A Message from Linda Childears

President & CEO of the Daniels Fund

EACH OF US AT THE DANIELS FUND is committed to honoring the intent of our founder, Bill Daniels. It is essential that months, years, and even decades down the road, the leadership and staff of this organization remain true to Bill's intended mission and purpose.

We believe that honoring donor intent goes beyond just following directives defined on paper. It also means understanding the values, principles, and personal style of our founder and incorporating them into our personal and professional lives.

One significant way we accomplish this is by maintaining Bill's community focus. He held great affection for each of the communities that had given him so much during his lifetime, and he was committed to returning the favor.

However, Bill didn’t just sit back and write checks. That wasn’t his style. His financial contributions were indeed significant, but he was also engaged, involved, and invested. Bill worked continually to understand the needs of the community by listening to its citizens, leaders, and institutions, and then translating what he had heard into opportunities to help people achieve better lives. In the community Bill was known to be a good friend and a partner that could be trusted.

Today, we carry on Bill Daniels' personal style — not just because it would be important to Bill, but also because we know it’s the most effective way to deliver on our mission. Our responsibility at the Daniels Fund is to identify and support nonprofit organizations that excel at improving lives and expanding opportunities for those they serve. And we take that responsibility very seriously.

The best way to make an impact is by listening, working together, and fulfilling our role through active engagement in the communities we serve. We are invested in them.

How do we honor the principles that defined Bill Daniels' life?

• We work closely with communities to understand the challenges they face.
• We invest in a broad range of exceptional organizations whose efforts and programs result in real improvement in the lives of those in need.
• We invest in college scholarships that have remarkable and positive effects for our Daniels Scholars and their communities.

As Bill did in his lifetime, we consider it a great honor to be known as a good friend and a trusted partner in communities throughout Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. Thank you to our colleagues, partners, volunteers, grantees, scholars, friends, and neighbors for helping us continue Bill Daniels' legacy of "making life better...one individual at a time".

All the best,

Linda Childears
President & CEO

Linda Childears was named 'Outstanding Professional in Philanthropy' as part of 
2010 National Philanthropy Day in Colorado. Her video profile from that event is below.