The Harold & Mary Louise Shaw Foundation concentrates its giving in a small number of large grants to education- and nature-oriented nonprofits, with a strong local Colorado focus. It favors capital and general support for institutions that serve youth, schools, and animal/wildlife attractions, often funding the same organizations across multiple awards. Grants suggest personal or place-based ties (e.g., Colorado Springs zoo and Colorado secondary schools) alongside occasional support for out-of-state educational or land stewardship projects.
Concentrated giving: a few large grants totaling most of the budget, repeated awards to the same core grantees, mix of general operating and capital project support rather than many small grants.
A $860,000 general fund grant to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo appears in both 2023 and 2025, making the zoo one of the clearest recurring anchors in The Harold & Mary Louise Shaw Foundation’s recent giving. The foundation’s pattern is defined by large awards, repeated support to a small set of organizations, and a strong tilt toward education and place-based institutions. Alongside the zoo, Colby Sawyer College received three turf field grants across 2023, 2024, and 2025, including a $500,000 award in 2025. That mix shows a funder comfortable backing both operating needs and specific capital projects. Recent grants also point to support for schools and community-serving institutions in Colorado and beyond. Vail Christian High School received multiple general fund grants, while Wolfe’s Neck Farm and related Maine organizations received substantial support for agriculture, land stewardship, and educational programming. The foundation’s overall profile suggests flexible funding across sectors rather than a narrow program-by-program approach, with recurring awards indicating sustained relationships in several cases.
Education is a major thread in the foundation’s grantmaking. Vail Christian High School received $150,000 in 2025, and earlier awards of $100,000 in both 2023 and 2024 show repeated support. Zealous Schools also received general fund grants of $110,000 in 2024 and $90,000 in 2023, reinforcing the foundation’s interest in Colorado-based secondary education. Outdoor, agricultural, and land-stewardship work is another clear area. Wolfe’s Neck Farm received $175,000 in 2025 for general fund support, while Wolfe’s Neck Center received $75,000 in both 2023 and 2024. In Maine, Maine Coast Waldorf School received $130,000 in 2024 and $100,000 in 2023, linking school support with an education-and-land-use context. The foundation also backs community recreation and health-linked assets. Vail Valley Mountain Trails Alliance received $150,000 in 2025 and $105,000 in 2024 for general fund support, and Vail Health Foundation received grants of $102,256 in 2024 and $101,856 in 2025.
Typical grants cluster at a large size: the 25th percentile is $20,000, the median is $50,000, and the 75th percentile is $100,000. Recent awards show repeated support to the same recipients over multiple years, especially Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Colby Sawyer College, and Vail Christian High School. The pattern includes both general fund grants and designated capital support, such as turf field funding. The foundation is a grantmaker rather than an individual-giving vehicle and does not make program-related investments.
$2.9M
$31.8M
$4M
$3.6M
Most grants fall between $20K and $100K, with a median of $50K.
25th Percentile
$20K
Median
$50K
75th Percentile
$100K
About 37% of grants go to recipients in ME.
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Notable grantees: Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Colby Sawyer College, Vail Christian High School, Wolfe's Neck Farm
Colorado is the foundation’s main giving state, accounting for 38% of grants. Colorado Springs appears repeatedly through Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, while Eagle, Avon, Edwards, Vail, Gypsum, and Yarmouth also show up in the recipient list. Outside Colorado, grants land in New Hampshire and Maine, including New London, Freeport, Portland, and Yarmouth. All recorded grants in the recent list go to U.S. recipients.
Recent grants go to zoos, schools, colleges, trails and health nonprofits, and land-stewardship organizations. Examples include Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Vail Christian High School, Colby Sawyer College, Vail Valley Mountain Trails Alliance, and Wolfe’s Neck Farm.
Yes. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo appears with grants in 2023 and 2025, Colby Sawyer College received turf field grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and Vail Christian High School received grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
The grant-size distribution centers on larger awards: the 25th percentile is $20,000, the median is $50,000, and the 75th percentile is $100,000. Recent awards also include several six-figure grants and a $500,000 award to Colby Sawyer College in 2025.
Colorado is the top state by grant count, with 38% of grants going to recipients in the state. Colorado Springs, Eagle, Avon, Edwards, Vail, and Gypsum all appear in the recent grants list.
