The Vance R. and Colleen H. Andrus Family Foundation (including its Indigo Oak Fund) makes small-to-midsize discretionary grants that prioritize personal empowerment through education, the arts, youth and family services, women and children’s issues, and equal justice. Grants are concentrated in Colorado (with occasional support in places like Washington, D.C., California, and New York) and typically support community-level arts, scholarship, and youth development programs. Funding appears program-driven and family-directed rather than large institutional endowments.
The Vance R and Colleen H Andrus Family Foundation Aka the Indigo Oak Fund funds a mix of arts, education, youth, family support, women and children’s issues, and equal justice work through small-to-midsize discretionary grants. In 2025, its largest listed grants include $25,000 to Crisis Center in Littleton for legal advocacy and immediate client needs, alongside $20,000 awards to Art Students League of Denver for its Art in Prison, Diversity in the Arts Internship Program, and adult scholarship work. The foundation’s giving pattern also shows support for legal-services and civil-rights organizations, with grants to Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and Transformative Justice Coalition in Washington, DC. Other awards reach programs tied to scholarships, workforce pathways, family services, and community arts. The named Indigo Oak Fund program emphasizes personal empowerment and supports education, the arts, women and children’s issues, equal justice, scholarships, emergency funds, and general operating support. Its recent grant record points to a family-directed, community-level funder rather than a large institutional grantmaker, with recurring attention to Colorado organizations and selective support for groups in other states.
In arts and arts education, the foundation backed Berkeley Music Group with $20,000 for Concert Career Pathways and gave $20,000 to Tri Arts Project for general support. Its education-related giving also includes $15,000 to Quarter Project of Northern Colorado for GEMS, or Girls in Engineering, Maths, and Science, linking STEM exposure to youth programming. Family and community services appear through grants such as $15,000 to Family Visitor Program of Garfield County Inc for Healthy Families America and $15,000 to The Gathering Place a Refuge for Rebuilding Lives for TGP Family Program. Equal justice is another visible line of support: Crisis Center in Littleton received grants for legal advocacy and immediate client need, and The Delores Project received general support. The foundation also funded girls’ leadership and participation programs, including Girls on the Run of the Rockies for serving girls from disadvantaged backgrounds.
$1.2M
$10.2M
$939K
$795K
Most grants fall between $2K and $10K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$2K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$10K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in CO.
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Makes relatively small grants (commonly $2,000–$15,000, many around $5,000) through program-specific streams (Indigo Oak Fund; Youth and Family program categories). Grants are discretionary, active annually but with no publicly posted application deadlines; geography is primarily Colorado with occasional out-of-state awards. Likely gives multiple one-year grants rather than large multi-year commitments.
Typical grants fall between $1,500 at the 25th percentile and $10,000 at the 75th percentile, with a median grant of $4,788. The recent record shows a mix of repeat recipients and one-time awards: several organizations appear more than once in the 2025 list, including Art Students League of Denver, Crisis Center, The Delores Project, The Gathering Place a Refuge for Rebuilding Lives, Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, and Transformative Justice Coalition. The foundation is classified as a regular funder and funds individuals. It also accepts unsolicited proposals through the Indigo Oak Fund program. The pattern is program-driven and discretionary rather than tied to program-related investments.
Grantmaking is national, but Colorado receives the highest share of awards by count. Recent Colorado recipients include Littleton, Denver, Castle Rock, Louisville, Parker, Longmont, Fort Collins, Greenwood Village, Buena Vista, Glenwood Springs, and Cortez. Outside Colorado, grants in the recent list reach Washington, DC; Berkeley and Oakland in California; and Buffalo, New York. The recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 196 grants in the United States.
Its named Indigo Oak Fund program centers on education, the arts, women and children’s issues, equal justice, scholarships, emergency funds, and general operating support. Recent grants also show support for family services, youth programming, legal advocacy, and community arts organizations.
The typical grant size is small to midsize: the 25th percentile is $1,500, the median is $4,788, and the 75th percentile is $10,000. Recent awards also include larger grants, such as $25,000 and multiple $20,000 grants.
No. Colorado is where it gives most often, but recent grants also went to recipients in Washington, DC, California, and New York. The overall giving scope is national, and the recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based.
Yes. The Indigo Oak Fund program is marked as accepting unsolicited applications, and it supports scholarships, emergency funds, and general operating support alongside its broader education, arts, family, and equal justice priorities.
