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Daniels Fund

Annual Giving
$54.0M
Grant Range
Up to $0.3M
Decision Time
4mo

Daniels Fund

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $54 million (2023 nonprofit grants)
  • Decision Time: Approximately 17 weeks (120 days)
  • Grant Range: Varies by program and organization
  • Geographic Focus: Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming
  • Total Distributed (Since 2000): Over $1.2 billion
  • Application Method: Rolling basis via online portal

Contact Details

Website: https://danielsfund.org/

Phone: (303) 393-7220 or (877) 791-4726

Email: [email protected]

Address: 101 Monroe Street, Denver, CO 80206

Grants Portal: https://grants.danielsfund.org/

Overview

Established in 2000 from the estate of cable television pioneer Bill Daniels, the Daniels Fund is one of the largest private charitable foundations in the Rocky Mountain region with over $1 billion in assets. The foundation is dedicated to making life better for people in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming through three main programs: grants to nonprofit organizations, college scholarships, and an ethics initiative promoting principle-based ethics. Since its inception, the Daniels Fund has awarded more than $1.2 billion to nearly 6,000 nonprofit partners and over 5,200 scholarship recipients. In 2023, the foundation distributed $67.5 million total, including $54 million to more than 350 nonprofit organizations. The foundation operates under Bill Daniels' explicit direction, with funding areas and geographic priorities that remain unchanged since his passing.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Daniels Fund supports grants for specific programs or projects, general operating support, or capital campaigns. All funding areas were personally defined by Bill Daniels and do not change.

Eight Core Funding Areas:

  • Aging
  • Amateur Sports
  • Disabilities
  • Drug & Alcohol Addiction
  • Early Childhood Education
  • Homeless & Disadvantaged
  • K-12 Education Reform
  • Youth Development

Big Bets Initiative: The Daniels Fund makes strategic investments in solutions tackling complex challenges with innovations that have the power to scale. Current Big Bets focus on:

  • K-12 Education & School Choice (committed to adding 25,000 "choice seats" across Utah by 2030)
  • Youth Sports (aiming to increase participation by 1 million young people across the four-state region by 2030)
  • Homelessness and addiction recovery
  • Civics education expansion
  • Independence for people with disabilities and aging populations

Medal of Excellence: The Daniels Fund awards a prestigious $250,000 Medal of Excellence prize annually to honor excellence in nonprofit work among their grantee partners.

Regional Focus

Funding priorities vary by region:

Colorado: All eight funding areas with emphasis on Metro Denver Big Bets, plus outstate focus on youth programs (career and technical education, entrepreneurship), and facilities for community gatherings

New Mexico: Primarily K-12 education reform and school choice; does not accept unsolicited applications

Utah: K-12 education reform (expanding choice seats), youth sports participation, and general funding across all eight areas

Wyoming: Youth programs (career and technical education, entrepreneurship), community facilities (senior centers, youth centers, sports complexes), and all eight core funding areas

What They Don't Fund

  • Grants to individuals (all grantees must be 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations or government entities)
  • Organizations outside Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming (except select national organizations aligned with the mission)

Governance and Leadership

President & CEO: Hanna Skandera (appointed December 2020)

  • Former Secretary of Education for New Mexico
  • Quote: "It's an honor to be selected as the next leader of Bill Daniels' foundation which has had a tremendous impact on the region. I am committed to honoring Bill Daniels' vision and direction for the foundation and upholding the importance of his values."

Board Chair: Margaret Kelly

Board of Directors: Randy Wells, Tom Marinkovich, Hank Brown (former interim President & CEO), Leroy Williams, Brian Deevy, Francisco Garcia, John Suthers, Susana Martinez, Jim Nicholson, and Dan Helle

The foundation is deeply committed to Bill Daniels' values of ethics, integrity, honesty, fairness, compassion, respect, and entrepreneurial spirit. As Jim Nicholson (Board Chairman at time of Skandera's appointment) stated: "Hanna's impressive qualifications and background make her the ideal leader to advance Bill Daniels' vision, and the Daniels Fund's work of helping people to have a better life, whether as scholarship recipients or beneficiaries of our grants."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Step 1: Review eligibility and guidelines on the Daniels Fund website

