Lewis Foundation

## How to Approach the Lewis Foundation

The Lewis Foundation is a private family foundation led by Adam J. Lewis and Melony M. Lewis that does not accept unsolicited grant applications. The foundation explicitly states it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations." This means traditional application strategies do not apply — instead, organizations must position themselves to be identified and selected by the foundation's leadership.

What They Prioritize: The Lewis Foundation continues the philanthropic legacy of Peter B. Lewis, the late chairman of Progressive Insurance. The foundation's giving patterns reveal four clear priority areas: (1) climate and clean energy solutions, (2) education and arts/cultural institutions, (3) civil liberties and social justice advocacy, and (4) community development in the Aspen/Roaring Fork Valley. Peter Lewis was a past Chairman of the Board of the Rocky Mountain Institute and the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies, and the foundation's continued support of these organizations reflects deep institutional relationships.

Alignment Signals: Organizations most likely to receive Lewis Foundation funding share several characteristics: they operate at the intersection of environmental advocacy and policy change, they are well-established institutions with national reputations (Aspen Institute, Earthjustice, ACLU), or they are community-anchor organizations in the Aspen, Colorado area. The foundation favors general operating support over project-specific grants, suggesting they invest in organizations whose overall mission they trust rather than funding individual programs.

Relationship Building: Since this is a proactive-selection foundation, the most effective approach is to build visibility within the Lewis family's professional and philanthropic networks. Adam Lewis sits on the board of Spear Point Energy (a solar company) and supports the Presidential Climate Action Project. Organizations working in climate, clean energy, and environmental justice that intersect with these networks are best positioned. The Aspen Community Foundation, which has received multiple million-dollar grants, may also serve as a pathway for smaller organizations to come to the Lewis Foundation's attention.

## Funding Patterns and Distribution

Grant Volume and Scale: The Lewis Foundation manages approximately $146 million in assets (2024) and distributes between $6.7 million and $8.15 million annually through a small number of large grants. This is a concentrated grantmaker — typically making only 5-9 grants per year, meaning each grant decision is highly deliberate.

Grant Size Distribution: Individual grants range from $100,000 to $4,000,000, with an average around $957,000. This is a foundation that makes very few small grants. The typical pattern is one or two anchor grants of $1-4 million, several grants in the $500K-$1M range, and occasionally smaller grants around $100K-$200K.

Recent Grant History by Year: - 2024: 7 grants totaling $6.7 million (largest: $2M to Aspen Institute) - 2023: 9 grants totaling $8.15 million (largest: $4M to Aspen Community Foundation) - 2022: 6 grants - 2021: 5 grants - 2020: 7 grants (assets at $90M, since grown to $146M)

Sector Allocation (based on recent filings): - Climate and environment: ~25% (Rocky Mountain Institute, Earthjustice, Aspen Center for Environmental Studies, Sierra Club Foundation) - Education and policy: ~35% (Aspen Institute across multiple grants, Oberlin College, Big Green) - Arts and culture: ~15% (Aspen Art Museum Foundation, Utah Film Center) - Community: ~15% (Aspen Community Foundation, Aspen Country Day School) - Civil liberties and advocacy: ~10% (ACLU Foundation, Everytown for Gun Safety, Barack Obama Foundation)

Geographic Distribution: Grants are concentrated in Colorado (especially Aspen), with additional funding flowing to Washington D.C., California, New York, Illinois, and Utah. The foundation's geographic footprint is national but anchored in the Aspen/Roaring Fork Valley community.

## Peer Comparison

The Lewis Foundation occupies a distinctive niche among Aspen-area private foundations: a family foundation with significant assets, ultra-concentrated grantmaking, and a strong progressive and environmental orientation.

Distinguishing Characteristics: The Lewis Foundation is notable for several reasons. First, its extremely concentrated grantmaking (5-9 grants per year vs. hundreds for community foundations) means each grant represents a significant strategic decision. Second, its strong climate and environmental focus — inherited from Peter B. Lewis's chairmanship of the Rocky Mountain Institute — sets it apart from other Aspen-area foundations that tend to focus more broadly on community needs. Third, its willingness to fund national advocacy organizations (ACLU, Earthjustice, Everytown) alongside local institutions gives it a dual local-national character unusual for a foundation of its size.

Asset Growth: The foundation's assets have grown from approximately $90 million in 2020 to $146 million in 2024 — a 62% increase that suggests continued contributions from the Lewis family and/or strong investment performance. This positions it for potentially expanded grantmaking in coming years.