The foundation’s recent grants are all to U.S. recipients, with activity in Colorado, New Hampshire, and Maine. Named recipient cities include Colorado Springs, New London, Freeport, Portland, Yarmouth, Eagle, Avon, Edwards, Vail, and Gypsum.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN ZOO | COLORADO SPRINGS, CO | $860,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| Colby Sawyer College | New London, NH | $500,000 | 2025 | Turf Field |
| WOLFE'S NECK FARM | FREEPORT, ME | $175,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| VAIL VALLEY MOUNTAIN TRAILS ALLIANCE | AVON, CO | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| Vail Christian High School | Edwards, CO | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| Cycle Effect | Eagle, CO | $125,000 | 2025 | General Fund |
| VAIL HEALTH FOUNDATION | VAIL, CO | $101,856 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| 317 MAIN ST COMMUNITY CENTER | YARMOUTH, ME | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| Mountain Valley Horse Rescue | EAGLE, CO | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| ROUND UP RIVER RANCH | GYPSUM, CO | $70,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| FULL PLATES FULL POTENTIAL | PORTLAND, ME | $60,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| Planned Parenthood of Northern Colorado | Fort Collins, CO | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| EQUALITY MAINE | Portland, ME | $50,000 | 2025 | General Fund |
| Good Shepard Food Bank | Auburn, ME | $50,000 | 2025 | General Fund |
| Dayton Art Institute | Dayton, OH | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| Forest Society of Maine | Bangor, ME | $40,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| NATURE CONSERVANCY | Arlington, VA | $35,000 | 2025 | General Fund |
| Portland Museum of Art | Portland, ME | $35,000 | 2025 | General Fund |
| Ripple Effect | Portland, ME | $30,000 | 2025 | General Fund |
| NORTH YARMOUTH ACADEMY | Yarmouth, ME | $30,000 | 2025 | General Fund |
| CHILDREN'S GLOBAL ALLIANCE | VAIL, CO | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| Maine Coast Waldorf School | Freeport, ME | $20,000 | 2025 | General Fund |
| Out Maine | Rockland, ME | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| Maine Huts & Trails | Kingfield, ME | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| Maine Island Trails | Portland, ME | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| Preble Street | Portland, ME | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| Careers In Construction | Colorado Springs, CO | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| Pine Tree Curling Club | Portland, ME | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| Carabasset Valley Public Library | Carrabassett Valley, ME | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| Colby Sawyer College | New London, NH | $250,000 | 2024 | Turf Field |
| Maine Coast Waldorf School | Freeport, ME | $130,000 | 2024 | General Fund |
| Cycle Effect | Eagle, CO | $110,000 | 2024 | General Fund |
| CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN ZOO | COLORADO SPRINGS, CO | $110,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| ZEALOUS SCHOOLS | EAGLE, CO | $110,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| VAIL VALLEY MOUNTAIN TRAILS ALLIANCE | AVON, CO | $105,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| VAIL HEALTH FOUNDATION | VAIL, CO | $102,256 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| MOUNTAIN VALLEY HORSE RESCUE | EAGLE, CO | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| Portland Museum of Art | Portland, ME | $100,000 | 2024 | General Fund |
| Vail Christian High School | Edwards, CO | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| WOLFE'S NECK CENTER | FREEPORT, ME | $75,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| Ripple Effect | Portland, ME | $50,000 | 2024 | General Fund |
| Good Shepard Food Bank | Auburn, ME | $50,000 | 2024 | General Fund |
| FULL PLATES FULL POTENTIAL | PORTLAND, ME | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| Preble Street | Portland, ME | $30,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| EQUALITY MAINE | Portland, ME | $25,000 | 2024 | General Fund |
| CHILDREN'S GLOBAL ALLIANCE | VAIL, CO | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| ROUND UP RIVER RANCH | GYPSUM, CO | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| NORTH YARMOUTH ACADEMY | Yarmouth, ME | $25,000 | 2024 | General Fund |
| 317 MAIN ST COMMUNITY CENTER | YARMOUTH, ME | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| NATURE CONSERVANCY | Arlington, VA | $20,000 | 2024 | General Fund |
CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN ZOO
$860,000GENERAL FUND
Colby Sawyer College
$500,000Turf Field
WOLFE'S NECK FARM
$175,000GENERAL FUND
VAIL VALLEY MOUNTAIN TRAILS ALLIANCE
$150,000GENERAL FUND
Vail Christian High School
$150,000GENERAL FUND
Mountain Valley Horse Rescue
$100,000GENERAL FUND
Planned Parenthood of Northern Colorado
$50,000GENERAL FUND
EQUALITY MAINE
$50,000General Fund
Dayton Art Institute
$50,000GENERAL FUND
Portland Museum of Art
$35,000General Fund
Ripple Effect
$30,000General Fund
NORTH YARMOUTH ACADEMY
$30,000General Fund
CHILDREN'S GLOBAL ALLIANCE
$25,000GENERAL FUND
Maine Coast Waldorf School
$20,000General Fund
Maine Huts & Trails
$10,000GENERAL FUND
Maine Island Trails
$10,000GENERAL FUND
Careers In Construction
$5,000GENERAL FUND
Pine Tree Curling Club
$2,500GENERAL FUND
Carabasset Valley Public Library
$2,500GENERAL FUND
Colby Sawyer College
$250,000Turf Field
Maine Coast Waldorf School
$130,000General Fund
ZEALOUS SCHOOLS
$110,000GENERAL FUND
VAIL VALLEY MOUNTAIN TRAILS ALLIANCE
$105,000GENERAL FUND
Portland Museum of Art
$100,000General Fund
Vail Christian High School
$100,000GENERAL FUND
Ripple Effect
$50,000General Fund
EQUALITY MAINE
$25,000General Fund
CHILDREN'S GLOBAL ALLIANCE
$25,000GENERAL FUND
NORTH YARMOUTH ACADEMY
$25,000General Fund