Colorado State University Foundation
87% goes to programs $0 to raise $100 Strong reserves Declining revenue
Colorado State University Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Fort Collins, Colorado, registered in 1971, with $117,234,946 in FY2024 revenue. CharityIndex grades it A, and it directs about 87% of spending to programs.
300 Univ Services Ctr, Fort Collins, CO, 80523 EIN 23-7098397 Since 1971
Revenue (FY2024)
$117.2M
▲ 21.0% vs prior year
Education median: $200K
Expenses (FY2024)
$92.4M
Net assets
$835.9M
Employees
23
CharityIndex rating
One independent A+ to F grade from four published criteria, each scored separately from IRS filings and combined by weight.
A
AProgram efficiency40% of the rating87% to programs · $0 to raise $100
Measures how much of every dollar spent actually reaches programs, plus what it costs to raise $100 of donations. The worse of the two measures sets the letter (85%+ to programs is an A; under $15 to raise $100 is an A), averaged over the three most recent filings. For Colorado State University Foundation: 87% to programs · $0 to raise $100 earns a A on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
B+Financial health25% of the rating109 mo reserves · +21% margin
Measures whether the organization is built to last: how many months its reserves would cover expenses (3+ months earns an A-range score, but hoarding 5+ years of budget is capped) and whether it runs a surplus or a deficit. For Colorado State University Foundation: 109 mo reserves · +21% margin earns a B+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
A+Governance25% of the rating6 of 6 checks met
Checks how the organization is run, from its own Form 990: an independent board majority, a board of five or more, conflict-of-interest, whistleblower and document-retention policies, and independently audited financials. The share of disclosed checks that pass sets the letter. For Colorado State University Foundation: 6 of 6 checks met earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
ATransparency10% of the rating4 of 5 disclosure signals
Counts five disclosure signals: a recent filing, a mission statement, program descriptions, a listed website, and the full expense breakdown. More disclosure, better letter. For Colorado State University Foundation: 4 of 5 disclosure signals earns a A on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
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Mission
Colorado state university foundation receives, manages and invests gifts in support of csu.
Contact & location
- Address
- 300 Univ Services Ctr, Fort Collins, CO, 80523
- City
- Fort Collins
- State
- Colorado
- Category
- Education
- Subcategory
- Support Foundations & Fundraising
- Phone
- …
- Website
- …
Financial trends
Revenue grew from $75.9M (FY2013) to $117.2M (FY2024) across 12 reported years.
Financial snapshot
Financial health & position (FY2024)
Liabilities $29.1MNet assets $835.9M
Operating margin
21.2%
Revenue exceeded expenses in the latest fiscal year.
Total assets
$864.9M
Total liabilities
$29.1M
Net assets
$835.9M
Salaries & benefits
$3.1M
3% of expenses
Board members
11
10 independent
Financials by year
| Fiscal year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets | Total assets | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $117,234,946▲21.0% | $92,436,659▲3.5% | $835,884,252▲9.2% | $864,944,732▲9.5% | 990 |
| 2023 | $96,897,506▲8.2% | $89,313,101▼1.7% | $765,427,864▲5.6% | $789,972,616▲5.1% | 990 |
| 2022 | $89,557,511▼45.2% | $90,881,779▲25.7% | $724,943,529▲6.3% | $751,934,427▲6.5% | 990 |
| 2021 | $163,322,590▼11.0% | $72,279,922▼0.9% | $681,711,858▼3.9% | $706,044,439▼3.6% | 990 |
| 2020 | $183,413,484▲140% | $72,922,929▼5.1% | $709,315,243▲29.9% | $732,500,299▲27.7% | 990 |
| 2019 | $76,359,569▼17.0% | $76,846,762▲0.5% | $545,958,135▼1.3% | $573,710,619▲0.3% | 990 |
| 2018 | $91,973,650▼1.8% | $76,455,598▼36.3% | $553,171,662▲3.2% | $571,727,939▲3.4% | 990 |
| 2017 | $93,671,927▼44.4% | $120,022,898▲113% | $535,905,625▼4.9% | $552,851,372▼4.7% | 990 |
| 2016 | $168,339,550▲45.9% | $56,233,714▲3.5% | $563,350,869▲23.4% | $580,312,978▲23.0% | 990 |
| 2015 | $115,361,080▲10.7% | $54,357,003▼6.2% | $456,590,595▲11.7% | $471,842,916▲11.1% | 990 |
| 2014 | $104,175,824▲37.2% | $57,972,976▲4.3% | $408,776,510▲6.0% | $424,882,005▲5.6% | 990 |
| 2013 | $75,922,852 | $55,587,664▲7.6% | $385,680,914▲13.7% | $402,414,053▲12.9% | 990 |
| 2012 | — | $51,658,117▲48.6% | $339,269,399▲9.5% | $356,362,299▲9.5% | 990 |
| 2011 | — | $34,756,133▲13.9% | $309,746,572▼1.0% | $325,352,506▼0.5% | 990 |
| 2010 | — | $30,513,381 | $313,013,770 | $327,095,080 | 990 |
Original Form 990 PDFs (the Form column) are served by ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, as filed with the IRS. Create a free account to download the CSV report.