Payout Rate: At approximately 4.6-5.6% of assets, the Lewis Foundation meets but does not significantly exceed the IRS minimum 5% distribution requirement for private foundations, consistent with foundations that prioritize asset growth alongside current giving.

## Recent Activity and Strategic Shifts

2024 Grant Highlights: The Lewis Foundation's 2024 grantmaking totaled $6.7 million across 7 grants, down from $8.15 million across 9 grants in 2023. The largest 2024 grant was $2 million to The Aspen Institute for general support, followed by $1 million each to the Aspen Community Foundation, Aspen Country Day School (Teacher Wellness Fund), and Rocky Mountain Institute. Earthjustice received $500,000 for general support, and the Aspen Institute received an additional $200,000 for its Food and Society Program.

Continued Aspen Institute Relationship: The foundation made three separate grants to the Aspen Institute in 2024 totaling $3.2 million, representing nearly half of all 2024 giving. This deep relationship — with both general support and program-specific funding — suggests the Aspen Institute is the foundation's most trusted institutional partner.

Teacher Wellness Focus: A notable new direction in 2024 was the $1 million grant to Aspen Country Day School specifically for a Teacher Wellness Fund. This suggests expanding interest in education workforce wellbeing, potentially influenced by post-pandemic concerns about educator burnout and retention.

Asset Growth Trajectory: The foundation's assets grew from approximately $132 million in 2023 to $146 million in 2024 (up 10.6%), while revenues reached $9.6 million — suggesting continued family contributions beyond investment returns. This asset growth positions the foundation to increase grantmaking in future years.

Leadership Continuity: Adam J. Lewis continues as President and Melony M. Lewis as Vice President, both serving without compensation and dedicating approximately 2 hours per week. The lean operational structure (zero employees) reflects a foundation that relies on the principals' personal relationships and judgment rather than professional program staff. This is consistent with a preselected-grantee model rather than an open application process.

Legacy Context: Jonathan D. Lewis, Peter B. Lewis's other son, passed away in July 2023. Jonathan ran a separate foundation (Jonathan D and Mark C. Lewis Foundation, EIN 65-0330579) focused on LGBTQ+ youth and change-makers. The Lewis Foundation (this entity) maintains a distinct identity focused on climate, education, and institutional support.

## Application Tips for the Lewis Foundation

Important Caveat: The Lewis Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. The following guidance is for organizations seeking to position themselves for potential selection by the foundation.

1. Understand the Preselected Model: This foundation explicitly states it only funds preselected organizations. Do not send cold proposals, letters of inquiry, or funding requests — they will not be reviewed. Instead, focus on building visibility within the foundation's ecosystem.

2. Leverage the Aspen Network: The Lewis Foundation's grantmaking is deeply embedded in the Aspen, Colorado philanthropic community. Organizations that build relationships with the Aspen Community Foundation, the Aspen Institute, and other Aspen-area institutions are more likely to come to the attention of Adam and Melony Lewis. Participation in Aspen Ideas Festival, Aspen Institute programs, and Roaring Fork Valley civic life increases visibility.

3. Align with Climate and Environment: The strongest thematic through-line in the foundation's giving is climate and environmental advocacy. Organizations working on clean energy transitions, environmental law, public lands protection, and climate policy are most aligned. Peter B. Lewis's legacy as Rocky Mountain Institute board chair means the foundation has deep knowledge of and commitment to this space.

4. Seek General Support Positioning: The Lewis Foundation overwhelmingly provides general operating support rather than project-specific grants. This means they fund organizations whose entire mission they believe in, not individual programs. Position your organization's overall mission and impact — not a specific project — as the value proposition.

5. Demonstrate Institutional Credibility: All Lewis Foundation grantees are established, well-known institutions (Aspen Institute, Earthjustice, Rocky Mountain Institute, ACLU, Barack Obama Foundation). The foundation does not appear to fund startups or emerging organizations. Ensure your organization has a track record, strong governance, and national or regional reputation.

6. Consider Indirect Pathways: The Aspen Community Foundation has received multiple million-dollar grants from the Lewis Foundation. Smaller organizations serving the Roaring Fork Valley community might build a relationship with the Aspen Community Foundation as an intermediary, potentially gaining indirect exposure to Lewis Foundation funding priorities.

7. Monitor 990 Filings: Since the foundation does not have a public grants program, the most reliable way to track its priorities is through annual Form 990-PF filings available on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer or GuideStar. Shifts in grantee composition signal evolving interests.