The Louis Calder Foundation

The Foundation seeks to support high-performing alternate education models in anticipation that their successful strategies will become common practice in all schools.

Average award: $100,000–$200,000
Total awarded: $7,716,950

Application Timeframe:

Deadline: Rolling (paused due to COVID-19); The Foundation’s fiscal year end is October 31
Award Project Period: One year

Address: 999 18th Street, Suite 2350S
Denver, CO 80202

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 720-943-9865

The Louis Calder Foundation uses four strategies to support its overall grant-making program: charter and parochial schools, teacher and leadership development, public policy, and capital projects. Charter and parochial schools and capital projects are detailed below.

• Charter and parochial schools: The Foundation supports efforts of existing high-performing charter management organizations and faith-based schools to expand through the addition of grade levels, the creation of new schools, and by establishing a presence in new regions. The Foundation also supports the creation of new, stand-alone charter schools or faith-based schools in communities with a demonstrated need for higher quality public education and improved student outcomes. The Foundation believes that every child deserves access to a content-rich liberal arts education, and that curriculum development is an essential aspect of education reform.
• Capital projects: The Foundation considers capital projects that help schools build on their success. The Foundation assists charter management organizations and faith-based schools to improve the functionality of the school to enhance the delivery of science content. The Foundation is interested in providing capital support for the construction or renovation of science labs/classrooms which will be used by students in grades K–8. The Foundation focuses on science-related capital improvements and considers grants to organizations with a high-performing academic model and a strong vision of their future goals, helping them make renovations to their existing facilities.

Eligibility Details: 

Charter management organizations, new and existing charter schools, parochial schools, and nonprofit organizations emphasizing academic achievement and utilizing a content-rich, liberal arts curriculum. Due to Covid-19, the Foundation is temporarily suspending acceptance of unsolicited proposals and letters of inquiry with support limited to grantee.

• $160,000 to Clarksdale Collegiate Public Charter School (Clarksdale, MS) to support the opening of a new elementary school.
• $150,000 to Indianapolis Classical Schools (Indianapolis, IN) for science lab classrooms.
• $100,000 to Excellent Schools New Mexico (Albuquerque, NM) to support the opening of Voz Collegiate Preparatory Charter School.
• $100,000 to Impact Public Schools (Tukwila, WA) to support grade level growth of a new elementary school.

In 2020, the Foundation indicated that it was not currently accepting requests for capital support and temporarily suspending consideration of unsolicited inquiries and proposals. Organizations should monitor the Foundation’s website for updates on capital support requests and applicant eligibility. The approach is typically for an organization to submit an online letter of inquiry. When considering letters of inquiry, the Foundation invites select applicants to submit a full proposal. Proposal review is an extensive process that
can take several months.