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The Lewis Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

The Lewis Foundation

Its FY2024 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$6.7M
Granted FY2024still arriving
7
Grants FY2024still arriving
3
States reached
$2.0M
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
01100% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2024.

Philanthropy$8.2MEducation$5.4MEnvironment$5.0MSocial Science$4.8MArts & Culture$2.3MPublic Benefit$1.0MCivil Rights$800kFood & Nutrition$250kOther$0
02FY2024 · 7 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • $50k–250k1 grant · $200k
  • $250k+6 grants · $6.5M
$1,000,000
Median grant
3
States reached
$146M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
THE ASPEN INSTITUTE INC$2,000,000
THE ASPEN INSTITUTE INC$1,000,000
ROCKY MOUNTAIN INSTITUTE$1,000,000
ASPEN COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL INC$1,000,000
ASPEN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION$1,000,000
EARTHJUSTICE$500,000
THE ASPEN INSTITUTE INC$200,000
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Dollar for dollar, its grants (FY17–24) land where the poverty rate runs at 9%, against an area that typically sits at 11%. 34% of its dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Its grants skew toward lower-need ZIPs.

area typical 11%Infact DBA Corporate Accountability International: $50k → 16%SIERRA CLUB FOUNDATION: $500k → 10%EARTHJUSTICE: $500k → 10%INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY ASSOCIATION INC: $50k → 14%MEDIA COLLECTIVE INC: $100k → 17%THE ASPEN INSTITUTE INC: $2.0M → 14%UTAH FILM CENTER: $150k → 8%ASPEN COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL INC: $2.0M → 6%BIG GREEN: $250k → 7%ASPEN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $4.0M → 7%ROCKY MOUNTAIN INSTITUTE: $1.0M → 12%Summit54: $50k → 12%Oberlin College & Conservatory: $225k → 13%THE BARACK OBAMA FOUNDATION: $1.0M → 14%SIERRA CLUB FOUNDATION: $500k → 10%EARTHJUSTICE: $500k → 10%INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY ASSOCIATION INC: $50k → 14%THE ASPEN INSTITUTE INC: $1.0M → 14%UTAH FILM CENTER: $150k → 8%ASPEN COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL INC: $1.0M → 6%ASPEN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $2.0M → 7%Rocky Mountain Institute: $1.0M → 12%The Sapling Foundation: $83k → 17%THE ASPEN INSTITUTE INC: $1.0M → 14%UTAH FILM CENTER: $150k → 8%ASPEN COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL INC: $1.0M → 6%ASPEN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $1.0M → 7%The Sapling Foundation: $83k → 17%THE ASPEN INSTITUTE INC: $425k → 14%UTAH FILM CENTER: $100k → 8%ASPEN COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL INC: $1.0M → 6%ASPEN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $500k → 7%ACLU Foundation: $200k → 17%THE ASPEN INSTITUTE INC: $200k → 14%UTAH FILM CENTER: $100k → 8%ASPEN ART MUSEUM FOUNDATION: $1.0M → 6%American Civil Liberties Union Foundation Inc: $200k → 17%THE ASPEN INSTITUTE INC: $200k → 14%Aspen Community Foundation: $500k → 6%AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION INC: $200k → 17%ASPEN CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES: $200k → 6%AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION INC: $200k → 17%ASPEN ART MUSEUM: $200k → 6%ASPEN CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES: $200k → 6%ASPEN CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES: $200k → 6%ASPEN CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES: $200k → 6%ASPEN CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES: $200k → 6%ASPEN COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL INC: $100k → 6%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.

Which US states its grants reach

IL
NY
MA
OH
CA
UT
CO
DC
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
04

Where the work is directed

The same grants placed two ways: where each recipient sits, and where its stated purpose sends the money.

About 30% of The Lewis Foundation’s grant dollars are earmarked for a different county than the recipient’s own address. By recipient address, 63% of the giving stays in CO; by stated purpose, 66%.

