Tyl Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $3,591,100 (2023)
• Success Rate: Not applicable - invitation only
• Decision Time: Not applicable - preselected organizations
• Grant Range: $5,000 - $50,000
• Geographic Focus: Colorado (primarily Denver metro area)

Contact Details

The Tyl Foundation does not maintain a website and does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation is located in Greenwood Village, CO.

Mailing address: Greenwood Village, CO 80121

Overview

Established in 1993 and previously known as the McVaney Family Foundation, the Tyl Foundation is a private family foundation based in Colorado with total assets of approximately $84.4 million as of November 2023. The foundation was created by C. Edward McVaney, co-founder and former CEO of JD Edwards Corporation (sold to PeopleSoft for $1.8 billion in 2003), and is now managed by family members including trustees Carole McVaney, Kevin E. McVaney, and Kylee Lourie. The foundation distributed $3,591,100 in grants through 46 awards in 2023. The foundation focuses exclusively on Christian agencies, churches, human services, and education in Colorado, with particular emphasis on Christian-based organizations in inner-city Denver that address education and concerns affecting people facing adversity.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Tyl Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis with no formal grant programs open to public application. Grants typically range from approximately $5,000 to $50,000, awarded to preselected charitable organizations identified by the trustees.

Priority Areas

• Christian Education: Christian schools and educational programs, including support for organizations like ACE Scholarship program
• Churches and Christian Agencies: Christian congregations and faith-based service organizations
• Human Services: Christian-affiliated nonprofits providing public charity services, particularly in inner-city Denver
• Youth Development: Christian-based leadership development and sports programs for youth

Past recipients mentioned in research include Christ's Church of God in Highlands Ranch, Master's Apprentice, Principles That Matter, and Hope Haven Charitable Trust.

What They Don't Fund

The foundation explicitly does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations. The foundation appears to focus exclusively on Christian organizations, suggesting secular nonprofits would not be funded.

Governance and Leadership

The Tyl Foundation is governed by a family board of trustees:

• Carole McVaney - Trustee
• Kevin E. McVaney - Trustee
• Kylee Lourie - Trustee

Major donors to the foundation include Charles McVaney, Carole McVaney, the Kylee McVaney Fernalld Trust, and the Kevin Edward McVaney Trust. The foundation was established by the late C. Edward McVaney (1940-2020), a Colorado billionaire and technology entrepreneur who co-founded JD Edwards Corporation. Ed McVaney was known for his extensive Christian philanthropy, including serving as a founding member of Valor Christian High School in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, and investing heavily in Denver-area educational programs through the ACE Scholarship program.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Tyl Foundation explicitly states that it only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. The foundation does not maintain a website to guide grant seekers.

Grant decisions are made by the family trustees based on their own identification of organizations that align with the foundation's Christian mission and focus areas. Awards are distributed throughout the year to organizations selected by the board.

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation identifies beneficiaries through the trustees' personal connections and involvement in the Christian nonprofit sector in Colorado. Ed McVaney's legacy of involvement with organizations like Valor Christian High School and the ACE Scholarship program suggests the foundation may support organizations where family members have direct personal engagement or board involvement.

Given the foundation's focus on inner-city Denver Christian organizations addressing education and adversity, organizations working in these specific geographic and program areas that align with the family's values may be more likely to be considered.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are awarded on a trustee-discretion basis throughout the year rather than through competitive application cycles.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. In 2023, the foundation made 46 grants; in 2022, it made 50 grants.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Application Success Factors

Since the Tyl Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, the primary factors for receiving funding are:

• Alignment with Christian Mission: Organizations must be explicitly Christian in nature - Christian schools, churches, or Christian-affiliated nonprofits providing charitable services
• Geographic Location: Focus on Colorado, particularly inner-city Denver, Aurora, Arvada, Watkins, Greenwood Village, Littleton, and Boulder, with additional grants in Englewood, Lafayette, Breckenridge, Sedalia, Colorado Springs, and Highland Ranch
• Connection to Trustees: The foundation appears to fund organizations where family members have personal knowledge or involvement
• Focus on Adversity and Education: Organizations addressing education needs and concerns affecting people facing adversity are prioritized
• Youth-Oriented Programming: Christian-based leadership and sports programs for youth align with the foundation's interests

Organizations should note that Ed McVaney's philanthropic legacy emphasized educational opportunity and Christian values, suggesting the foundation continues to honor these priorities.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• The Tyl Foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications - do not submit proposals or letters of inquiry
• This is a family foundation operating on trustee discretion, funding only organizations personally selected by the McVaney family
• The foundation has substantial assets ($84+ million) and distributes approximately $3.6 million annually
• All funded organizations must have an explicitly Christian mission and be located in Colorado
• The foundation's focus on inner-city Denver Christian organizations addressing education and adversity reflects the McVaney family's longstanding philanthropic priorities
• Grant sizes typically range from $5,000 to $50,000
• Organizations connected to Valor Christian High School, ACE Scholarship program, or other McVaney family interests may have historical connections to the foundation

References

• Inside Philanthropy. "TYL Foundation | Colorado Grants." https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant-places/colorado-grants/tyl-foundation. Accessed January 2026.
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. "Tyl Foundation." https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/841256356. Accessed January 2026.
• The Grantsmanship Center. "TYL Foundation." https://www.tgci.com/funder/tyl-foundation. Accessed January 2026.
• Cause IQ. "Tyl Foundation | Littleton, CO." https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/tyl-foundation,841256356/. Accessed January 2026.
• Colorado Business Hall of Fame. "Ed McVaney." https://www.coloradobusinesshalloffame.org/ed-mcvaney.html. Accessed January 2026.
• Wikipedia. "C. Edward McVaney." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C._Edward_McVaney. Accessed January 2026.
• Our Community Now. "Ed McVaney: A Life Devoted to Service and Education (1940-2020)." https://ourcommunitynow.com/news-local/ed-mcvaney-a-life-devoted-to-service-and-education-1940-2020. Accessed January 2026.