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Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation

Annual Giving
$19.4M
Grant Range
$10K - $0.1M
Decision Time
4mo

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $19.4 million
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: 4 months
  • Grant Range: $10,000 - $50,000
  • Geographic Focus: Colorado (65% rural/outside Denver metro)
  • Total Assets: $396-440 million

Contact Details

Website: https://buellfoundation.org

Phone: 303-744-1688

Email: info@buellfoundation.org or grants@buellfoundation.org

Pre-Application Support: The Foundation strongly encourages applicants to contact their regional Program Officer before applying to discuss project fit, appropriate request amount, and answer questions.

Overview

The Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation, established in 1962 by architect and real estate developer Temple Hoyne Buell, is one of Colorado's most significant early childhood funders. With assets between $396-440 million and annual giving of approximately $19.4 million, the Foundation has been continuously supporting Colorado communities since the early 1960s. Since pivoting to focus exclusively on early childhood in 1996, the Foundation has awarded nearly $250 million in grants to 552 organizations across 131 communities, supporting children ages birth to five throughout Colorado. Currently led by President & CEO Steve ErkenBrack (appointed January 2023), the Foundation prioritizes rural and underserved communities, with over 65% of grants going to areas outside the Denver metropolitan area. The Foundation emphasizes systemic change, quality improvement, and partnerships with organizations committed to equity and excellence in early childhood development.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Early Childhood Development Program (>90% of recent grants)

  • Grant Range: $10,000 - $50,000
  • Focus: Birth to age five demographic
  • Application Types:
    • General Operating and Programs (all cycles)
    • Licensed Child Care Center (all cycles)
    • Early Childhood Council (May cycle only)
    • Capital funding (September cycle only, licensed child care facilities only)

Teen Pregnancy Prevention

  • Grant Range: $10,000 - $50,000
  • Focus: Proven, comprehensive, medically accurate sex education programs

Initiatives & Special Projects

  • Strategic partnerships and advocacy work
  • Recent example: Partnership with Colorado Department of Local Affairs to fund child care planning grant program

Priority Areas

Early Childhood Focus Areas:

  • Assessment and evaluation
  • Behavior and social competence
  • Early childhood education/preschool programs
  • Home visitation programs
  • Quality improvement initiatives
  • Parenting education
  • Professional development
  • Child care center capital improvements (September cycle only, priority for capacity expansion)

Prioritized Organizational Characteristics:

  • Serving rural/underserved populations
  • Engaging community members in project planning
  • Leveraging public funding
  • Commitment to continuous learning and evaluation
  • Strong non-discrimination policies aligned with Colorado law

What They Don't Fund

Explicit Exclusions:

  • Abstinence-only programs
  • Crisis Pregnancy Centers
  • Debt relief
  • Endowments
  • Individuals
  • International programs
  • Legislative lobbying
  • Litigation
  • Medical programs
  • Programs outside Colorado
  • Religious promotion
  • Organizations with more than nine months of operating reserve
  • Child care centers serving fewer than 15% low-income enrollment (as of 2023)
  • School-year-only programs (May deadline only)

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

Dr. Reginald Washington (Chair) - Pediatric Cardiologist

Thomas J. Curnes (Vice Chair) - Businessman

Noelle Hagan (Secretary) - Consultant

Priscilla R. Lucero (Treasurer) - Banking

Arthur H. Bosworth II - Attorney

Thomas G. McGonagle - Real Estate Investment

Maggie Morrissey - Community Leader

Douglas Price - Banking

Ellen Roberts - Attorney

Executive Leadership

Steve ErkenBrack, President & CEO (appointed January 2023) - Brings 40 years of experience in law, healthcare, and government. Previously served as President & CEO of Rocky Mountain Health Plans, Mesa County District Attorney, and Colorado's Chief Deputy Attorney General. Served 10+ years as a Foundation trustee before joining as CEO. ErkenBrack has emphasized the economic reality facing today's families where "all available parents must work outside the home, often at more than one job, just to pay the bills," underscoring the critical need for quality early childhood programs.

Laura Carlson, Vice President of Programs - Leads the Programs Leadership Team

John Farnam, Director of Responsive Grantmaking

Jason Callegari, Senior Program Officer, Initiatives

Former Leadership: Susan J. Steele served as President & CEO from 2019-2022 (Executive Director since 1998), becoming the first staff member to rise to the C-Suite at the Foundation. She led the organization for 30 years and co-chaired Colorado's Early Childhood Leadership Commission.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Pre-Application Contact (Strongly Recommended): Contact your regional Program Officer at 303-744-1688 before applying to:

  • Confirm project alignment with Foundation goals
  • Determine appropriate request amount
  • Answer questions about the application process

Application Deadlines (Three cycles annually):

  • Mid-January (2026: January 15)
  • First business day of May (2026: May 1)
  • First business day of September (2026: September 1)
  • Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. MST/MDT on deadline date

