Norwood Foundation

The Norwood Foundation operates as a classic family foundation with a relationship-driven grantmaking model. Established in 2002 by the Jenkins family — founders of Norwood Development Group, one of Colorado Springs' largest real estate developers — the foundation reflects the family's deep roots in the Pikes Peak region and their Presbyterian faith. The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals for organizational grants; instead, the three family trustees (David Jenkins as President, Carolyn Jenkins as Vice President, and Christopher Jenkins as Secretary/Treasurer) identify and select grantees based on personal relationships, community involvement, and alignment with their core priorities of Christian ministry, education, youth development, and elderly care. With $82.6 million in assets and zero paid staff, this lean structure means all grantmaking decisions flow through the Jenkins family's direct knowledge of community needs. Organizations seeking funding should focus on building authentic relationships with the Jenkins family through shared community involvement, particularly in Colorado Springs civic and faith-based networks where Christopher Jenkins serves on multiple boards including the Olympics Museum, UCCS, Pikes Peak Community Foundation, and the Colorado Springs Philharmonic.

The Norwood Foundation's 2024 grantmaking reveals a dual-tier strategy: a small number of large strategic grants alongside many smaller community investments. The foundation distributed $6.1 million across 40 grants, but the distribution was highly concentrated — a single $2.8 million grant to the Rapha Foundation Fund and a $1.6 million grant to Pikes Peak Community Foundations together accounted for approximately 72% of total giving. Below these anchor grants, the foundation maintained a portfolio of mid-range ($200K-$275K) and smaller ($500-$25K) grants, with a median of just $10,000. This pattern has been remarkably consistent over eight years: between 2017 and 2024, the foundation distributed $10.3 million across 301 total grants, averaging approximately 38 grants per year. Grant counts have remained stable (32-49 per year), though the dollar volume has grown substantially as assets increased from $22.8 million (2020) to $82.6 million (2024), driven by significant contributions and investment gains. The foundation's 2024 revenue of $32.5 million — including $22.6 million in 'other income' — suggests ongoing transfers from Norwood Development Group or related entities. The payout rate of approximately 7.4% exceeds the IRS minimum, reflecting genuine philanthropic commitment rather than minimum-compliance grantmaking.

Among Colorado Springs-based private family foundations, the Norwood Foundation occupies a significant position with $82.6 million in assets and $6.1 million in annual giving, placing it among the region's top philanthropic entities.

Compared to the mega-foundations dominating Colorado philanthropy (El Pomar, Anschutz, Daniels Fund), the Norwood Foundation is notably smaller but punches above its weight in per-grant impact. Its 7.4% payout rate exceeds most peers. The foundation's relationship-only model is more restrictive than most Colorado foundations of comparable size — El Pomar, Colorado Springs Health Foundation, and Pikes Peak Community Foundation all accept public applications. However, the Norwood Foundation's deep integration with Colorado Springs' business and faith communities gives it outsized influence in directing resources to organizations that might not surface through traditional application processes.

In fiscal year 2024, the Norwood Foundation reported its most financially significant year to date, with total revenue of $32.5 million — a dramatic increase driven by $22.6 million in 'other income' (likely asset transfers or development-related gains) alongside $4.6 million from asset sales and $2.2 million in interest. Total assets reached $82.6 million, up from $22.8 million just four years earlier, representing a 262% increase. The foundation distributed $6.1 million across 40 grants, with the largest single grant of $2.8 million going to the Rapha Foundation Fund, a faith-based organization. The second-largest commitment of $1.6 million went to Pikes Peak Community Foundations, reinforcing the foundation's role as a key funder of Colorado Springs' primary community foundation. Healthcare received notable attention with $275,000 to Pikes Peak Hospice, while civic engagement was supported through $250,000 to Advance Colorado and $250,000 to the American Red Cross. Education and arts received support through $225,000 to QED Foundation and ongoing support for the Colorado Springs Philharmonic. The foundation filed its most recent 990-PF in November 2025, and with $82.6 million in assets, is positioned to sustain or increase its $6+ million annual giving trajectory. All three Jenkins family officers continue to serve without compensation, maintaining the lean family-office operating model.

The Norwood Foundation's relationship-driven model requires a fundamentally different approach than traditional grant applications. Since the foundation does not accept unsolicited organizational proposals, the most effective strategy is building authentic connections within the Jenkins family's sphere of influence. First, engage with the organizations where Christopher Jenkins serves on boards — the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum, UCCS, Pikes Peak Community Foundation, and Colorado Springs Philharmonic — as participation in these networks creates natural visibility with the foundation's key decision-maker. Second, align your work with the foundation's demonstrated priorities: Christian ministry and Presbyterian organizations receive the largest grants, followed by education, youth development, healthcare/hospice, and regional arts. Organizations that can authentically connect to faith-based values while delivering measurable community impact are best positioned. Third, consider the Pikes Peak Community Foundation as an intermediary — with $1.6 million from Norwood in 2024 alone, PPCF serves as a significant conduit for the Jenkins family's philanthropy, and being a PPCF grantee may create indirect access to Norwood funding. Fourth, for individual scholarship seekers, the foundation does accept direct scholarship applications — contact the foundation at (719) 593-2600 or write to 111 S Tejon St Suite 222, Colorado Springs, CO 80903 to request an application form. College applicants must be high school graduates; vocational training applicants need only meet their institution's requirements. Fifth, note that the listed website (norwood.org) belongs to an unrelated church — the foundation has no public website, making personal outreach and community visibility even more critical.