The Lewis Foundationlessmore of its giving
Placed by recipient address
How this is measured
Recipient view: each grant at its grantee’s ZIP, mapped to a county. Directed view: each grant at the county its stated purpose names, falling back to the recipient’s county when the purpose names no place; US grants only. A county shows only if it carries the top 95% of that view’s dollars. Purposes are read from the funder’s own 990 grant descriptions.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

83%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$17M · 9 repeat orgs$3.5M to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +102% since the first grant, against -17% for those funded once.

9 repeat relationships: 4 still active in FY2024, 5 since wound down.

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

9
12

Total granted

$17M
$3.5M

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+102%
-17%

Still filing today

100%
83%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 100% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $0 went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
Arts & CultureEnvironmentSocial ScienceFood & NutritionCrime & LegalCivil RightsOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • TA
    THE ASPEN COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL INC
    4× · 2020–2024 · $5.1M · revenue +22%
  • THE ASPEN INSTITUTE INC
    3× · 2022–2024 · $4.8M · revenue +134%
  • Rocky Mountain Institute
    2× · 2017–2024 · $2.0M · revenue +381%

Funded once

  • AA
    ASPEN ART MUSEUM FOUNDATIONgraduated
    one grant, 2023 · $1.0M · revenue +139% · 75% of their budget
  • THE BARACK OBAMA FOUNDATIONgraduated
    one grant, 2023 · $1.0M · revenue +49%
  • BG
    Big Green
    one grant, 2022 · $250k · revenue -49%
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Sundance Institute

Sundance institute is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the discovery and development of independent artists and audiences.

Arts & Culture
2
The Union of Concerned Scientists Inc

The union of concerned scientists puts rigorous, independent science into action, developing solutions and advocating for a healthy, safe, and just future.

International
3
Open Markets Institute

The open markets institute works to help people relearn how to use competition policy to build stronger democracies, more just and equitable societies, more innovative and sustainable economies, and a more secure and peaceful world.

Education
4
American Gas Association

American gas association's (the association) mission is to develop and advocate for informed, innovative, and durable policy that fulfills our nation's energy needs, environmental aspirations and economic potential. we are committed to…

—
5
American Geophysical Union

Agu's mission is to advance and support an inclusive community of earth and space scientists and partners dedicated to discovery and solutions to societal challenges. agu seeks to catalyze discovery and solutions to scientific and societal…

Science & Tech
6
Climate Catalyst Inc

Climate catalyst sparks collective action to tackle the biggest climate challenges we face today: cutting emissions in heavy industries.

Environment
7
Asociacion Interamericana Para La Defensa Del Ambiente

To strenghten people's ability to guarantee their individual and collective right to a healthy environment, via the development, implementation, and effective enforcement of national and international law.

Crime & Legal
8
The American Film Institute

The american film institute ("afi") is a national institute providing leadership in screen education and the recognition and celebration of excellence in the art of film, television and digital media.

Arts & Culture
9
Cdp North America Inc

Cdp north america, inc. 's ("cdp-na") vision for the future is a thriving economy that works for people and planet in the long term. we focus investors and companies on taking urgent action to build a truly sustainable economy by measuring…

Environment
10
American Society of Civil Engineers Inc

To provide essential value to our members, their careers, our partners, and the public, asce will: facilitate the advancement of technology; encourage and provide the tools for lifelong learning; promote professionalism and the profession;…

Science & Tech
11
Aia Colorado

AIA Colorado,is the voice of the architecture profession in Colorado. Through advocacy, leadership development, education and resources for architects, the organization supports architecture professionals in designing a better world where…

—
12
Center for Green Market Activation

To promote the uptake of low-carbon and zero-carbon fuels and materials in high-emitting and hard-to decarbonize sectors, as a means of combatting climate change and its adverse impacts on the environment and public health.

