Liberty Ears Inc. gives a small number of large, targeted grants that primarily support classical liberal / libertarian ideas (free markets, individual liberty, and free speech), digital civil liberties, and technology policy, while also making a significant local investment in racial equity through the Denver Foundation and a health-oriented gift for tinnitus research. Their portfolio mixes national ideological think tanks and advocacy groups with a major community-focused grant and a single biomedical interest, suggesting a donor who blends principled cause funding with a few place-based and personal-interest gifts.
Liberty Ears Inc. stands out for pairing a $1,000,000 grant to the Denver Foundation in 2025 with a portfolio centered on classical liberal and libertarian ideas. Across recent grants, the foundation backs organizations working on free markets, individual liberty, free speech, digital civil liberties, and technology policy, while also making a smaller set of place-based and issue-specific gifts. That mix includes recurring support for think tanks and advocacy groups such as the Ludwig von Mises Foundation, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, and the Electronic Frontier Foundation. The pattern suggests a funder that uses large, targeted awards rather than broad, dispersed giving. Its recipients include policy and education organizations, public-interest advocacy groups, and a health-oriented grantee focused on tinnitus research and prevention. The portfolio also reaches community and cultural work through Colorado Japanese School, which received grants for language and cultural learning in 2023 and for building a bridge between Japan and the United States in 2025. The foundation’s giving is national in scope, but it is concentrated in a relatively small set of organizations and themes.
In libertarian and free-market education, Liberty Ears Inc. gave $400,000 to the Ludwig Von Mises Foundation in 2024 to promote the economic theories of Ludwig von Mises, his predecessors, and his successors through teaching programs, research, fellowships, and scholarly publications. It also gave $200,000 to the Center for Independent Thought in 2025 to expand awareness of individual liberty, free markets, and peace. Free speech and technology policy are another clear thread. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression received $300,000 in 2024 and $200,000 in 2025 to defend and sustain the individual rights of all Americans to free speech and free thought. The Electronic Frontier Foundation received $200,000 in both 2024 and 2025 to ensure that technology supports freedom, justice, and innovation for all people of the world. The foundation also supports education and public outreach. The American Federation for Children Growth Fund Inc received $100,000 in 2024 to help lower-income children access quality education, while Mike Rowe Works Foundation received $100,000 in 2024 to debunk myths about the skilled trades and close the skills gap.
$2M
$48M
$2.1M
$2.4M
Most grants fall between $100K and $200K, with a median of $104K.
25th Percentile
$100K
Median
$104K
75th Percentile
$200K
About 13% of grants go to recipients in CA.
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Highly concentrated giving: few grants of substantial size (six grants totaling $2.3M), no evidence of repeated multi-year funding to the same recipients in this sample, combining large national ideological/advocacy gifts with one prominent local community grant and one health-focused award.
Notable grantees: Denver Foundation, Ludwig von Mises Foundation, Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), Center for Independent Thought
Typical grants are large: the 25th percentile is $100,000, the median is $104,000, and the 75th percentile is $200,000. The pattern is concentrated rather than broad, with a small number of awards carrying most of the activity. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, the American Tinnitus Association, the Center for Independent Thought, the American Brownstone Institute, the Reason Foundation, The Soho Forum, and Colorado Japanese School. Liberty Ears Inc. is classified as a regular funder, not a DAF, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments.
Liberty Ears Inc. gives nationally, with all recent grants going to U.S. recipients. California is the top state by grant count, and Colorado recipients account for 6% of grants. Named recipient cities include Denver, Philadelphia, New York, Austin, Los Angeles, Sacramento, Redwood City, Dallas, Auburn, and Centennial, showing a spread across policy, advocacy, education, and community organizations. The largest grant in the set went to Denver Foundation in Denver, while recurring awards also reached organizations in New York and California.
Recent grants center on libertarian and free-market education, free speech and free thought, digital civil liberties, and technology policy. The foundation also funds tinnitus research and prevention, education access for lower-income children, skilled-trades outreach, and Colorado Japanese School’s language and cultural programming.
Yes. Several recipients appear in more than one year, including the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, the American Tinnitus Association, the Center for Independent Thought, the American Brownstone Institute, the Reason Foundation, The Soho Forum, and Colorado Japanese School.
Recent grants are generally large. The 25th percentile is $100,000, the median is $104,000, and the 75th percentile is $200,000. Awards in the recent list include multiple $200,000 grants and one $1,000,000 grant.
Grant counts are highest in California. The foundation’s giving is national overall, and 6% of grants went to recipients in Colorado, where its headquarters are located.
