The Frederic C Hamilton Family Foundation concentrates its grantmaking on medical research—particularly macular degeneration work at the University of Colorado—and on donor-supported scholarships that help children access education. Grants are large relative to the total portfolio and focused geographically in Colorado, reflecting a preference for deep investments in a few high-impact organizations rather than broad, diffuse giving.
Three consecutive $500,000 grants to the University of Colorado Hamilton Macular Degeneration program show the Frederic C Hamilton Family Foundation’s clearest priority: sustained support for macular degeneration research. That same pattern appears alongside recurring scholarships for children through ACE Scholarships, giving the foundation a profile that combines medical research with education access. The grant list also points to a preference for repeat relationships rather than one-off awards. The foundation has backed the University of Colorado Hamilton Macular Degeneration program in Denver in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and it has supported ACE Scholarships in Greenwood Village across the same span. Beyond those anchor recipients, its recent grants include hospital services, wildlife conservation, community assistance, and public safety. The foundation’s giving is not broad and diffuse; it centers on a small set of organizations that receive meaningful support over multiple years. That mix of research, scholarships, and selected community grants gives researchers a clear picture of how the foundation deploys its resources: concentrated, multi-year, and tied to specific institutions and programs.
Medical research is the foundation’s most visible cause area. It gave $500,000 in 2025 to the University of Colorado Hamilton Macular Degeneration program in Denver for medical research, matching the same $500,000 level in 2024 and 2023. Scholarships are another recurring priority: ACE Scholarships in Greenwood Village received $189,250 in 2025 for assisting children, after $174,250 grants in both 2024 and 2023. The foundation also supports research and treatment beyond ophthalmology. It awarded $60,000 in 2025 to the Helen & Arthur E Johnson Depression Center in Aurora for medical research and treatment, and $50,000 in 2025 to Texas Biomedical Research Institution in San Antonio for medical research. In education, Western Stock Show Association in Denver received $50,000 in 2024 for its educational mission.
The typical grant size is $5,600 at the 25th percentile, $15,000 at the median, and $35,278 at the 75th percentile, which shows a spread from smaller awards to much larger institutional grants. The recent list also shows repeated support over multiple years rather than one-time gifts: the University of Colorado Hamilton Macular Degeneration program, ACE Scholarships, and several other recipients appear in 2023, 2024, and 2025. The foundation funds individuals and does not make program-related investments. The record here reflects project- or program-restricted grants and scholarship support, with annual giving of $6,319,655 against total assets of $29,830,303.
$2.1M
$29.8M
$1.9M
$2.4M
Most grants fall between $6K and $35K, with a median of $15K.
25th Percentile
$6K
Median
$15K
75th Percentile
$35K
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Concentrated, high-dollar giving to a small number of repeat grantees (multi-year support), with three grants each to two primary beneficiaries; emphasis on targeted institutional support rather than many small grants.
Notable grantees: University of Colorado Hamilton Macular Degeneration, ACE Scholarships, Colorado-based medical research programs, Local scholarship providers serving Colorado children
Giving is national, but Colorado receives the largest share of grants, with 23% going to recipients in the HQ state. Denver appears repeatedly in the recent grants list, including the University of Colorado Hamilton Macular Degeneration program and the Denver Police Foundation, while Greenwood Village and Aurora are also represented. Outside Colorado, the foundation’s grants reach Florida, Maine, New York, Texas, and Maryland. Every listed grant in the data goes to a U.S. recipient, with 193 grants recorded in the United States.
The recent grants point most strongly to macular degeneration research, scholarships for children, medical research and treatment, wildlife conservation, and selected community-serving grants. Repeated recipients include the University of Colorado Hamilton Macular Degeneration program and ACE Scholarships.
The grant-size distribution is $5,600 at the 25th percentile, $15,000 at the median, and $35,278 at the 75th percentile. The recent list also includes much larger recurring awards such as $500,000 grants to a single research program.
Yes. The foundation funds individuals, and its grantmaking also includes scholarship support through ACE Scholarships. The data indicates a model that includes both direct support and institutional program funding.
Colorado is the top state by grant count, with 23% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Recent Colorado recipients include organizations in Denver, Greenwood Village, Aurora, and other parts of the state.
