Private foundation · Denver, CO

Merle Chambers Fund

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Typical grant size
$10K $40K $100K
25th · median · 75th percentile
Unique recipients
146
Repeat grantees
95
funded 2+ years

Application procedures · from 2025 990-PF

Leadership · from 2025 990-PF

Katharine Arnold
SECRETARY
Joel Ours
TREASURER
Merle C Chambers
CHAIR/PRESID
Donald Hopkins
DIRECTOR
Marla Williams
DIRECTOR
Sally Leibbrandt
TREASURER
Letty Bass
Secretary/Executive Dir. thru 6.30.19
$135K

Source: IRS Form 990-PF, Part VII. Officers, directors, and trustees as reported by the foundation.

Payout rate · TY 2024
66142.2%
grants paid ÷ assets · ~5% IRS minimum
'18
'20
'21
'22
'23
'24
714
Total grants awarded
$80.4M
Total amount
$113K
Average grant
$28.5M
Largest grant

Giving by year

2025
$70K
1 grants
2024
$50.1M
193 grants
2023
$10.3M
117 grants
2022
$10.0M
175 grants
2021
$5.3M
97 grants
2020
$3.4M
90 grants
2018
$1.2M
41 grants

Top recipients

11 grants · CO · ≈ likely match
$33.1M
29 grants · DC · ✓ Exact match
$5.3M
8 grants · NC · ✓ Exact match
$2.5M
17 grants · CO · ✓ Exact match
$2.2M
20 grants · CO · ✓ Exact match
$1.6M
7 grants · DC · ✓ Exact match
$1.5M
7 grants · DC · ≈ likely match
$1.4M
16 grants · MT · ✓ Exact match
$1.4M
6 grants · IL · ≈ likely match
$1.4M
10 grants · WY · ✓ Exact match
$1.3M

Recipient names are as reported on the 990-PF. ✓ Exact match = EIN matched to IRS records by exact name + state; ≈ likely match = EIN inferred from a closely similar name. The recipient EIN is never stated on the form — it is DoubleNine’s match.