Yes. Several organizations appear multiple times in the 2025 grant list, including Art Students League of Denver, Crisis Center, The Delores Project, The Gathering Place a Refuge for Rebuilding Lives, Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, and Transformative Justice Coalition.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CRISIS CENTER | LITTLETON, CO | $25,000 | 2025 | Legal Advocacy and Immediate Client Need Fund |
| TRANSFORMATIVE JUSTICE COALITION | WASHINGTON, DC | $20,000 | 2025 | GenZ and Young Millennial Voting Rights Leadership Program |
| CRISIS CENTER | LITTLETON, CO | $20,000 | 2025 | Immediate Client Need Fund & Legal Advocacy Program |
| MILESTONE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION INC | BUFFALO, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | Pre-settlement funding |
| TRI ARTS PROJECT | CASTLE ROCK, CO | $20,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| LAWYERS COMMITTEE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS UNDER LAW | WASHINGTON, DC | $20,000 | 2025 | General Operating Support |
| MILESTONE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION INC | BUFFALO, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | Pre-settlement Funding |
| ART STUDENTS LEAGUE OF DENVER | DENVER, CO | $20,000 | 2025 | Art in Prison, Diversity in the Arts Internship Program, and Adult Scholarships fund |
| BERKELEY MUSIC GROUP | BERKELEY, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | Concert Career Pathways |
| ART STUDENTS LEAGUE OF DENVER | DENVER, CO | $20,000 | 2025 | Art in Prison, Diversity in the Arts Internship Program, and Adult Scholarship programs |
| GROUNDWORK RANCH | LOUISVILLE, CO | $17,355 | 2025 | Stable Life, Taking the Reins, and Hold Your Horses |
| FAMILY VISITOR PROGRAM OF GARFIELD COUNTY INC | GLENWOOD SPRINGS, CO | $15,000 | 2025 | Healthy Families America |
| FUNDAMENTAL NEEDS INC | CORTEZ, CO | $15,000 | 2025 | Growing Social Entrepreneurship Program |
| TRANSFORMATIVE JUSTICE COALITION | WASHINGTON, DC | $15,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| QUARTER PROJECT OF NORTHERN COLORADO | FORT COLLINS, CO | $15,000 | 2025 | GEMS - Girls in Engineering, Math and Science |
| SECOR | PARKER, CO | $15,000 | 2025 | Free Food Market Improvements fund |
| DOUGLAS COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | PARKER, CO | $15,000 | 2025 | Matching grant program |
| THE DELORES PROJECT | DENVER, CO | $15,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| THE DELORES PROJECT | DENVER, CO | $15,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| CHABOT SPACE & SCIENCE CENTER FOUNDATION | OAKLAND, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | Aerospace Academy: Workforce Development fund |
| REENTRY INITIATIVE | LONGMONT, CO | $15,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| FAMILY VISITOR PROGRAM OF GARFIELD COUNTY INC | GLENWOOD SPGS, CO | $15,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| THE GATHERING PLACE A REFUGE FOR REBUILDING LIVES | DENVER, CO | $15,000 | 2025 | TGP Family Program |
| THE GATHERING PLACE A REFUGE FOR REBUILDING LIVES | DENVER, CO | $15,000 | 2025 | TGP's Family Program |
| GIRLS ON THE RUN OF THE ROCKIES | GREENWOOD VLG, CO | $15,000 | 2025 | Girls on the Run of the Rockies: Serving Girls from Disadvantaged Backgrounds |
| QUARTER PROJECT OF NORTHERN COLORADO | FORT COLLINS, CO | $15,000 | 2025 | GEMS (Girls in Engineering, Maths, and Science) |
| ELEVATEHER | BUENA VISTA, CO | $15,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| LAWYERS COMMITTEE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS UNDER LAW | WASHINGTON, DC | $15,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| COLORADO IMMIGRANT JUSTICE FUND | DENVER, CO | $15,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| DOUGLAS COUNTY EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION | CASTLE ROCK, CO | $10,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| COLORADO PHOTOGRAPHIC ARTS CENTER INC | DENVER, CO | $10,000 | 2025 | Month of Photography Denver Festival Portfolio Review Equity Scholarship fund |
| ELEVATEHER | BUENA VISTA, CO | $10,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| COLORADO PHOTOGRAPHIC ARTS CENTER INC | DENVER, CO | $10,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| ROCKY MOUNTAIN DIAPER DEPOT | CENTENNIAL, CO | $10,000 | 2025 | General Support for storage of inventory |
| ROCKY MOUNTAIN DIAPER DEPOT | CENTENNIAL, CO | $10,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| GIRLS ON THE RUN OF THE ROCKIES | GREENWOOD VLG, CO | $10,000 | 2025 | General Operating fund |
