Daniels Fund

Daniels Fund supports highly effective and ethical nonprofit organizations that achieve significant results in the community. One focus area is K–12 education reform.

Average award: $25,000–$150,000
Total awarded: $57,793,710

Application Timeframe:

Deadline: Rolling
Award Project Period: Annual

Address: 101 Monroe Street
Denver, CO 80206

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 303-393-7220

Daniels Fund has a focus on K–12 education reform. This focus is based on founder Bill Daniels’ belief that every student deserves a quality education that provides relevant real-world experiences, and that free enterprise principles—like competition and choice—have the power to achieve systemic reform and foster excellent schools. The program aims to elevate student achievement through an improved K–12 education system. Strategies include:

• Reform/School choice: Expanded competition and school choice are realized through high-performing charter schools, tuition assistance/portable voucher programs, and other programs that challenge the status quo.
• Teacher/Leadership quality: Teachers and school leaders receive effective training and support to maximize student achievement.
• Parental engagement: Parents become better educated in the areas of school quality and choice and understand how to be effective advocates for their children.

Daniels Fund has further tailored its grant making strategies and objectives for each of its target areas to address specific needs in each state.

• Colorado: Applications accepted across the state which is defined by two regions. Both regions will accept applications for the K–12 reform program.
• Wyoming: Applications accepted throughout the state and will be considered for the K–12 reform program.
• New Mexico: Unsolicited requests not accepted. The Fund supports organizations with a demonstrated ability to improve the education continuum, from cradle to career. Organizations with questions about the New Mexico grant strategy may contact a program officer (currently Peter Droege, Grants Program Officer, at [email protected] or 720.941.4432).
• Utah: Most funding is directed to United Way offices within the state.

Eligibility Details: 

Organizations need to have a 501(c)(3) status or government equivalent and provide programs or services in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, or Wyoming.

• $1,000,000 to Excellent Schools New Mexico (Albuquerque, NM), an organization that provides capital, resources, and other support to the state’s educators, who commit to building great schools that serve historically overlooked students and families.
• $800,000 to Denver School of Science and Technology (Denver, CO) for expansion and performance compensation.
• $500,000 to Colorado Charter Facility Solutions (Denver, CO) to support facility needs of Colorado charter schools.

Organizations from Colorado and Wyoming may complete the online eligibility form that includes basic organization contact information and contact information for the person submitting the inquiry. After the inquiry is complete, the potential applicant will receive an email confirmation with a link to schedule a phone call with a Daniels Fund representative to determine if the proposed program or project is a likely candidate for funding. Following this conversation, select applicants will be asked to proceed to a full application.