Recent grants · most recent filings first

The Denver Foundation
FUND FOR DENVER
CO · TY 2025
$70K
Denver Art Museum
KIRKLAND INSTITUTE ENDOWMENT
CO · TY 2024
$28.5M
Denver Art Museum
KIRKLAND INSTITUTE CURATOR ENDOWMENT
CO · TY 2024
$3.0M
State Leadership Project
GENERAL SUPPORT
NC · TY 2024
$750K
Center for Technology and Civic Lif
GENERAL SUPPORT
IL · TY 2024
$600K
The Denver Foundation
ADVISED FUND
CO · TY 2024
$502K
Cleo Parker Robinson Dance
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
CO · TY 2024
$500K
New Venture Fund
CENTER FOR SECURE & MODERN ELECTIONS
DC · TY 2024
$500K
The Bell Policy Center
EXCEPTIONAL EXIT GRANT, GENERAL SUPP
CO · TY 2024
$500K
Denver Art Museum
EXCEPTIONAL EXIT GRANT, FELLOWSHIP E
CO · TY 2024
$500K
Communities Foundation of Oklahoma
EXCEPTIONAL EXIT GRANT, WOMEN'S FUND
OK · TY 2024
$500K
Wyoming Community Foundation
EXCEPTIONAL EXIT GRANT, WOMEN'S FUND
WY · TY 2024
$500K
Reproductive Freedom for All Founda
GENERAL SUPPORT
DC · TY 2024
$500K
State Voices
GENERAL SUPPORT (MULTI-YEAR)
DC · TY 2024
$350K
The Women's Foundation of Colorado
EXCEPTIONAL EXIT GRANT, GENERAL SUPP
CO · TY 2024
$350K
Alliance for Youth Organizing
GENERAL SUPPORT
DC · TY 2024
$350K
Tides Foundation
HEALTHY DEMOCRACY FUND
CA · TY 2024
$350K
The Women's Foundation of Colorado
EXCEPTIONAL EXIT GRANT, GENERAL SUPP
CO · TY 2024
$300K
State Leadership Project
GENERAL SUPPORT
NC · TY 2024
$250K
New Venture Fund
AMERICA VOTES DEMOCRACY FUND
DC · TY 2024
$250K
Cleo Parker Robinson Dance
EXCEPTIONAL EXIT GRANT, GENERAL SUPP
CO · TY 2024
$250K
Political Research Associates
EXCEPTIONAL EXIT GRANT, GENERAL SUPP
MA · TY 2024
$250K
New Venture Fund
TRUSTED ELECTIONS FUND (MULTI-YEAR)
DC · TY 2024
$250K
Collective Education Fund
GENERAL SUPPORT
DC · TY 2024
$250K
Alliance for Youth Organizing
GENERAL SUPPORT
DC · TY 2024
$250K
Voter Registration Project
GENERAL SUPPORT (MULTI-YEAR)
DC · TY 2024
$250K
New Venture Fund
TRUSTED ELECTIONS FUND
DC · TY 2024
$200K
New Venture Fund
CENTER FOR SECURE &MODERN ELECTIONS
DC · TY 2024
$200K
Montana Community Foundation
WFM ENDOWMENT CHALLENGE MATCH (MULTI
MT · TY 2024
$200K
Progressnow Colorado Education
GENERAL SUPPORT
CO · TY 2024
$200K
New Venture Fund
CENTER FOR SECURE AND MODERN ELECTIO
DC · TY 2024
$175K
New Venture Fund
FAIR REPRESENTATION IN REDISTRICTING
DC · TY 2024
$150K
New Venture Fund
GENERAL SUPPORT OF THE HUB EDUCATION
DC · TY 2024
$150K
The Bell Policy Center
GENERAL SUPPORT (MULTI-YEAR)
CO · TY 2024
$150K
Voteamerica Inc
GENERAL SUPPORT (MULTI-YEAR)
CA · TY 2024
$150K
Alliance for Youth Organizing
GENERAL SUPPORT (MULTI-YEAR)
DC · TY 2024
$150K
Ultraviolet Education Fund
GENERAL SUPPORT
DC · TY 2024
$150K
Panorama Global
RUN FOR SOMETHING CIVICS (MULTI-YEAR
WA · TY 2024
$150K
Women Donors Network
ABORTION BRIDGE COLLABORATIVE FUND (
CA · TY 2024
$150K
Center for Technology and Civic Lif
GENERAL SUPPORT (MULTI-YEAR)
IL · TY 2024
$150K
State Leadership Project
GENERAL SUPPORT (MULTI-YEAR)
NC · TY 2024
$150K
Denver Art Museum
COLLECTORS' CHOICE EVENT SUPPORT
CO · TY 2024
$100K
Global Impact
GOVERNORS' ACTION ALLIANCE
VA · TY 2024
$100K
Voter Formation Project
GENERAL SUPPORT (MULTI-YEAR)
DC · TY 2024
$100K
Colorado Public Radio
EXCEPTIONAL EXIT GRANT, GENERAL SUPP
CO · TY 2024
$100K
Cleo Parker Robinson Dance
CONSULTING FOR THE CPRD CAPITAL PROJ
CO · TY 2024
$100K
Ballot Initiative Strategy Center F
GENERAL SUPPORT (MULTI-YEAR)
DC · TY 2024
$100K
Voter Registration Project
GENERAL SUPPORT
DC · TY 2024
$100K
Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mou
GENERAL SUPPORT
CO · TY 2024
$100K
Transformative Leadership for Chang
GENERAL SUPPORT (MULTI-YEAR) (YR 1 P
CO · TY 2024
$100K

Source: IRS Form 990-PF, Part XV. Up to 50 most recent grants shown.