| TECHBRIDGE GIRLS | OAKLAND, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| DOUGLAS COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | PARKER, CO | $10,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| REENTRY INITIATIVE | LONGMONT, CO | $10,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| IMPACT ON EDUCATION | LOUISVILLE, CO | $10,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| ARCHWAY HOUSING & SERVICES INC | LAKEWOOD, CO | $10,000 | 2025 | Women and Children Housing and Support Services fund |
| COLORADO COLLEGE | COLORADO SPRINGS, CO | $10,000 | 2025 | FAC Free Community Programming |
| ROCKY MOUNTAIN MICROFINANCE INSTITUTE | DENVER, CO | $10,000 | 2025 | Business Idea Lab and Business Launch Boot Camp |
| IMPACT ON EDUCATION | LOUISVILLE, CO | $10,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| BERKELEY MUSIC GROUP | BERKELEY, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | Concert Career Pathways |
| ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING FOR KIDS | DENVER, CO | $10,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| FOSTER SOURCE | THORNTON, CO | $10,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| ROCKY MOUNTAIN MICROFINANCE INSTITUTE | DENVER, CO | $10,000 | 2025 | Business Launch Boot Camp |
| FIRST RESPONDERS CHILDRENS FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | FRCF Scholarship Program |
| ROCKY MOUNTAIN IMMIGRANT ADVOCACY NETWORK | WESTMINSTER, CO | $10,000 | 2025 | General Support |
CRISIS CENTER
$25,000Legal Advocacy and Immediate Client Need Fund
TRANSFORMATIVE JUSTICE COALITION
$20,000GenZ and Young Millennial Voting Rights Leadership Program
CRISIS CENTER
$20,000Immediate Client Need Fund & Legal Advocacy Program
MILESTONE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION INC
$20,000Pre-settlement funding
TRI ARTS PROJECT
$20,000General Support
LAWYERS COMMITTEE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS UNDER LAW
$20,000General Operating Support
MILESTONE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION INC
$20,000Pre-settlement Funding
ART STUDENTS LEAGUE OF DENVER
$20,000Art in Prison, Diversity in the Arts Internship Program, and Adult Scholarships fund
BERKELEY MUSIC GROUP
$20,000Concert Career Pathways
ART STUDENTS LEAGUE OF DENVER
$20,000Art in Prison, Diversity in the Arts Internship Program, and Adult Scholarship programs
GROUNDWORK RANCH
$17,355Stable Life, Taking the Reins, and Hold Your Horses
FAMILY VISITOR PROGRAM OF GARFIELD COUNTY INC
$15,000Healthy Families America
FUNDAMENTAL NEEDS INC
$15,000Growing Social Entrepreneurship Program
TRANSFORMATIVE JUSTICE COALITION
$15,000General Support
QUARTER PROJECT OF NORTHERN COLORADO
$15,000GEMS - Girls in Engineering, Math and Science
SECOR
$15,000Free Food Market Improvements fund
DOUGLAS COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$15,000Matching grant program
THE DELORES PROJECT
$15,000General Support
THE DELORES PROJECT
$15,000General Support
CHABOT SPACE & SCIENCE CENTER FOUNDATION
$15,000Aerospace Academy: Workforce Development fund
REENTRY INITIATIVE
$15,000General Support
FAMILY VISITOR PROGRAM OF GARFIELD COUNTY INC
$15,000General Support
THE GATHERING PLACE A REFUGE FOR REBUILDING LIVES
$15,000TGP Family Program
THE GATHERING PLACE A REFUGE FOR REBUILDING LIVES
$15,000TGP's Family Program
GIRLS ON THE RUN OF THE ROCKIES
$15,000Girls on the Run of the Rockies: Serving Girls from Disadvantaged Backgrounds
QUARTER PROJECT OF NORTHERN COLORADO
$15,000GEMS (Girls in Engineering, Maths, and Science)
ELEVATEHER
$15,000General Support
LAWYERS COMMITTEE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS UNDER LAW
$15,000General Support
COLORADO IMMIGRANT JUSTICE FUND
$15,000General Support
DOUGLAS COUNTY EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
$10,000General Support
COLORADO PHOTOGRAPHIC ARTS CENTER INC
$10,000Month of Photography Denver Festival Portfolio Review Equity Scholarship fund
ELEVATEHER
$10,000General & Unrestricted
COLORADO PHOTOGRAPHIC ARTS CENTER INC
$10,000General Support
ROCKY MOUNTAIN DIAPER DEPOT
$10,000General Support for storage of inventory
ROCKY MOUNTAIN DIAPER DEPOT
$10,000General Support
GIRLS ON THE RUN OF THE ROCKIES
$10,000General Operating fund
TECHBRIDGE GIRLS
$10,000General Support
DOUGLAS COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$10,000General Support
REENTRY INITIATIVE
$10,000General Support
IMPACT ON EDUCATION
$10,000General Support
ARCHWAY HOUSING & SERVICES INC
$10,000Women and Children Housing and Support Services fund
COLORADO COLLEGE
$10,000FAC Free Community Programming
ROCKY MOUNTAIN MICROFINANCE INSTITUTE
$10,000Business Idea Lab and Business Launch Boot Camp
IMPACT ON EDUCATION
$10,000General Support
BERKELEY MUSIC GROUP
$10,000Concert Career Pathways
ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING FOR KIDS
$10,000General Support
FOSTER SOURCE
$10,000General Support
ROCKY MOUNTAIN MICROFINANCE INSTITUTE
$10,000Business Launch Boot Camp
FIRST RESPONDERS CHILDRENS FOUNDATION
$10,000FRCF Scholarship Program
ROCKY MOUNTAIN IMMIGRANT ADVOCACY NETWORK
$10,000General Support