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Western Opportunity Fund

Annual Giving
$0.8M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $828,967 (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (no public application process)
  • Decision Time: Not applicable (trustee discretion)
  • Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
  • Geographic Focus: Educational services focus
  • Total Assets: $43.7 million

Contact Details

Legal Name: Western Opportunity Fund
Location: Denver, Colorado
EIN: 83-0796107
Tax Status: 501(c)(3) private foundation (tax-exempt since July 2019)

Note: This foundation does not have a publicly listed website, email, or phone number.

Overview

The Western Opportunity Fund is a private foundation established in 2019 and based in Denver, Colorado. With total assets of approximately $43.7 million and annual charitable disbursements of $828,967 (as of 2024), the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization focused on educational services and schools. The foundation is led by Paul M. Rady, a prominent Denver philanthropist and co-founder of Antero Resources, who serves as Director, President, and Treasurer, alongside J. Kent Nossaman Jr., who serves as Vice President and Secretary. The foundation operates as a private foundation filing Form 990-PF and does not maintain a public application process for grants. In 2024, the foundation received $12 million in contributions while maintaining zero liabilities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Western Opportunity Fund operates as a private foundation making grants at the discretion of its trustees. Specific grant programs are not publicly advertised, and the foundation does not maintain open application processes.

Priority Areas

Based on its IRS classification, the foundation's primary focus area is:

  • Educational Services and Schools: The foundation is categorized under "Educational Services and Schools - Other"

What They Don't Fund

As a private foundation without a public application process, the Western Opportunity Fund does not accept unsolicited applications from organizations.

Governance and Leadership

Key Personnel

Paul M. Rady - Director, President, and Treasurer
Paul M. Rady is a prominent Denver-area philanthropist and businessman who co-founded Antero Resources, an energy company with an enterprise value exceeding $10 billion. Rady is a 1978 graduate of Western Colorado University with a degree in Geology. He has made transformational gifts to Colorado educational institutions, including an $80 million donation to Western Colorado University to establish the Paul M. Rady School of Computer Science & Engineering (one of the largest gifts ever to a Colorado public university), and $15 million to the University of Colorado Boulder to name the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering. Rady serves on the board of ACE Scholarships. No compensation is reported for his role with Western Opportunity Fund.

J. Kent Nossaman Jr. - Vice President and Secretary
Kent Nossaman is a wealth management professional at CIBC Private Wealth US, where he serves on the Trust Committee, Operating Committee, and Family Office Steering Committee. He is a member of the Denver Estate Planning Council and the American Society of Certified Public Accountants. Nossaman is co-founder of Arma Dei Academy, a classical Christian school in the south Denver area, and serves on the board of Eagles Nest Ranch. He was previously a board member of the Ronald McDonald House of Denver. No compensation is reported for his role with Western Opportunity Fund.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Western Opportunity Fund operates as a private foundation that makes grants at the discretion of its trustees. Unsolicited applications are not accepted.

Grants appear to be awarded through:

  • Trustee-identified initiatives
  • Pre-existing relationships with educational institutions
  • Strategic philanthropic decisions made by the foundation's leadership

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - the foundation does not maintain a public application timeline.

Application Success Factors

Given the private nature of this foundation and absence of a public application process, success in receiving funding from the Western Opportunity Fund is not based on a traditional application process. The foundation's grantmaking appears to be driven by:

  • Strategic alignment with trustees' educational priorities: Given Paul Rady's history of major gifts to engineering and computer science programs, the foundation likely prioritizes educational initiatives in STEM fields
  • Pre-existing relationships: Both trustees have established networks in education and philanthropy in the Denver and Colorado region
  • Educational impact: The foundation's IRS classification indicates a focus on educational services and schools
  • Quality and sustainability of educational programs: Consistent with Rady's pattern of transformational gifts to established institutions with clear programmatic vision

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This is a private foundation without a public application process - unsolicited proposals are not accepted
  • The foundation has substantial assets ($43.7 million) and makes annual charitable disbursements approaching $830,000
  • Leadership has demonstrated commitment to educational philanthropy, particularly in engineering, computer science, and classical education
  • The foundation's primary focus is educational services and schools based on IRS classification
  • Paul Rady has a track record of major gifts to Colorado educational institutions, particularly for STEM programs
  • Kent Nossaman's involvement with classical Christian education (Arma Dei Academy) may indicate interest in K-12 educational initiatives
  • Grant decisions are made at trustee discretion rather than through competitive application processes
  • The foundation maintains zero debt and operates with substantial financial stability

References

  1. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Western Opportunity Fund (EIN: 83-0796107). Form 990-PF filings. Accessed January 7, 2026. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/830796107

  2. CIBC Private Wealth US - J. Kent Nossaman Profile. Professional biography and board affiliations. Accessed January 7, 2026. https://private-wealth.us.cibc.com/j.-kent-nossaman

  3. Denver Post. "CU Boulder's Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering endowed by $15M in giving." January 30, 2020. Accessed January 7, 2026.

  4. Elevate Western. "Western unveils Paul M. Rady School of Computer Science & Engineering." September 2018. Accessed January 7, 2026. https://elevatewestern.org/western-unveils-paul-m-rady-school-computer-science-engineering-historic-80m-gift/

  5. University of Colorado Boulder College of Engineering. "CU Boulder Mechanical Engineering Department gets new name." January 30, 2020. Accessed January 7, 2026.

  6. Crunchbase. "Paul Rady - Co-Founder, Chairman & CEO @ Antero Resources." Accessed January 7, 2026.

  7. Arma Dei Academy. "History" and "About" pages. Information on school founding and Kent Nossaman's role. Accessed January 7, 2026. https://armadeiacademy.com/

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