Grants Program
Investing in outstanding nonprofit organizations in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming
The Daniels Fund supports highly effective nonprofit organizations working to improve lives and strengthen communities in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. We invest in programs that spark opportunity, uplift lives, and drive meaningful, lasting change. Our funding is highly competitive, with only the top organizations in their field selected. These are leading organizations solving the most complex challenges with innovative, impactful, and forward-thinking solutions. We focus on organizations that achieve significant results in the community, working tirelessly to address pressing issues and open new possibilities for the people they serve.
Our giving is rooted in the values, compassion, and entrepreneurial spirit of our founder, Bill Daniels. Bill Daniels helped a tremendous number of people during his lifetime and continues to do so in extraordinary ways through the foundation he established. The Daniels Fund honors Bill’s direction and carries forward his legacy of generosity in the funding areas of Aging, Amateur Sports, Disabilities, Drug & Alcohol Addiction, Early Childhood Education, Homeless & Disadvantaged, K–12 Education Reform, and Youth Development.
Our State-Specific Grantmaking Approach
Grants. Partners. Lives changed. See the Daniels Fund’s impact in every corner of our four-state region.
All of our funding areas and geographic priorities were personally defined by Bill Daniels, inspired by meaningful experiences in his life, and they do not change.
Through this lens, we tailor our grantmaking to address the unique needs and opportunities within each state we serve.
Our Funding Areas
The Daniels Fund supports select programs with a nationwide focus by invitation only. We do not provide funding for regional, local, or community-based programs outside our four-state region.
For more information about our funding areas, our funding focus, and the desired results we seek from our grant investments, please click on the links to the funding areas.
Eligibility & Guidelines
The Daniels Fund seeks to support high-impact, proven programs that align with our funding priorities and 4-state region.
First-Time Applicants
If your organization has not previously received a grant from the Daniels Fund:
- Review our location, funding areas, and additional details through our Guidelines below.
If your program aligns well, check your grants eligibility to determine if you should proceed with a grant inquiry.
Returning Grantees
If your organization received a Daniels Fund grant in the past two years, please contact your program officer directly for questions or funding inquiries.
If your organization received a Daniels Fund grant more than two years ago, check your grants eligibility to determine if you should proceed with a inquiry, or log in to the Grants Portal.
Guidelines
Location
Serve communities in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, or Wyoming.
Focus
Align with Daniels Fund funding areas, donor intent and desired impact.
Status
Be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit or government equivalent.
Request Type
Support may be requested for specific programs, general operations, or capital campaigns.
What We Look for In an Applicant
We look for proposals that demonstrate:
Alignment
with our funding priorities.
Viability
and local support for sustainability post-grant.
Capacity
through strong leadership and operational strength.
Impact
with clear, measurable outcomes and evaluation plans.
Ready to begin? Click here to check your grants eligibility and start your grant inquiry.
FAQ
General Questions and Eligibility
What types of programs do you fund?
The Daniels Fund provides grants to organizations delivering programs in Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, and Utah that align with our funding areas, as defined by our founder. Please refer to our Guidelines for more details on our grant strategies.
We welcome all grant inquiries, regardless of project type or size, and encourage organizations to complete the Grants Eligibility Quiz to determine alignment with our priorities.
Do you fund grants outside your four-state region?
The Daniels Fund does not provide funding for regional, local, or community-based programs outside of Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, and Utah.
We may provide limited support for select programs with a nationwide focus; however, these grants are by invitation only.
Do you provide grants to individuals?
No. We do not provide grants to individuals. All grantees must be nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status or a government-equivalent entity.
Are we eligible if we are using a fiscal sponsor?
In some cases, organizations working with a fiscal sponsor may be eligible.
The missions of the fiscal sponsor and the sponsored organization/project must be closely aligned and have a memorandum of understanding between the two entities.
If invited to apply, you will be asked to submit specific documentation related to the fiscal sponsorship arrangement.
Applying for a Grant
How do I apply?
The Daniels Fund accepts grant applications by invitation only. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to complete the Grants Eligibility Quiz to determine if you should proceed with a grant inquiry.
How do I apply if I have received a grant from the Daniels Fund in the past?
- If your organization received a grant within the past two years, please contact your program officer to confirm your eligibility to apply again.
If it has been more than two years, please complete the Grants Eligibility Quiz.
When are your application deadlines?
We accept applications on a rolling basis. If you have been invited to apply, please contact your program officer to confirm the appropriate submission timeline.
When will I be notified whether my application has been accepted or declined?
Applicants will receive a decision within approximately 120 days of submission, indicating whether the application has been approved or declined.
When can current grantees reapply?
Future funding is not guaranteed for current grantees. If your organization has previously received a grant, please contact your program officer to discuss reapplication eligibility.
If my grant request is declined, when can I reapply?
Organizations whose grant requests are declined must wait one year before submitting a new application.