Events
2026 Daniels Fund
Salute to Excellence
The third annual Daniels Fund Salute to Excellence is a celebration of our incredible grantees.
We are honored to announce the distinguished finalists for the 2026 Daniels Fund Medal of Excellence! These remarkable organizations were selected for their transformative impact, alignment with Bill Daniels’ vision, and outstanding leadership. Their life-changing impact is exceptional in scale, scope, and quality, and their best-in-class outcomes would undoubtedly make Bill Daniels proud.
One organization will be named as the winner of the award live at the Salute to Excellence event, and will receive a $250,000 award to support their mission.
date
January 29, 2026
location
Denver Museum of Nature and Science
2001 Colorado Boulevard, Denver, CO 80205
time
Award Reception and Program:
6:00 – 8:00 pm
Excellent Schools New Mexico Named 2026 Daniels Fund Medal of Excellence Winner
Congratulations to Excellent Schools New Mexico, winner of the 2026 Daniels Fund Medal of Excellence. Excellent Schools New Mexico is reshaping educational opportunity across the state by expanding access to high-quality public charter schools.
Excellent Schools New Mexico was awarded the Medal of Excellence and a $250,000 prize to support their mission at the Daniels Fund’s Salute to Excellence Awards in Denver on January 29.
The two finalists — The Other Side Academy and Warren Village — received $100,000 to support their missions. Finalists were selected to advance from a group of six semi-finalists which included Arrupe Jesuit High School, National Ability Center, and New Legacy Charter School.
2026 Medal of Excellence Finalists
The three finalists were selected to advance from a group of six semi-finalists which included Arrupe Jesuit High School, National Ability Center, and New Legacy Charter School.
Excellent Schools New Mexico
Medal of Excellence Finalist
Excellent Schools New Mexico is reshaping educational opportunity across the state by expanding access to high-quality public charter schools.
THE OTHER SIDE ACADEMY
Medal of Excellence Finalist
The Other Side Academy transforms lives through a free, rigorous, peer-led, long-term residential program that helps individuals overcome addiction, criminal behavior, and chronic homelessness.
WARREN VILLAGE
Medal of Excellence Finalist
Warren Village empowers single-parent families to build a stable, independent future through transitional housing, supportive services, on-site early childhood education, and workforce development.
2026 Medal of Excellence Finalists
THE OTHER SIDE ACADEMY
Medal of Excellence Finalist
The Other Side Academy transforms lives through a free, rigorous, peer-led, long-term residential program that helps individuals overcome addiction, criminal behavior, and chronic homelessness.
Watch the highlight video on The Other Side Academy below.
WARREN VILLAGE
Medal of Excellence Finalist
Warren Village empowers single-parent families to build a stable, independent future through transitional housing, supportive services, on-site early childhood education, and workforce development.
Watch the highlight video on Warren Village Below.
2026 Photo highlights
Media Resources
Click here to download photos and video from the event.
For media inquiries, contact:
Sean Duffy | 720.941.4494 | [email protected]
Bruce Wilmsen | 720.941.4429 | [email protected]
A Look Back at the 2025 Medal of Excellence Winner — Child Development Center
In January 2025, the Daniels Fund awarded the Child Development Center of Natrona County the Medal of Excellence and $250,000 prize to honor excellence in nonprofit work and support the organization’s early childhood education programs for children with special needs.
About the Daniels Fund
The Daniels Fund, established by cable television pioneer Bill Daniels, is a private charitable foundation dedicated to making life better for the people of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming through its grants and scholarship programs.
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. Over its 25-year history, the Daniels Fund has awarded more than $1.1 billion in grants to more than 6,000 highly effective nonprofit partners that are transforming their communities across Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.
Contact Information
For media inquiries, please contact:
Sean Duffy | 720.941.4494 | [email protected]
Bruce Wilmsen | 720.941.4429 | [email protected]
For event inquiries, please contact:
Jody Neumann | [email protected]