El Pomar Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $22-25 million
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: 14-20 weeks
• Grant Range: $1,000 - $250,000 (typical competitive grants $2,500-$25,000)
• Geographic Focus: Colorado only (priority for Southern and rural Colorado)

Contact Details

• Website: www.elpomar.org
• Email: grants@elpomar.org
• Phone: 719-633-7733
• Grant Portal: elpomar.my.site.com/grants
• Address: 10 Lake Circle, Colorado Springs, CO 80906

Overview

El Pomar Foundation is one of the largest and oldest private foundations in the Rocky Mountain West, established in 1937 by Spencer and Julie Penrose. Founded with an initial gift of approximately $21 million, the foundation has grown to hold assets exceeding $446 million and has distributed over $700 million in grants across its history—including more than 25,000 grants to over 5,000 nonprofits statewide.

The foundation's mission is to "enhance, encourage, and promote the current and future well-being of the people of Colorado," which it pursues through approximately $22-25 million in annual grants and programs. El Pomar is a general-purpose foundation granting broadly across arts and culture, civic and community initiatives, education, health, and human services. The foundation has placed particular emphasis on expanding investment in Southern and rural Colorado through its Regional Partnerships program, launched in 2003.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Competitive Grants (Open Application)

• Rolling applications year-round
• General Operating Support: $2,500-$10,000
• Program Support: $2,500-$10,000
• Capital Support: $15,000-$25,000

Regional Partnerships Program (Invitation Only)

• 11 regions with local councils recommending grants
• Up to $250,000 per region annually ($3.6 million total from 2025)

Special Funds

• Anna Keesling Ackerman Fund: Pikes Peak region nonprofits
• Freda Hambrick Fund: Animal welfare organizations
• Sally Beck Fund: Equine rescue and therapeutic riding ($1,000-$7,500)
• First Responders Fund: Emergency support for volunteer first responders

Awards for Excellence (Invitation Only)

• $30,000 grants for organizational honorees
• $10,000 directed grants for individual honorees

Priority Areas

• Arts and culture
• Civic and community initiatives
• Education
• Health
• Human services
• Southern and rural Colorado communities (explicit priority)

What They Don't Fund

• Organizations without active 501(c)(3) status
• Private foundations or 509(a)(3) organizations
• Activities outside Colorado
• Organizations practicing discrimination
• Metro Denver organizations face significantly higher competition

Governance and Leadership

Board Leadership:

• Dave Palenchar - Chair (El Pomar Trustee since 1998)
• William J. Hybl - Chair Emeritus (46 years of leadership)
• Kyle H. Hybl - President and CEO (since 2019): "Our founders established the mission to enhance, encourage and promote the current and future well-being of the people of Colorado, and this program fueled this mission well beyond our expectations."
• Matthew J. Carpenter - COO and Board Secretary
• R. Thayer Tutt Jr. - CIO and Vice Chair

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Applications accepted through online grants portal at elpomar.my.site.com/grants

• Create account and complete online application
• Review Grant Toolkit at elpomar.org/grant-making/grant-toolkit
• For capital projects, secure approximately half of total funds before applying

Decision Timeline

• Submit at least 10 weeks before Trustee meeting
• Trustee review 4-6 times annually
• Notification within 4-6 weeks after meeting
• Total timeline: 14-20 weeks from submission

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed. In 2023, approximately 1,900 grants totaling $25 million were distributed. Metro Denver applicants face significantly greater competition than rural/Southern Colorado.

Reapplication Policy

• After grant award: Wait 36 months from award letter or 1 year from final payment
• After declination: Wait 12 months from declination letter

Application Success Factors

The Trustees look for organizations demonstrating:

• Positive and significant difference in people's lives
• Solid plans to activate the mission or project
• Financial sustainability and strong organizational leadership
• Strong community support

Key guidance:

• Trustees "prefer to go broad rather than deep"—expect smaller grants than requested
• Rural and Southern Colorado applicants have meaningfully better success rates
• For capital projects, have half of funds secured before applying
• Frame applications around "well-being of the people of Colorado"

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Colorado-only funder with explicit priority for Southern and rural Colorado
• Rolling applications but plan for 14-20 week decision timeline
• Expect partial funding—foundation deliberately gives broadly in smaller amounts
• 36-month reapplication window prevents reliance on recurring annual support
• General operating support available unlike many foundations
• Regional Partnerships requires invitation—connect with regional council members
• Metro Denver faces significantly higher competition than rest of state

References

• El Pomar Foundation Official Website: www.elpomar.org (accessed February 2026)
• El Pomar Foundation Grant Process: www.elpomar.org/grant-making/grant-process
• El Pomar Foundation Regional Partnerships: www.elpomar.org/programs/regional-partnerships
• El Pomar Foundation Board of Trustees: www.elpomar.org/our-people/boardoftrustees
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - El Pomar Foundation: projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/846002373
• Colorado Springs Gazette - "Philanthropist Bill Hybl steps down from El Pomar leadership" (January 2024)
• Leadville Herald - "El Pomar Foundation Recognizes 20 Years of unique Program" (December 2024)