Leadership & compensation (FY2024)
Highest-paid: Cheri O'neill — $382,032 (0.41% of total expenses)
| Name | Title | Hours/week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheri O'neill | President/ceo | 40 | $382,032 |
| Allen Padilla | Vice President/cfo | 40 | $263,447 |
| Terilyn Larson | Controller | 40 | $169,826 |
| Dipen Patel | Director of Information Systems | 40 | $158,429 |
| Rilla Williams | Director of Business Data | 40 | $117,055 |
| Sara Campbell | Secretary | 40 | $111,826 |
| Marie Dondlinger | Assistant Controller | 40 | $101,004 |
| Brian Klemz | Director | 1 | — |
| David Diehl | Director | 1 | — |
| Deb Demuth | Director/chair | 1 | — |
| Jim Detterick | Director | 1 | — |
| Luke Daniel | Director | 1 | — |
| Mark Smith | Director | 1 | — |
| Michelle Martinez | Director/vice Chair | 1 | — |
| Morris Price | Director | 1 | — |
| Ric Thomas | Director/past Chair | 1 | — |
| Scott Thisted | Director | 1 | — |
Top vendors & contractors (FY2024)
| Contractor | Services | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Nepc LLC | Outsourced Chief Investment Officer | $702,989 |
| Woodberry Associates LLC | Legislative Relations | $413,448 |
| Plante & Moran Pllc | Audit and Tax | $142,328 |
| Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck LLP | Legislative Relations | $135,000 |
Grants received · $77.3M total
308 grants to Colorado State University Foundation totaling $77.3M, reported by foundations on their Schedule I filings — showing the 15 most recent.
| Grantmaker | Purpose | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suzanne and Walter Scott Foundation | Scholarships | 2024 | $3,914,500 |
| Charities Aid Foundation America | Charitable donation | 2024 | $1,000,000 |
| Denver Foundation | Scholarships & student financial aid | 2024 | $414,000 |
| The Us Charitable Gift Trust | For recipient's exempt purpose | 2024 | $316,913 |
| Petsmart Charities Inc | Access to care | 2024 | $306,808 |
| The Aspen Institute Inc | College excellence program | 2024 | $300,000 |
| Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc | Unrestricted general support | 2024 | $220,000 |
| Denver Foundation | Single organization support | 2024 | $202,609 |
| Charities Aid Foundation America | Charitable donation | 2024 | $62,199 |
| American Society For the Prevention of Cruelty To Animals | See part iv | 2024 | $53,513 |
| Raymond James Charitable Endowment Fund | General support | 2024 | $50,750 |
| The Bessemer Giving Fund | General support | 2024 | $50,000 |
| Impactassets Inc | General support | 2024 | $33,261 |
| Ayco Charitable Foundation | Education | 2024 | $30,500 |
| National Christian Charitable Foundation | Giving and generosity | 2024 | $28,421 |
Grants made · $79.2M in FY2024
1 grant totaling $79.2M in FY2024. All grants made by Colorado State University Foundation →
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado State University | Education | $79,217,346 |
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Compare Colorado State University Foundation
Frequently asked questions
- Is Colorado State University Foundation a legitimate nonprofit?
- Yes. Colorado State University Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization registered with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service under EIN 23-7098397, based in Fort Collins, Colorado. Donations are tax-deductible.
- What is Colorado State University Foundation's EIN?
- Colorado State University Foundation's Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 23-7098397.
- How much revenue does Colorado State University Foundation report?
- Colorado State University Foundation reported $117,234,946 in total revenue on its fiscal year 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.
- How much of Colorado State University Foundation's spending goes to programs?
- Colorado State University Foundation spends about 87% of its total expenses on programs, based on its latest IRS Form 990.
- What financial grade does Colorado State University Foundation have?
- CharityIndex grades Colorado State University Foundation A, based on program efficiency and fundraising cost.
- How much does Colorado State University Foundation's highest-paid employee make?
- The highest reported compensation on Colorado State University Foundation's latest Form 990 is $382,032, paid to Cheri O'neill (President/ceo).
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Data for Colorado State University Foundation (EIN 23-7098397) comes from the IRS Business Master File and e-filed Form 990 returns, via CharityIndex. Figures reflect what the organization reported to the IRS for each fiscal year.