Application Portal:

  • Online application only through buellfoundation.org
  • Multi-factor authentication required
  • Create portal account in advance
  • Applicants can apply once every eight months
  • Organizations limited to one grant request per year

Application Types:

  1. General Operating and Programs
  2. Licensed Child Care Center
  3. Early Childhood Council (May cycle only)
  4. Capital funding (September cycle only)

Virtual Office Hours: The Foundation offers virtual office hours for applicant questions

Application Format: Colorado Common Grant Application accepted (one copy with attachments per CGA checklist)

Decision Timeline

Review Process:

  • Proposals are reviewed by a Program Officer through detailed analysis of programs and financial statements
  • Site visits conducted
  • Comprehensive report prepared for Board of Trustees
  • Board reviews approximately four months after submission deadline
  • Board decides which proposals to fund and at what amount

Typical Timeline: 4 months from submission to decision notification

Notification Method: Email notification of decision; funded applicants receive contract outlining funding amount, program details, and conditions

Success Rates

The Foundation does not publicly disclose success rates or the percentage of applications funded. In recent years, the Foundation has awarded 474 grants annually totaling approximately $19.4 million. The Foundation's practice of encouraging pre-application conversations with Program Officers suggests a pre-screening process that may affect overall success rates.

Reapplication Policy

  • Organizations can apply once every eight months
  • No more than one grant request per year
  • Specific policies regarding unsuccessful applicants reapplying are not publicly disclosed; contact Program Officers for guidance

Application Success Factors

Foundation-Specific Priorities

Call Before You Apply: The Buell Foundation's strong emphasis on pre-application contact with Program Officers is a critical success factor. This conversation helps ensure alignment, appropriate request sizing, and addresses questions before submission.

Rural and Underserved Focus: Over 65% of grants go to communities outside Denver metro area. Applications serving rural Colorado and underserved populations receive priority consideration.

Low-Income Enrollment Requirements: As of 2023, child care center applications must demonstrate at least 15% enrollment of low-income families (per Buell Foundation's county-specific definitions).

Non-Discrimination Alignment: Organizations must have non-discrimination policies and practices aligned with Colorado law and the Foundation's values. Misalignment can result in declined funding.

Operating Reserves: Organizations with more than nine months of operating reserve are not eligible.

Leverage Public Funding: The Foundation prioritizes organizations that leverage public funding sources, demonstrating sustainability and systemic integration.

Community Engagement: Projects with strong community member involvement in planning and implementation are favored.

Quality and Evaluation: The Foundation seeks "proven, promising, or developing programs that can demonstrate success in helping children thrive" with commitment to meaningful evaluation and assessment.

Recent Funded Projects as Examples

Recent grantees include:

  • Adams County Head Start
  • Academy of Urban Learning
  • Learning Council
  • Kids First Health Care
  • Planned Parenthood (reproductive health/sex education)
  • The Learning Tree
  • Early Excellence Preschool Program
  • Colorado Fatherhood Network

Recent Initiatives:

  • Local ballot measure support for early childhood financing (2024)
  • Partnership with Colorado Department of Local Affairs for child care planning grants
  • Buell Early Childhood Leadership Program (BECLP) relaunch

Application Timing Considerations

September Cycle Only:

  • All capital project applications (licensed child care facilities only)
  • Priority given to projects expanding or creating new capacity

May Cycle Only:

  • Early Childhood Council applications
  • Note: School-year-only programs not accepted for May deadline

Program-Level Detail: Proposals should include specific program details, target populations, intended outcomes, and evaluation approaches aligned with the Foundation's focus on quality improvement and systemic change.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Pre-application contact is essential: Call 303-744-1688 to speak with a Program Officer before applying. This is not optional guidance—it's a critical step the Foundation explicitly encourages.

  • Rural Colorado organizations have significant advantage: With 65%+ of grants going outside Denver metro, rural and underserved community programs are priority funding targets.

  • Know the specific exclusions: Child care centers below 15% low-income enrollment, abstinence-only programs, Crisis Pregnancy Centers, and organizations with 9+ months operating reserves are ineligible. Review the "What We Do Not Fund" list carefully.

  • Timing matters for specific funding types: Capital projects must apply in September cycle; Early Childhood Councils apply in May only. Plan application timing accordingly.

  • Demonstrate quality and evaluation commitment: The Foundation prioritizes programs that can demonstrate success and commit to meaningful evaluation—include specific metrics and assessment approaches in applications.

  • Align with Foundation values: Non-discrimination policies, community engagement, and leveraging public funding are not just preferences—they're key selection criteria. Explicitly address these in your application.

  • Build the relationship over time: With a four-month decision timeline and once-per-year application limit, think long-term. Use the Program Officer relationship to strengthen future applications even if initially unsuccessful.

References

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