Frequently Asked Questions

The Daniels Fund provides grants to organizations delivering programs in Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, and Utah that align with our funding areas, as defined by our founder. Please refer to our Funding Areas pages for more details on our grant strategies. We consider all requests, regardless of project type or size, and encourage grantseekers to complete an eligibility inquiry.

We do not fund programs that aren't aligned with our eight designated funding areas, or regional, local, or community-based programs outside of Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico, or Utah. Please note that grants for New Mexico, Utah, or national impact are by invitation only.

In addition, we typically do not fund:

Arts, cultural, or museum programs (including those teaching and serving youth) Candidates for political office Debt retirement Endowments Environmental stewardship programs Historic preservation projects Individuals

Individual early child care centers in the Colorado Front Range Library programs Medical or scientific research Mentorship, tutoring, or college prep programs Nutrition, health, or obesity programs Sponsorships, tables, or tickets for special events or fundraising events

Our team spends time visiting the communities we serve to get to know area nonprofits, learn about effective programs and projects, and understand the unique needs of each community. Nonprofit organizations need to have a 501(c)(3) status or government equivalent and provide programs or services in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, or Wyoming. We also look for:

• Alignment — The proposed project or program is strongly aligned with our funding areas and priorities.
• Viability — Sufficient local and other financial support exists to ensure the project or program will be implemented and continue after the grant period. Our goal is to help excellent nonprofits achieve a high level of effectiveness and impact, not to sustain any individual nonprofit indefinitely. A grant award should not be perceived as an indication of future or recurring funding.
• Capacity — Effective leadership, strong financial health, and appropriate knowledge and resources exist to effectively implement programs and services.
• Impact — The program or project will have a significant impact in its community. Grant applications should demonstrate strategic high impact and show a clear evaluation plan with specific measurable results that will be reported at the end of the grant period.
• Performance — The program or project is evidence-based, studied, and/or has proven to be effective.

Yes, the Daniels Fund has tailored grantmaking strategies and objectives for Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming to address each state's specific needs.

Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming	The Daniels Fund has specific objectives for each of our funding and geographic areas. To achieve our goals and maximize our impact, we work closely with a limited number of highly effective nonprofit organizations with a demonstrated ability to achieve measureable results. Click here for details about our Colorado strategy Click here for details about our Utah and Wyoming strategies
New Mexico	Due to our focused strategy, we do not accept unsolicited grant applications for New Mexico. Click here for details about our New Mexico strategy

The Daniels Fund does not provide funding for regional, local, or community-based programs outside of our four-state region. We do provide limited support for select programs with a nationwide focus by invitation only.

The Daniels Fund provides limited support for select programs with a nationwide focus. These grants are very competitive and are by invitation only.

No, we do not provide grants to individuals. Grantees need to be a nonprofit organization with a 501(c)(3) status or government equivalent.

Grant amounts vary and depend on many factors. However, in recent years, the median grant award for Colorado and Wyoming (where we accept unsolicited applications) was approximately $75,000.

Grants are generally awarded for 12-month terms.

No, organizations may only have one active grant at any given time.

In some cases. The sponsored organization and the sponsored project need to have missions that are similar. If you are invited to apply, the application will request specific documents for grantees with a fiscal sponsor.

We continually look for opportunities to support excellent programs and organizations that align with our funding priorities. Therefore, inquiry calls should be scheduled for eligible programs in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming. Due to our focused strategy, we do not accept unsolicited grant applications for New Mexico or national programs.

You should schedule an inquiry call if:

• You have reviewed our eligibility requirements and believe that your project fits with our requirements.
• This is a first time request and you have no previous grant history with the Daniels Fund.
• You haven't received a Daniels Fund grant within the last two years.

If your organization has an active grant, or has received a Daniels Fund grant within the last two years, please contact your program officer directly. They would be happy to reconnect with you.

If it has been more than two years since your last Daniels Fund grant, please start with an inquiry call. Refer to question #1 ("How do I apply?") in the Applying for a Grant section for details.

If you have any technical difficulties accessing or using the online grant application, please contact our Grants Administration Officer at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Please note that using Google Chrome or Safari is recommended.

Yes. Please note the application questions have character limits. After pasting text from Word into the online grant application, be sure to check for any loss of formatting.

Applicants should upload required and optional documents using the online application system. Follow the instructions in the Attachments section of the online application to upload the required attachments listed. If you need to delete a document and attach a new one, hover over the document title and click on the red icon to the right.

Once you are satisfied with the contents of your application, click the Submit button at the bottom of the application. The system will notify you if you have any incomplete required questions that must be answered, or required attachments that must be uploaded before your application can be submitted. Once all required questions are answered and attachments uploaded, click Submit to forward your application to the Daniels Fund for consideration.

When you click the Submit button, you will receive an email confirmation that we have received your application. If you do not receive an email confirmation, please contact our Grants Administration Officer at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

If you would like to give another person permission to review your application, please contact our Grants Administration Officer at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Please specify that person's full name, job title, and email address. They will then receive instructions on how to access the application.