Best Grants for Education Nonprofits in Colorado

Colorado charitable organizations working in education, health, or human services can apply for the Grace Isabelle McNaught Trust’s general operating support grants, with typical awards around US $4,000. Programs must primarily benefit Colorado residents, and applications are accepted year-round, with submissions by September 1 reviewed at the annual November meeting.

Colorado 501(c)(3) nonprofits with annual budgets under $1,500,000 can seek $2,000 to $15,000 for education and human services projects that embody Christian values. New Early Christian Church Charities prioritizes specific programs serving youth, elders, people with disabilities, the homeless, and economically disadvantaged, especially where public funds are insufficient and its support can have significant impact.

Focused on bird-focused education and research, organizations and individuals in Colorado’s Front Range can receive up to US $6,500 for foothills and prairie ecology projects from Aiken Audubon Society. Eligible projects include educational programs, scientific research, and conservation efforts related to birds and their habitats, which may benefit education-focused nonprofits in Colorado.

Colorado 501(c)(3) nonprofits seeking general operating, program, or capital support can apply for El Pomar Foundation’s competitive grants, which fund education along with arts and culture, civic initiatives, health, and human services. Grants from El Pomar Foundation help Colorado education organizations with projects taking place in-state; applications are accepted year-round on a rolling basis.

Education-focused 501(c)(3) nonprofits in Colorado can apply for the Perdue Foundation’s Corporate Giving Program: Requests under $1000; awards Up to US $1,000 for community-benefit programs. Eligible projects may address education, hunger, health, environment, agriculture, poverty, social services, public safety, or cultural heritage, with support limited to organizations endorsed by a Perdue associate.

Colorado education and rural development nonprofits and local governments can access funding through the Laura Jane Musser Fund to plan or implement collaborative community projects. Grants up to US $25,000 support new rural initiatives in areas like education, economic development, arts, public spaces, and business preservation that engage diverse residents and show measurable outcomes within 18 months.

Education-focused 501(c)(3) organizations in Colorado seeking funding for capital projects, time-bound programs, or operating support may be eligible for this opportunity. The Kerr Foundation supports education, arts and culture, health, and human services initiatives, with a mission to expand opportunities, particularly for young people in its multistate granting area.

Colorado 501(c)(3) public charities running education, health, human services, or youth programs can apply for Edward Madigan Foundation grants, with awards of US $5,000 - US $10,000. Funding supports efforts that build strong work ethic and traditional moral values, especially scientific research and youth experiences for at-risk inner-city youth.

Colorado nonprofit organizations working in children’s education, arts education, health, housing, food access, or related community services can apply for grants supporting both youth and adults. With a mission to strengthen Colorado communities, Melvin & Elaine Wolf Foundation provides funding to established nonprofit partners, which may include education-focused organizations and schools.

Colorado education-focused 501(c)(3) nonprofits, especially Christian charitable organizations, can seek funding for educational, scientific, religious, and arts and culture programs. Focused on these areas, Virginia H. Glasson Charitable Trust invites eligible organizations in Colorado and select other states to apply through the JPMorgan-administered foundation finder system.

Public school districts, charter schools, BOCES, and the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind in Colorado can seek competitive funding for capital construction, including new school buildings and renovation of existing facilities. Grants from Colorado Department of Education support eligible public school facilities that meet state ownership and lease requirements and have operated for at least three years.

Colorado 501(c)(3) education and community nonprofits can seek more than US $1,000 to support programs in areas like education, agriculture, environment, hunger, health, and public safety. Focused on community betterment, the Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation prioritizes projects in communities where its associates live and work, including Colorado locations.

Education-focused 501(c)(3) nonprofits and schools in Colorado serving communities near Honda locations can seek funding for mobility-related programs benefiting individuals with disabilities. Grants from Honda USA Foundation help support education, awareness, and infrastructure efforts such as therapeutic or adaptive programs, comprehensive care, and mobility modifications or assistive technology, with awards ranging from US $25,000 - US $100,000.

Education-focused 501(c)(3) nonprofits in Colorado can seek funding for programs that improve lives through learning, health, housing, arts, or social services. With a mission to enhance quality of life and dignity, Fred & Jean Allegretti Foundation provides support to organizations whose work advances education alongside broader humanitarian and community needs.

Colorado 501(c)(3) organizations seeking support for charitable, educational, religious, or hospital work can apply for grants of US $5,000 - US $25,000. With a mission to continue Mabel Y. Hughes’s legacy of giving, Mabel Y Hughes Charitable Trust provides Colorado education and related nonprofits with annual funding across arts, health, human services, environment, and more.

Colorado 501(c)(3) nonprofits or those with a fiscal sponsor can seek US $1,000 - US $4,000 for education, basic needs, financial stability, emerging Latino/a leaders, and social justice projects. With a mission to strengthen Latino communities, The Denver Foundation’s LatinasGive! Fund supports culturally grounded, community-responsive programs that promote equity, leadership, and multigenerational impact.