Science & Tech
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is The Aspen Institute Inc; the most unlike its peers is The Sapling Foundation. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
05the grantee network

20 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 20 of the 22 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

1
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
3
Early backer (in before they grew)
20/20
Grantees still filing
12/20
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

ASPEN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $8,000,000 · PhilanthropyASPEN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION+1 more: $166,668 · PhilanthropyTHE ASPEN COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL INC: $5,100,000 · OtherTHE ASPEN COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL IN…Rocky Mountain Institute: $2,000,000 · OtherRocky Mountain Institute+5 more: $800,000 · Other+5 moreTHE ASPEN INSTITUTE INC: $4,825,000 · Social ScienceTHE ASPEN INSTITUTE…EARTHJUSTICE: $1,000,000 · EnvironmentEARTHJUSTICESIERRA CLUB FOUNDATION: $1,000,000 · EnvironmentSIERRA CLUB …ASPEN CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES: $1,000,000 · EnvironmentASPEN CENTER…+1 more: $50,000 · EnvironmentASPEN ART MUSEUM FOUNDATION: $1,000,000 · Arts & CultureASPEN ART MU…THE BARACK OBAMA FOUNDATION: $1,000,000 · Arts & CultureTHE BARACK O…UTAH FILM CENTER: $650,000 · Arts & CultureUTAH FILM CE…ASPEN ART MUSEUM: $200,000 · Arts & CultureASPEN ART MU…INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FOUNDATION INC: $100,000 · Arts & Culture+1 more: $50,000 · Arts & CultureAMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION INC: $800,000 · Civil RightsBig Green: $250,000 · Food & Nutrition
Philanthropy$8,166,668Other$7,900,000Social Science$4,825,000Environment$3,050,000Arts & Culture$3,000,000Civil Rights$800,000Food & Nutrition$250,000

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetASPEN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $8,000,000 over 5y, 23% of budgetTHE ASPEN COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL INC: $5,100,000 over 4y, 16% of budgetTHE ASPEN INSTITUTE INC: $4,825,000 over 3y, 0.7% of budgetRocky Mountain Institute: $2,000,000 over 2y, 2.8% of budgetASPEN ART MUSEUM FOUNDATION: $1,000,000 over 1y, 75% of budgetEARTHJUSTICE: $1,000,000 over 2y, 0.4% of budgetTHE BARACK OBAMA FOUNDATION: $1,000,000 over 1y, 0.7% of budgetSIERRA CLUB FOUNDATION: $1,000,000 over 2y, 0.5% of budgetASPEN CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES: $1,000,000 over 5y, 4.4% of budgetAMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION INC: $800,000 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetUTAH FILM CENTER: $650,000 over 3y, 3.2% of budgetBig Green: $250,000 over 1y, 1.9% of budgetEVERYTOWN FOR GUN SAFETY SUPPORT FUND INC: $225,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetASPEN ART MUSEUM: $200,000 over 1y, 3.4% of budgetINTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FOUNDATION INC: $100,000 over 1y, 0.7% of budgetMEDIA COLLECTIVE INC: $100,000 over 1y, 7.7% of budgetSUMMIT54: $50,000 over 1y, 3.6% of budgetInfact DBA Corporate Accountability: $50,000 over 1y, 0.8% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

National Philanthropi…Morgan Stanley Global…Donor Advised Charita…Fidelity Investments …
National Philanthropic TrustPA10.7× affinity5 shared granteesties to 3 of 3Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: National Philanthropic Trust · Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc · Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc · Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization The Lewis Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from The Lewis Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%6%23%51%90%funder's share of their income ↑0%4%8%11%15%share of the org’s income from government →median 0%
  • Infact Dba Corporate Accountability: 0% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
0get no government money at all
3report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
0rely on government for over half their income
⤢ axis zoomed · 0–15%
typical government reliance, FY20–25
How this is measured
Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.

On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 22 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

How this is measured
Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

Generated from the IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2024, released 2024. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Source object · view filing

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More from the funding graph

The unnamed billions
grants reported with no recipient in the public record
The regranting layer
51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
The DAF merry-go-round
$9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
The endowment market
who holds foundation money, and what just moved
The camps
funders cluster by geography, not ideology
By state
where grant money is based, and what stays home