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Grant funders / Colorado / Merle Chambers Fund

Merle Chambers Fund

Denver, Colorado  ·  EIN 840929410  ·  Private foundation

Based in Denver, Colorado, Merle Chambers Fund has awarded $72.4M across 567 grants in our index of public IRS filings, with giving recorded as recently as 2025. Its largest grant on record went to Denver Art Museum. This profile covers its focus areas, top grant recipients, year-by-year giving, and how a nonprofit should approach it.

$3.4M
Annual giving (FY2020)
$66.5M
Total assets
567
Grants tracked
2025
Most recent grant

What Merle Chambers Fund funds

Merle Chambers Fund's giving carries a documented focus on civil rights & social justice, education, health care, higher education.

Civil Rights & Social JusticeEducationHealth CareHigher Education

Populations it has supported include black communities, indigenous, women girls.

black communitiesindigenouswomen girls

Grant history

The largest grants Bespoke Grants has on record for Merle Chambers Fund, by amount:

RecipientLocationGrantYear
Denver Art Museum
KIRKLAND INSTITUTE ENDOWMENT
Denver, CO$28.5M2024
Denver Art Museum
KIRKLAND INSTITUTE CURATOR ENDOWMENT
Denver, CO$3.0M2024
State Leadership Project
GENERAL SUPPORT
Raleigh, NC$750K2024
Center for Technology and Civic Lif
GENERAL SUPPORT
Chicago, IL$600K2024
The Denver Foundation
ADVISED FUND
Denver, CO$502K2024
Communities Foundation of Oklahoma
EXCEPTIONAL EXIT GRANT, WOMEN'S FUND
Oklahoma City, OK$500K2024
Denver Art Museum
EXCEPTIONAL EXIT GRANT, FELLOWSHIP E
Denver, CO$500K2024
New Venture Fund
CENTER FOR SECURE & MODERN ELECTIONS
Washington, DC$500K2024
Reproductive Freedom for All Founda
GENERAL SUPPORT
Washington, DC$500K2024
Wyoming Community Foundation
EXCEPTIONAL EXIT GRANT, WOMEN'S FUND
Laramie, WY$500K2024
Cleo Parker Robinson Dance
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
Denver, CO$500K2024
The Bell Policy Center
EXCEPTIONAL EXIT GRANT, GENERAL SUPP
Denver, CO$500K2024
New Venture Fund
CENTER FOR SECURE & MODERN ELECTIONS
Washington, DC$500K2022
The Bell Policy Center
GENERAL SUPPORT (MULTI-YEAR)
Denver, CO$500K2023
Wyoming Community Foundation
WOMEN'S FUND ENDOWMENT
Laramie, WY$500K2023

Merle Chambers Fund giving by year

Total grants Bespoke Grants has indexed for each filing year:

2020$3.4M
2022$9.2M
2023$9.8M
2024$50.0M
2025$70K

How to apply for funding from Merle Chambers Fund

Merle Chambers Fund's public IRS filing does not spell out a formal application process. Foundations of this size often give primarily to organizations they already know, so a concise letter of inquiry or a warm introduction is usually the best first contact — not a full proposal. You can review the foundation directly at chambersfund.org.

Is Merle Chambers Fund the right funder for your nonprofit?

This page shows what Merle Chambers Fund has funded. Bespoke Grants tells you whether it fits your mission — and finds every other foundation that does. Free, no credit card.

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Frequently asked questions about Merle Chambers Fund

Does Merle Chambers Fund accept grant applications?
Merle Chambers Fund's public filing does not specify an application process. A brief letter of inquiry or a warm introduction is usually the best first step with a private foundation of this size.
What does Merle Chambers Fund fund?
Merle Chambers Fund's grants focus on civil rights & social justice. Recent recipients include Denver Art Museum, Denver Art Museum, State Leadership Project. Its full grant history is listed above.
How much does Merle Chambers Fund give in grants?
Merle Chambers Fund reported $3.4M in grants in its most recent IRS filing (FY2020). Across all years in our data it has awarded $72.4M over 567 grants.
Where is Merle Chambers Fund located?
Merle Chambers Fund is based in Denver, Colorado. Its IRS employer identification number (EIN) is 840929410.
How can I find foundations similar to Merle Chambers Fund?
Bespoke Grants matches your nonprofit against 225,000+ foundations like Merle Chambers Fund, ranking each by how well it fits your mission, location, and budget — with the reasoning shown. It is free to search.

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Foundations similar to Merle Chambers Fund

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About this profile. This page is built from Merle Chambers Fund's public IRS Form 990-PF and 990 filings, indexed by Bespoke Grants alongside 13M+ grants from 225,000+ U.S. foundations. Grant figures reflect filings available to date; IRS data publishes on a 1–2 year lag. Bespoke Grants is not affiliated with Merle Chambers Fund. Always confirm current giving priorities and application procedures with the foundation directly before applying.