Daniels Fund
At a glance
Key takeaways
- The Daniels Fund focuses its Grants Program on Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming, with only select nationwide programmes supported by invitation only, so check that your organisation sits within this four-state region before applying.
- Typical grants run from $3,000 to $250,000, with a median of $50,000, so a modest, clearly costed request is the realistic approach for most applicants.
- Applications are by invitation only: first-time applicants should work through the Grants Eligibility Quiz to see whether to proceed, while those who have been funded within the last two years should go straight to their programme officer and agree a timeline with them; this points to a relationship-led process rather than an open call.
- A large majority of grant dollars (61%) went to organisations also funded the previous year, so building and maintaining that relationship over time looks important.
- The fund states it does not support individuals or regional, local or community-based programmes outside its four-state region through the Grants Program, so these should not apply under that route; proposals that do fit should show strong leadership, local support for sustainability, and clear, measurable outcomes with evaluation plans.
Overview
Daniels Fund is a US private foundation based in Denver, CO.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Daniels Fund supports highly effective nonprofit organisations working to improve lives and strengthen communities in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. Its funding areas are Aging, Amateur Sports, Disabilities, Drug & Alcohol Addiction, Early Childhood Education, Homeless & Disadvantaged, K–12 Education Reform, and Youth Development. It seeks high-impact, proven programmes aligned with its funding priorities and four-state region. Eligible applicants are 501(c)(3) nonprofits or government-equivalent entities. It looks for strong leadership and operational strength, local support for sustainability after a grant, and clear, measurable outcomes with evaluation plans. Select programmes with a nationwide focus receive support by invitation only.
Themes
- Aging
- Amateur Sports
- Disabilities
- Drug & Alcohol Addiction
- Education
- Homeless & Disadvantaged
- Youth Development
Geographic Focus
Colorado; New Mexico; Utah; Wyoming; nationwide.
What They Don't Fund
- Grants Program only: regional, local, or community-based programs outside our four-state region; individuals
How to apply
First-time applicants should review the location, funding areas and guidelines, then complete the Grants Eligibility Quiz to determine whether to proceed with a grant inquiry. Applications are by invitation only. Returning grantees within two years should contact their programme officer; those whose prior grant was more than two years ago should use the quiz. Invited applicants confirm their submission timeline with their programme officer.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 61% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 1,024 grants to organisations were $50,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- Proposals should align with its funding priorities.
- Proposals should show viability and local support for sustainability after the grant.
- Applicants should demonstrate strong leadership and operational strength.
- Proposals should include clear, measurable outcomes and evaluation plans.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 6%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 1%
- The largest single recipient received 7% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 61% of grant dollars went to organisations Daniels Fund had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 5% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 558 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $48,500 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Young Americans Education Foundation · 2024 operating support$2,406,6622024 tax year
- Young Americans Education Foundation · Additional operating support$1,800,0002024 tax year
- Advance Pathways · General operating support$1,750,0002024 tax year
- Us Chamber Of Commerce Foundation · National civics bee$1,750,0002024 tax year
- Wyo Sports Ranch · Wyo sports ranch athletics facility$1,500,0002024 tax year
- Archdiocese of Denver · Catholic school core quality teacher pipeline and preparation$1,200,0002024 tax year
- ACE Scholarships · Tuition assistance across our four-state region$1,150,0002024 tax year
- Colorado Schools Fund · General operating support$1,000,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- John Suthers — Board Chairman
- Hanna Skandera — President & Chief Executive Officer
- Luke Ragland — Senior Vice President
- Bo Peretto — Senior Vice President
- James R Nicholson — Director
- Kristen Morgan — Chief of Staff
- Susana Martinez — Director
- Tom Marinkovich — Director
- Margaret Kelley — Director
- Joshua Green — Senior Vice President (As Of 03/24)
- Francisco Garcia — Director
- Leroy Williams — Director
- Randall Wells — Director
- Brian Deevy — Director
- Hank Brown — Director
- David Brown — Treasurer & Chief Financial Officer
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $74,232,103 | $63,585,856 | $1,529,058,941 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $79,427,902 | $68,180,294 | $1,638,182,029 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $85,624,815 | $69,702,757 | $1,734,544,841 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to Daniels Fund?
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Applying to Daniels Fund?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required