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Non-profit

Lewis Foundation

Location:

Aspen, CO
Tax ID:

41-2063101
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)-PF

Budget (2020):

Revenue: $11,059,474
Expenses: $5,257,768
Assets: $90,187,226
Formation:

2002
President:

Adam J. Lewis

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The Lewis Foundation is a private foundation primarily funded by its president Adam J. Lewis. 1 Adam Lewis is the son of the late billionaire Peter B. Lewis, the former chairman of Progressive Insurance and a noted liberal advocacy philanthropist who was among the first members of the liberal donor collective Democracy Alliance (DA). 2 During his life Peter donated millions of dollars to Democratic campaigns and spent his later years advocating for the legalization of marijuana. 3

Adam Lewis’s foundation continues Peter Lewis’s philanthropy with continued donations to left-leaning activism organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and grants to environmentalist groups like the Rocky Mountain Institute. 4 In 2019, the Lewis Foundation’s publicly disclosed grants went towards production company Impact Partners and its production of several documentaries on subjects including, “environmental issues” and “sexual assault in Hollywood.” 5  Adam Lewis continues to personally support liberal politics and has contributed upwards of $850,000 to liberal campaigns and candidates since 2004. 6

Background

The Lewis Foundation carries on the philanthropic legacy of Peter B. Lewis, the former chairman of Progressive Insurance and a major donor to liberal advocacy. Some of Lewis’ largest personal contributions went to organizations like the Center for American Progress (CAP), the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and Media Matters for America. During the 2004 Presidential election, Lewis donated more than $23 million to liberal groups in an effort to elect Democratic nominee John Kerry. In his later years, he donated millions of dollars to marijuana legalization efforts. 7 In addition to the Lewis Foundation, Lewis created the PBL Fund and the Management Center. 8

The Lewis Foundation continues to donate to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and gives a substantial amount of money to environmentalist groups like the Rocky Mountain Institute, who has received $2 million in grants since 2015. 9

People

Adam J. Lewis, son of Peter B. Lewis, is the president of the Lewis Foundation. He is a board member of Spear Point Energy, a solar energy company, and a supporter of the Presidential Climate Action Project. 10 Lewis is a large political donor, who has contributed upwards of $850,000 to liberal campaigns and candidates between 2004 and 2019. He has donated to many of the 2020 democratic presidential candidates including Tim Ryan, Elizabeth Warren, Beto O’Rourke, Cory Booker, Jay Inslee, John Hickenlooper, and Andrew Yang. 6

References

  1. The Lewis Foundation, Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2017, Schedule B Part I
  2. Berman, Ari. “Big $$ for Progressive Politics.” The Nation. Oct. 16, 2006. Accessed September 30, 2019. https://www.thenation.com/article/big-progressive-politics/
  3. Fitzsimmons, Emma G. “Peter B. Lewis, Philanthropist who led Progressive Auto Insurance, Dies at 80.” The New York Times. November 24, 2013. Accessed September 16, 2019. https://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/25/business/peter-b-lewis-philanthropist-who-led-progressive-auto-insurance-dies-at-80.html
  4. The Lewis Foundation, Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2017, Part XV, Line 3
  5. Suozzo, Andrea, Ken Schwencke, Mike Tigas, Sisi Wei, Alec Glassford, and Brandon Roberts. “Lewis Foundation, Full Filing – Nonprofit Explorer.” ProPublica, May 9, 2013. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/412063101/202003219349102475/full.
  6. “Individual Contributions, Adam Lewis, Colorado.” Federal Elections Commission. Accessed September 16, 2019.  https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?contributor_name=Adam+Lewis&contributor_state=CO
  7. Sullivan, Sean. “How Liberal Donor Peter Lewis Left his Mark on Politics.” The Washington Post. November 25, 2013. Accessed September 16, 2019. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2013/11/25/how-liberal-mega-donor-peter-lewis-left-his-mark-on-politics/
  8. Gentilucci, Michael. “What Will Peter B. Lewis’ Philanthropic Legacy Be?” Inside Philanthropy. November 25, 2013. Accessed September 16, 2019. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/what-will-peter-b-lewis-philanthropic-legacy-be.html
  9. The Lewis Foundation, Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2015 and 2017, Part XV Line 3
  10. “Our Team.” Spear Point Energy. 2016. Accessed September 16, 2019. https://www.spearpointenergy.com/our-team/
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: December 1, 2002

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2020 Dec Form PF $11,059,474 $5,257,768 $90,187,226 $584,720 $0 $0 $0 $0
    2019 Dec Form PF $10,145,351 $2,653,395 $75,390,349 $967,118 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2015 Dec Form PF $25,338,034 $1,705,449 $17,901,893 $1 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2014 Dec Form PF $4,733,952 $3,434,566 $4,392,545 $3,711 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2013 Dec Form PF $58,063 $1,401,306 $2,748,682 $1 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2012 Dec Form PF $278,138 $57,886 $4,098,990 $1 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2011 Dec Form PF $82,380 $79,693 $3,878,738 $1 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    Lewis Foundation

    201 West Hallam St.
    Aspen, CO 94301-1430