The foundation supports free-market economics through the Ludwig Von Mises Foundation, free speech through the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, technology policy through the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and hearing health through the American Tinnitus Association and Hearing Health Foundation.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DENVER FOUNDATION | DENVER, CO | $1,000,000 | 2025 | TO ACHIEVE THE VISION OF BEING A PROACTIVE, COLLABORATIVE, AND RESOLUTE LEADER IN REDUCING RACIAL DISPARITIES. |
| CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT THOUGHT | BALA CYNWYD, PA | $200,000 | 2025 | IT SEEKS TO EXPAND AWARENESS OF INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY, FREE MARKETS AND PEACE. |
| THE SOHO FORUM | NEW YORK, NY | $200,000 | 2025 | TO ENHANCE SOCIAL AND PROFESSIONAL TIES WITHIN THE NYC LIBERTARIAN COMMUNITY. |
| FOUNDATION FOR INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND EXPRESSION | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $200,000 | 2025 | TO DEFEND AND SUSTAIN THE INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS OF ALL AMERICANS TO FREE SPEECH AND FREE THOUGHT |
| ELECTRONIC FRONTIER FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISO, CA | $200,000 | 2025 | TO ENSURE THAT TECHNOLOGY SUPPORTS FREEDOM, JUSTICE, AND INNOVATION FOR ALL PEOPLE OF THE WORLD |
| AMERICAN BROWNSTONE INSTITUTE | AUSTIN, TX | $154,188 | 2025 | PROVIDES AN INDEPENDENT VOICE FOR PERSONAL LIBERTY AND FREE ENTERPRISE. |
| COLORADO JAPANESE SCHOOL | CENTENNIAL, CO | $30,000 | 2025 | TO NURTURE AND DEVELOP INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE REFINED IN MIND AND BODY, AND WHO WILL SERVE AS A BRIDGE BETWEEN JAPAN AND THE UNITED STATES IN THE FUTURE. |
| LUDWIG VON MISES FOUNDATION | AUBURN, AL | $400,000 | 2024 | TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC THEORIES OF LUDWIG VON MISES, HIS PREDECESSORS AND HIS SUCCESSORS, THROUGH TEACHING PROGRAMS, RESEARCH, FELLOWSHIPS AND SCHOLARLY PUBLICATIONS. |
| FOUNDATION FOR INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND EXPRESSION | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $300,000 | 2024 | TO DEFEND AND SUSTAIN THE INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS OF ALL AMERICANS TO FREE SPEECH AND FREE THOUGHT |
| AMERICAN TINNITUS ASSOCIATION | WASHINGTON DC, WA | $200,000 | 2024 | TO HELP PREVENT AND INVESTIGATE CURES FOR TINNITUS. |
| AMERICAN BROWNSTONE INSTITUTE | AUSTIN, TX | $200,000 | 2024 | PROVIDES AN INDEPENDENT VOICE FOR PERSONAL LIBERTY AND FREE ENTERPRISE. |
| THE SOHO FORUM | NEW YORK, NY | $200,000 | 2024 | TO ENHANCE SOCIAL AND PROFESSIONAL TIES WITHIN THE NYC LIBERTARIAN COMMUNITY. |
| FOUNDATION FOR ECONOMIC EDUCATION | ATLANTA, GA | $200,000 | 2024 | TO PROMOTE AND EDUCATE IN THE PRINCIPLES OF SOUND ECONOMICS. |
| ELECTRONIC FRONTIER FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISO, CA | $200,000 | 2024 | TO ENSURE THAT TECHNOLOGY SUPPORTS FREEDOM, JUSTICE, AND INNOVATION FOR ALL PEOPLE OF THE WORLD |
| THE REASON FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $124,356 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT FREE SOCIETY BY DEVELOPING, APPLYING, AND PROMOTING LIBERTARIAN PRINCIPLES, INCLUDING INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY, FREE MARKETS, AND THE RULE OF LAW. |
| CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT THOUGHT | BALA CYNWYD, PA | $100,000 | 2024 | IT SEEKS TO EXPAND AWARENESS OF INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY, FREE MARKETS AND PEACE. |
| MIKE ROWE WORKS FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $100,000 | 2024 | TO DEBUNK MYTHS AND MISPERCEPTIONS ABOUT THE SKILLED TRADES AND CLOSE THE SKILLS GAP. |
| RANDOLPH BOURNE INSTITUTE DBA ANTIWAR | REDWOOD CITY, CA | $100,000 | 2024 | TO PROMOTE DISCUSSION AND EDUCATION THROUGH A WEBSITE AND OUTREACH TO THE MEDIA AND GENERAL PUBLIC. |
| HEARING HEALTH FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE MISSION TO PREVENT AND CURE HEARING LOSS |
| AMERICAN FEDERATION FOR CHILDREN GROWTH FUND INC | DALLAS, TX | $100,000 | 2024 | BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS TO HELP LOWER-INCOME CHILDREN ACCESS QUALITY EDUCATION. |
| ADVOCATES FOR SELF-GOVERNMENT | SACRAMENTO, CA | $104,000 | 2023 | INTRODUCE PEOPLE TO SELF-GOVERNMENT AND EQUIP PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND, EMBRACE, AND ADVOCATE THE VALUES OF SELF-GOVERNMENT. |
| AMERICAN TINNITUS ASSOCIATION | WASHINGTON DC, WA | $100,000 | 2023 | TO HELP PREVENT AND INVESTIGATE CURES FOR TINNITUS. |
| REASON FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON DC, WA | $100,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT FREE SOCIETY BY DEVELOPING, APPLYING, AND PROMOTING LIBERTARIAN PRINCIPLES, INCLUDING INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY, FREE MARKETS, AND THE RULE OF LAW. |
| COLORADO JAPANESE SCHOOL | AURORA, CO | $25,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT LEARNING OF JAPANESE LANGUAGE AND CULTURE. |
TO ACHIEVE THE VISION OF BEING A PROACTIVE, COLLABORATIVE, AND RESOLUTE LEADER IN REDUCING RACIAL DISPARITIES.
CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT THOUGHT
$200,000IT SEEKS TO EXPAND AWARENESS OF INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY, FREE MARKETS AND PEACE.
THE SOHO FORUM
$200,000TO ENHANCE SOCIAL AND PROFESSIONAL TIES WITHIN THE NYC LIBERTARIAN COMMUNITY.
TO DEFEND AND SUSTAIN THE INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS OF ALL AMERICANS TO FREE SPEECH AND FREE THOUGHT
ELECTRONIC FRONTIER FOUNDATION
$200,000TO ENSURE THAT TECHNOLOGY SUPPORTS FREEDOM, JUSTICE, AND INNOVATION FOR ALL PEOPLE OF THE WORLD
PROVIDES AN INDEPENDENT VOICE FOR PERSONAL LIBERTY AND FREE ENTERPRISE.
COLORADO JAPANESE SCHOOL
$30,000TO NURTURE AND DEVELOP INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE REFINED IN MIND AND BODY, AND WHO WILL SERVE AS A BRIDGE BETWEEN JAPAN AND THE UNITED STATES IN THE FUTURE.
TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC THEORIES OF LUDWIG VON MISES, HIS PREDECESSORS AND HIS SUCCESSORS, THROUGH TEACHING PROGRAMS, RESEARCH, FELLOWSHIPS AND SCHOLARLY PUBLICATIONS.
TO DEFEND AND SUSTAIN THE INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS OF ALL AMERICANS TO FREE SPEECH AND FREE THOUGHT
AMERICAN TINNITUS ASSOCIATION
$200,000TO HELP PREVENT AND INVESTIGATE CURES FOR TINNITUS.
PROVIDES AN INDEPENDENT VOICE FOR PERSONAL LIBERTY AND FREE ENTERPRISE.
THE SOHO FORUM
$200,000TO ENHANCE SOCIAL AND PROFESSIONAL TIES WITHIN THE NYC LIBERTARIAN COMMUNITY.
TO PROMOTE AND EDUCATE IN THE PRINCIPLES OF SOUND ECONOMICS.
ELECTRONIC FRONTIER FOUNDATION
$200,000TO ENSURE THAT TECHNOLOGY SUPPORTS FREEDOM, JUSTICE, AND INNOVATION FOR ALL PEOPLE OF THE WORLD
TO SUPPORT FREE SOCIETY BY DEVELOPING, APPLYING, AND PROMOTING LIBERTARIAN PRINCIPLES, INCLUDING INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY, FREE MARKETS, AND THE RULE OF LAW.
CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT THOUGHT
$100,000IT SEEKS TO EXPAND AWARENESS OF INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY, FREE MARKETS AND PEACE.
TO DEBUNK MYTHS AND MISPERCEPTIONS ABOUT THE SKILLED TRADES AND CLOSE THE SKILLS GAP.
RANDOLPH BOURNE INSTITUTE DBA ANTIWAR
$100,000TO PROMOTE DISCUSSION AND EDUCATION THROUGH A WEBSITE AND OUTREACH TO THE MEDIA AND GENERAL PUBLIC.
TO SUPPORT THE MISSION TO PREVENT AND CURE HEARING LOSS
BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS TO HELP LOWER-INCOME CHILDREN ACCESS QUALITY EDUCATION.
ADVOCATES FOR SELF-GOVERNMENT
$104,000INTRODUCE PEOPLE TO SELF-GOVERNMENT AND EQUIP PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND, EMBRACE, AND ADVOCATE THE VALUES OF SELF-GOVERNMENT.
AMERICAN TINNITUS ASSOCIATION
$100,000TO HELP PREVENT AND INVESTIGATE CURES FOR TINNITUS.
TO SUPPORT FREE SOCIETY BY DEVELOPING, APPLYING, AND PROMOTING LIBERTARIAN PRINCIPLES, INCLUDING INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY, FREE MARKETS, AND THE RULE OF LAW.
COLORADO JAPANESE SCHOOL
$25,000TO SUPPORT LEARNING OF JAPANESE LANGUAGE AND CULTURE.