Step 2: Complete the eligibility quiz on the Grants Portal (https://grants.danielsfund.org/)

Step 3: Submit an inquiry form through the portal. You will receive an email confirmation and a Grants Program staff member will review your inquiry

Step 4: Following the review, staff will contact you to indicate whether you should proceed with a full grant application

Important Notes:

  • Applications are accepted on a rolling basis with no specific deadlines
  • If you currently have an active Daniels Fund grant or received a grant within the past two years, contact your Grants Program Officer directly rather than submitting a new inquiry
  • New Mexico does not accept unsolicited grant applications; funding decisions are made through trustee discretion

Decision Timeline

Applications are reviewed within approximately 120 days (17 weeks) from submission. Applicants will receive notification indicating whether the application has been approved or declined.

Success Rates

The Daniels Fund describes their funding as "highly competitive, with only the top organizations in their field selected." In 2023, they funded more than 350 nonprofit partners across the four-state region. Specific acceptance percentages are not publicly disclosed, but the foundation emphasizes they select "leading organizations solving the most complex challenges with innovative, impactful, and forward-thinking solutions."

Reapplication Policy

The Daniels Fund does not explicitly state a waiting period for declined applicants to reapply. However, organizations that have received a grant within the past two years should contact their program officer directly before submitting a new application. A grant award should not be perceived as an indication of future or recurring funding.

Application Success Factors

The Daniels Fund evaluates all applications based on five core criteria:

1. Performance The program or project is evidence-based, studied, and/or has proven to be effective. The foundation values organizations that can demonstrate measurable results and impact.

2. Alignment Programs must strongly align with the Daniels Fund's eight funding areas: Aging, Amateur Sports, Disabilities, Drug & Alcohol Addiction, Early Childhood Education, Homeless & Disadvantaged, K-12 Education Reform, and Youth Development. Geographic alignment with Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, or Wyoming is essential.

3. Viability Sufficient local and other financial support must exist to ensure the project or program will be implemented and continue after the grant period. The foundation looks for sustainable funding models.

4. Capacity Organizations must demonstrate effective leadership, strong financial health, and appropriate knowledge and resources to effectively implement programs and services.

5. Impact The program or project must have significant impact in its community. The foundation prioritizes solutions that address complex challenges with innovations that have the power to scale.

Recent Success Examples:

  • Step Denver received the 2024 Medal of Excellence ($250,000) for its residential addiction recovery program serving nearly 1,000 men over three years
  • Climb Wyoming received $100,000 as a Medal of Excellence finalist for job-training programs supporting single mothers
  • Organizations across the region received grants in areas ranging from expanding school choice options to youth sports access to senior services

Strategic Approach: Grant applications should demonstrate strategic thinking, high impact, and a clear evaluation plan with specific measurable results that will be reported at the end of the grant period. The foundation values "forward-thinking solutions" and organizations at the forefront of their fields.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Honor Bill Daniels' Values: The foundation operates under the explicit direction of founder Bill Daniels. Understanding his values—ethics, integrity, honesty, compassion, entrepreneurial spirit—is essential. These principles guide all funding decisions.

  • Demonstrate Evidence and Impact: Applications must show evidence-based approaches with proven effectiveness. Include specific, measurable outcomes and a clear evaluation plan.

  • Show Long-Term Sustainability: The foundation wants to see that your work will continue beyond their grant period. Demonstrate diverse funding sources and sustainable operational models.

  • Align Geographically and Programmatically: Ensure your work fits squarely within the eight funding areas and serves communities in the four-state region. Regional priorities vary—research your specific state's emphasis areas.

  • Emphasize Organizational Strength: Strong leadership, sound financial health, and proven capacity are critical. The foundation funds "leading organizations" and "top organizations in their field."

  • Think Big and Innovative: The Big Bets initiative shows the foundation's interest in scalable, innovative solutions to complex problems. If your work has potential for significant regional impact, highlight this.

  • Complete the Eligibility Quiz First: This initial screening saves time and helps determine fit before investing effort in a full application. Staff will provide guidance on whether to proceed.

References

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