Colorado education, human services, and health nonprofits can apply for the John G. Duncan Charitable Trust’s US $10,000 - US $20,000 grants to support specific projects rather than general operations. Organizations serving impoverished areas, especially rural counties like Crowley, Bent, and Pueblo, may be strong candidates, including education-focused nonprofits working across the state.

The Zimmerman, Edward and Beverly Memorial Scholarship Fund offers $1,000 to West Noble High School seniors pursuing higher education at a college or university, with priority given to those demonstrating community service and maintaining a GPA between 2.50 and 3.00. Preference is also given to students studying agriculture, education, social work, or accounting. This scholarship reflects the values of its donors, Edward and Beverly, who were dedicated community members and supporters of local education.

The AES Hawaiʻi Foundation Grant supports communities near AES Hawaiʻi’s renewable energy projects, focusing on social justice, education, environmental stewardship, and community health. Preference is given to nonprofit organizations in these areas, but statewide entities may also apply. Successful projects should align with the Foundation’s impact pillars, demonstrate measurable community benefits, and address unmet needs, ensuring long-term positive effects on the local community.

Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley

The Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley is a collection of individual funds and resources given by local citizens to enhance and support the quality of life in the Fox River Valley of Illinois.

We are a tax-exempt public charity that allows individuals, businesses, and non-profit organizations to establish permanent endowments and temporary funds within the confines of one large foundation.

Foundation funds are used to provide grants to non-profit organizations and scholarships to area students. The Foundation also hosts a Youth Engagement in Philanthropy (YEP) program, which helps high school students learn more about philanthropy and empowers them to make a difference in the community.

The Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley serves the City of Aurora, Kane County, and Kendall County within the State of Illinois.

Richard J. & Irma E. Larson Scholarship Endowment Fund

The Richard J. and Irma E. Larson Scholarship Endowment Fund was established to help Aurora area high school graduates attend colleges and universities to further their education in the fields of law, teaching, Christian ministry and agriculture.

Richard, better known as Dick, and Irma are both graduates of Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. Dick received his Juris Doctor Degree from the University of Illinois College of Law. Irma earned her Master’s Degree from Northern Illinois University.

Irma has served on several community boards, including Child Welfare, the Aurora YWCA, P.E.O. Chapter DD, and The Mid-West Early American Pressed Glass Club. After retirement, she volunteered as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for nine years.

The monetary value of each scholarship award varies depending upon the amount available in each individual scholarship fund. The most common scholarship award amount is $1,000 for a single year. Scholarships are designated as non-renewable one-year awards or renewable multi-year awards depending upon the scholarship fund criteria, as established by the donor of the scholarship fund.

Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley

The Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley is a collection of individual funds and resources given by local citizens to enhance and support the quality of life in the Fox River Valley of Illinois.

We are a tax-exempt public charity that allows individuals, businesses, and non-profit organizations to establish permanent endowments and temporary funds within the confines of one large foundation.

Foundation funds are used to provide grants to non-profit organizations and scholarships to area students. The Foundation also hosts a Youth Engagement in Philanthropy (YEP) program, which helps high school students learn more about philanthropy and empowers them to make a difference in the community.

The Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley serves the City of Aurora, Kane County, and Kendall County within the State of Illi

Library Education Scholarship Fund

The Library Education Scholarship Fund awards scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students who are pursuing library sciences, writing, education – preference for language arts, or information technology.

The monetary value of each scholarship award varies depending upon the amount available in each individual scholarship fund. The most common scholarship award amount is $1,000 for a single year. Scholarships are designated as non-renewable one-year awards or renewable multi-year awards depending upon the scholarship fund criteria, as established by the donor of the scholarship fund.

Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley

The Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley is a collection of individual funds and resources given by local citizens to enhance and support the quality of life in the Fox River Valley of Illinois.

We are a tax-exempt public charity that allows individuals, businesses, and non-profit organizations to establish permanent endowments and temporary funds within the confines of one large foundation.

Foundation funds are used to provide grants to non-profit organizations and scholarships to area students. The Foundation also hosts a Youth Engagement in Philanthropy (YEP) program, which helps high school students learn more about philanthropy and empowers them to make a difference in the community.

The Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley serves the City of Aurora, Kane County, and Kendall County within the State of Illinois.

Helen Schlicht McGeachy & Arthur C. Schlicht Scholarship Endowment Fund

This fund provides scholarships to students graduating from Aurora Central, Aurora Christian, East Aurora, Marmion Academy, Rosary or West Aurora High School.

Students entering the field of education, engineering, science, medicine or nursing are eligible to apply for these awards.

This fund was established by Arthur C. Schlicht (1936-2020) in memory of his mother Helen Schlicht McGeachy.

