News
Daniels Fund Announces Finalists for the
2025 Medal of Excellence
Three nonprofit organizations recognized for outstanding impact and in the running for $250,000 prize
The Daniels Fund announced the three finalists for the prestigious 2025 Daniels Fund Medal of Excellence, an annual award celebrating outstanding nonprofit organizations creating lasting, positive change in their communities. One organization will be named as the winner at the Salute to Excellence awards on January 29, 2025, and will receive $250,000 to support their mission. Each of the two runner-up organizations will receive $100,000 to advance their work.
Now in its second year, the Salute to Excellence recognizes top-performing Daniels Fund grantees selected for their transformative impact, alignment with Bill Daniels' legacy, and outstanding leadership.
The finalists for this year’s Medal of Excellence include:
- The Child Development Center of Natrona County ( cdccasper.org ), transforming the lives of children with developmental disabilities, and helping them reach their full potential by providing early intervention and compassionate care.
- CrossPurpose ( crosspurpose.org ), committed to helping individuals overcome the cycle of poverty and transforming lives through a combination of community support and comprehensive job training.
- Teaching the Autism Community Trades (TACT) ( buildwithtact.org ), empowering young people with autism by providing hands-on training in skilled trades, and opening doors to meaningful careers and brighter futures.
“Bill Daniels’ vision was to support organizations that are leading the way in making a transformative impact in their communities and truly changing lives,” said Hanna Skandera, President & CEO of the Daniels Fund. “These outstanding finalists are doing exactly that, and we look forward to celebrating their remarkable achievements.”
The three finalists were selected to advance from a group of six semi-finalists which included Denver School of Science & Technology, New Legacy Charter School, and Special Olympics of Colorado.
The winner of the 2024 Medal of Excellence was Step Denver, a residential addiction recovery program that offers men with nowhere else to turn the opportunity to rebuild their lives through sobriety, work, accountability, and community. Step Denver is using the $250,000 prize to support the expansion of their program to serve people in Colorado Springs.
More information and photos can be found at www.danielsfund.org/salutetoexcellence.
The Daniels Fund provides college scholarships to the next generation of America’s leaders and grants to highly effective nonprofits, equipping people with the experiences, opportunities, and education they need to unlock their full potential. Visit DanielsFund.org to learn more.
Bill Daniels established the Daniels Fund Grants Program to give back to people in the states he loved with specific funding priorities that held a deep personal significance for him. In 2023, the Daniels Fund awarded $54 million in grants to more than 350 highly effective nonprofit partners that are transforming their communities across Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.
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