Recurring support is common. The University of Colorado Hamilton Macular Degeneration program received $500,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and ACE Scholarships received grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025 as well.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Colorado Hamilton Macular Degeneration | Denver, CO | $500,000 | 2025 | Medical Research |
| ACE Scholarships | Greenwood Village, CO | $189,250 | 2025 | Assist Children |
| Atlantic Salmon Federation | Calais, ME | $150,000 | 2025 | Wildlife Conservation |
| Hospital for Special Surgery Development Dept | New York, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | Hospital Services |
| Helen & Arthur E Johnson Depression Center | Aurora, CO | $60,000 | 2025 | Medical Research & Treatment |
| Hobe Sound Community Chest | Hobe Sound, FL | $55,000 | 2025 | Assist Families |
| Jupiter Medical Center Foundation | Jupiter, FL | $50,000 | 2025 | Assist Members of the Community |
| Denver Police Foundation | Denver, CO | $50,000 | 2025 | Public Safety |
| Texas Biomedical Research Institution | San Antonio, TX | $50,000 | 2025 | Medical Research |
| Activate Work Inc | Denver, CO | $50,000 | 2025 | Professional and Life Skills Coaching |
| Boys and Girls Club of Martin County | Hobe Sound, FL | $50,000 | 2025 | Assist Kids |
| Stand Together Trust | Baltimore, MD | $50,000 | 2025 | Assist Members of the Community |
| Evans Scholars Foundation | Glenview, IL | $44,000 | 2025 | Provide Scholarships |
| Texas A&M University-Kingsville | Kingsville, TX | $40,000 | 2025 | Educational Mission |
| Parks & Wildlife Foundation of Texas | Dallas, TX | $40,000 | 2025 | Wildlife Conservation |
| Forever Foundation for Texas Wildlife | New Braunfels, TX | $40,000 | 2025 | Assist with Land Conservancy |
| Lawrence & Memorial Hospital | New London, CT | $33,333 | 2025 | Hospital Services |
| NYU Langone Health System | New York, NY | $30,000 | 2025 | Assist with Educational Mission |
| StudentSponsor Partnership | Kingsville, TX | $30,000 | 2025 | Assist Low Income Students |
| Millbrook School | Millbrook, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | Educational Mission |
| Colorado Uplift | Denver, CO | $25,000 | 2025 | Urban Youth Services |
| Jupiter Island Art Council | Hobe Sound, FL | $25,000 | 2025 | Assist with Educational Services |
| Eagle Valley Land Trust | Edwards, CO | $25,000 | 2025 | Assist Low Income Students |
| The Everglades Foundation | Palmetto Bay, FL | $25,000 | 2025 | Scientific Research |
| Wake Forest University | WinstonSalem, NC | $25,000 | 2025 | Educational Mission |
| Vail Health Services Foundation | Vail, CO | $25,000 | 2025 | Medical Research |
| Judi's House | Aurora, CO | $25,000 | 2025 | Grief Education and Support |
| Salisbury School | Salisbury, CT | $23,000 | 2025 | Educational Mission |
| Weill Cornell Medical College | New York, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | Assist Members of the Community |
| Step Up for Students | Jacksonville, FL | $20,000 | 2025 | Provide Scholarships |
| Children's Hospital Colorado Foundation | Aurora, CO | $20,000 | 2025 | Medical Research |
| Delta Waterfowl Foundation | Bismark, ND | $20,000 | 2025 | Wildlife Conservation |
| Mayo Clinic | Rochester, MN | $20,000 | 2025 | Medical Research |
| Kieve-Wavus Education | Nobleboro, ME | $20,000 | 2025 | Educational Mission |
| Ducks Unlimited | Memphis, TN | $15,000 | 2025 | Wildlife Conservation |
| Allen-Chase Foundation Eaglebrook | Deerfield, MA | $15,000 | 2025 | Educational Mission |
| Boys and Girls Club of Metro Denver | Denver, CO | $13,000 | 2025 | Assist Kids |
| Island Health Project | Fishers Island, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | Health Care Clinics |
| Walsh Park Benevolent Corporation | Fishers Island, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | Assist with Affordable Housing |
| UATX | Austin, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | Educational Mission |
| South Carolina Waterfowl | Pinewood, SC | $10,000 | 2025 | Wildlife Conservation |
| Craig Hospital Foundation | Englewood, CO | $10,000 | 2025 | Medical Research |
| Hobe Sound Nature Center | Hobe Sound, FL | $10,000 | 2025 | Assist with Educational Mission |
| Banner Lake Club | Hobe Sound, FL | $9,000 | 2025 | Assist Members of the Community |
| Fishers Island Community Center | Fishers Island, NY | $7,500 | 2025 | Assist Low Income Families |
| Jupiter Island Medical Fund | Jupiter, FL | $6,000 | 2025 | Assist Members of the Community |
| Fishers Island Conservancy | Fishers Island, NY | $6,000 | 2025 | Assist with Land Conservancy |
| Fishers Island Fire Department | Fishers Island, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | Public Safety |
| Tall Timbers Research | Tallahassee, FL | $5,000 | 2025 | Assist with Land Conservancy |
| Yale University | New Haven, CT | $5,000 | 2025 | Educational Mission |
University of Colorado Hamilton Macular Degeneration
$500,000Medical Research
ACE Scholarships
$189,250Assist Children
Helen & Arthur E Johnson Depression Center
$60,000Medical Research & Treatment
Assist Families
Texas Biomedical Research Institution
$50,000Medical Research
Evans Scholars Foundation
$44,000Provide Scholarships
Texas A&M University-Kingsville
$40,000Educational Mission
Forever Foundation for Texas Wildlife
$40,000Assist with Land Conservancy
StudentSponsor Partnership
$30,000Assist Low Income Students
Jupiter Island Art Council
$25,000Assist with Educational Services
Eagle Valley Land Trust
$25,000Assist Low Income Students
Weill Cornell Medical College
$20,000Assist Members of the Community
Step Up for Students
$20,000Provide Scholarships
Children's Hospital Colorado Foundation
$20,000Medical Research
Delta Waterfowl Foundation
$20,000Wildlife Conservation
Mayo Clinic
$20,000Medical Research
Ducks Unlimited
$15,000Wildlife Conservation
Allen-Chase Foundation Eaglebrook
$15,000Educational Mission
South Carolina Waterfowl
$10,000Wildlife Conservation
Fishers Island Conservancy
$6,000Assist with Land Conservancy
Fishers Island Fire Department
$5,000Public Safety
Yale University
$5,000Educational Mission