Helen McGeachy (1910-1994) was a graduate of East Aurora High School. An outstanding typist and secretary, she ultimately became secretary to the presidents of CA&E Railway and Walker Process Equipment of Aurora. Arthur Schlicht was vice-president/national sales manager at Walker Process Equipment. He earned a degree in chemical engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology.

This fund was created in 1994 and established as an endowment in 1995.

The monetary value of each scholarship award varies depending upon the amount available in each individual scholarship fund. The most common scholarship award amount is $1,000 for a single year. Scholarships are designated as non-renewable one-year awards or renewable multi-year awards depending upon the scholarship fund criteria, as established by the donor of the scholarship fund.

Marion Community Foundation

Since 1998, area residents have been turning to Marion Community Foundation to make their philanthropic giving as effective as possible. We are a public charity serving thousands of people who share a common concern … improving the quality of life in Marion County. We use distributions from the more than 500 charitable funds — created by generous, local donors — to award more than $2.5 million in grants and scholarships each year to many of the humanitarian, educational and cultural organizations in this remarkable community we call home.

Marion Community Foundation is the area’s leading philanthropic organization, providing charitable donors the opportunity to easily create endowment funds to benefit and support our community through grants and scholarships. We serve communities throughout Marion County through philanthropy, leadership, and civic engagement.

Calvin H. & Elizabeth L. Topliff Scholarship

Georgia Mathews, mother to Marion Community Foundation board member, Spencer Mathews, created this endowed scholarship in 2023 in honor of her parents. The scholarship will be awarded to Marion County students who are pursuing a career in either education or engineering, with special consideration for students who will be attending Ohio Northern University, which is where Georgia’s parents met.

Betty Beatty Topliff was born in Pittsburgh but ended up in Marion after meeting Calvin at Ohio Northern and moving to his hometown of Marion. Betty (1928-2022) was a dedicated teacher for 30 years, most recently at Ridgedale High School. Calvin (1924-2009) was an Army veteran who served in Europe during WWII and was awarded the Bronze Star. Calvin retired from the marketing department of Ohio Edison Marion Division after 36 years of service.

Following retirement, Calvin and Betty were Florida snowbirds, but Betty returned to Marion after Calvin’s death to be with her beloved children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

The Sandra Trudgen Dawson Award, established by the Coordinating Council for Women in History, commemorates the legacy of a remarkable scholar and leader. This award supports individuals in research, teaching, and service within women's and gender history, allowing recipients to cover costs for travel, materials, and projects that honor Sandra's commitment to collaboration and support in the field. It aims to foster connections among scholars and promote the advancement of women's history.

The Ed & Mildred Schroeder Scholarship, offered by the Coastal Bend Community Foundation, aims to enhance the quality of life in the Coastal Bend through educational support. This scholarship is available to graduating seniors or current college students pursuing a degree in education, demonstrating financial need, and enrolled in at least 12 credit hours. By providing effective grants and scholarships, the foundation fosters community philanthropy and addresses local educational needs.

The Wan Chen and Ming Li Scholarship for International Study at WMU's College of Education and Human Development supports undergraduate and graduate students in non-English based study abroad programs. Applicants must be U.S. residents, enrolled in CEHD, and submit proof of acceptance into an international program along with a proposal outlining the experience's benefits for their academic and career goals. This scholarship aims to enhance educational opportunities and make studying abroad more accessible.

Our Story

The IBMA Foundation was created by the International Bluegrass Music Association in 2007 with a bequest from the Richard Barnhart estate. Mr. Barnhart was a musician from northern Virginia who loved bluegrass and wanted to support educational programs for children. Since the beginning, our goal has been to support bluegrass-music-related educational, literary, artistic and historic preservation activities.

In our early years we produced Discover Bluegrass, an educational video that has been used in thousands of classrooms and libraries around the world. We have hosted dozens of teacher workshops and artist trainings. We created a bluegrass lesson plan competition and provided a network for leaders of after-school bluegrass programs.

Our project grants, which now total $25,000 a year, support bluegrass-related initiatives throughout the world. We also fund Bluegrass in the Schools Mini-grants ($7,000/year) which help schools to hire bluegrass bands for school programs. The Rosenberg Bluegrass Scholar Award recognizes excellence in academic research. Six college scholarships are granted for students working in various areas of the bluegrass music industry. The Arnold Shultz Fund supports increased participation of people of color in bluegrass music with grants that total $30,000/ year. Fletcher Bright Memorial Grants for Young Musicians (age 18 and younger) help young people go to bluegrass music camps and workshops, take lessons, and purchase educational materials.

IBMA  Foundation Project Grants

The IBMA Foundation awards project grants each year, usually in amounts between $1,000 and $2,500. The deadline to apply is December 2. Projects must align with the Foundation’s mission in one of the following areas

• Arts & culture
• Education
• Literary or academic programs
• History preservation