Schlessman Family Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- This Denver, CO-based funder works only within the seven-county Metro Denver area (Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder and 4 more counties in Colorado), with priorities in workforce development, education, senior support services, food services and delivery, inclusive support programmes, and housing and support resources, funding mainly general operations.
- It only accepts proposals by invitation and does not accept unsolicited requests, so do not send an unsolicited application; annual grant proposals go through its portal, which opens between September and November with an early November deadline, while capital campaign letters of interest are reviewed by trustees in July–August.
- Typical grants run from $5,000 to $115,000, with a median of $14,000; Annual Grants are $10,000–$60,000, Multi-Year Grants $10,000–$40,000, Booster Grant $100,000, and Capital/Comprehensive Campaign Grant $1,000,000–$2,000,000, so a modest request fits most applicants.
- The foundation looks strongly relationship-led: 96% of its grant dollars went to organisations it had already funded, so bear in mind that new applicants are competing against a pattern of continued support to existing grantees.
- It does not fund individuals, scholarships for specific individuals, fundraising events, conferences or workshops, research grants, public, independent, private or charter schools, or direct support to churches or religious organizations; Booster Grant excludes grantees receiving funds for a Capital Campaign and those receiving a multi-year grant above $50,000, and Capital/Comprehensive Campaign Grant excludes the pre-development stage and the Endowment portion of a campaign.
Overview
Schlessman Family Foundation is a US private foundation based in Denver, CO.
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 Schlessman Family Foundation supports strong nonprofits that uplift vulnerable Denver Metro residents and enrich the community. Its impact priorities are workforce development, education, services helping older people live independently and safely, food services and delivery, inclusive support programmes, and housing and support resources. It backs workforce programmes that foster initiative and a positive work ethic; educational support paired with whole-family services; nutritious food for people and families in need; support for people with disabilities, including physical, behavioural or substance-use challenges; and resources for people experiencing homelessness. Grants go to nonprofit organisations in the seven-county Metro Denver area. They are primarily for general operations, with a focused narrative on a specific programme if needed.
Themes
- Workforce development
- Education
- Senior Support Services
- Food Services & Delivery
- Inclusive Support Programs
- Housing and Support Resources
Geographic Focus
Seven-county Metro Denver area: Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder and 4 more counties in Colorado.
What They Don't Fund
- Individuals
- Scholarships for specific individuals
- Fundraising events, conferences or workshops
- Research grants
- Public, independent, private or charter schools
- Direct support to churches or religious organizations
- Booster Grant only: grantees receiving funds for a Capital Campaign; grantees receiving a multi-year grant above $50,000
- Capital/Comprehensive Campaign Grant only: the pre-development stage and Endowment portion of a campaign
How to apply
Annual grant proposals are submitted through the grant portal.
Deadlines:
- The annual grant portal opens between September and November; proposals are due early November.
- Capital campaign LOIs are reviewed by trustees in July–August.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 96% 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 367 grants to organisations were $14,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- Annual proposals are primarily for general operations; applicants may provide a focused narrative on a specific programme where needed and work with the foundation team.
- Former grantees should send a narrative Impact Report, not an Annual Report, for their record to be reviewed.
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 10% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 96% of grant dollars went to organisations Schlessman Family Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 116 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $17,500 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- YMCA of the Rockies · General operations$1,000,0002024 tax year
- Fort Lewis College Foundation · General operations$700,0002024 tax year
- Denver Zoological Foundation · General operations$425,0002024 tax year
- Roundup River Ranch · General operations$320,0002024 tax year
- Warren Village · General operations$320,0002024 tax year
- University of Denver · General operations$315,0002024 tax year
- High Line Canal · General operations$315,0002024 tax year
- Greeley-Weld Habitat for Humanity · General operations$255,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Gloria Price — Executive Director
- Dolores J Schlessman — Trustee
- Sandra Garnett — Trustee
- Colin Garnett — Trustee
- Benjamin Garnett — Trustee
- Aaron Garnett — Trustee
- Michael D Fredericks — Trustee
- Margaret Schlessman Emmerich — Trustee
- Lauren Watel — President
- Gary Schlessman — Vice President
- Jennifer Bonicelli — Secretary
- Eric Bennett — Treasurer
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $6,811,085 | $5,657,083 | $120,236,033 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $7,149,722 | $6,162,333 | $143,690,743 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $8,096,541 | $6,838,500 | $140,434,410 | 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
Registers and filings
Other sources
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Applying to Schlessman Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required