024 tax year

Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.

Officers and directors

Haley M Jensen — Secretary
William B Jensen — Treasurer
Jeffrey J Jensen — Vice President
Lou Anne King Jensen — President

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2022 tax year	$2,019,700	$1,754,956	$33,939,403	Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year	$2,183,636	$1,538,256	$36,191,505	Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year	$1,853,665	$1,705,000	$37,771,876	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.