Best Grants for Preschools in Colorado

The Dollar General School Library Relief Grant Program, managed by the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, provides crucial support to K-12 public school libraries that face significant damage due to disasters such as fires or federally recognized acts of terrorism. This grant aims to restore essential library resources, ensuring that affected communities can continue to access vital educational materials and support. Libraries must be within 15 miles of a Dollar General store and meet specific eligibility criteria.

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation offers Family Literacy Grants to nonprofit organizations that support family literacy initiatives. Eligible applicants must provide services such as adult education, children's education, and parent-child engagement activities. Organizations must be located within 15 miles of a Dollar General store and have a valid IRS tax ID. This funding aims to enhance literacy skills for families, empowering individuals to achieve their educational goals.

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation offers the DGLF Summer Reading Grants, which support the development and expansion of summer reading programs aimed at Pre-K to 12th grade students, particularly new and below-grade-level readers, including those with learning disabilities. Eligible organizations, such as nonprofits, schools, and libraries within 15 miles of a Dollar General store, can apply for grants up to $3,000 to foster literacy and education initiatives.

The DGLF Youth Literacy Grants, established by the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, aim to enhance literacy among underperforming students in K-12. Organizations such as schools and libraries can apply for funding to implement or expand literacy programs, purchase necessary materials, and acquire technology. With over $159 million awarded to date, the foundation supports efforts that provide equitable education opportunities, ensuring every child has the chance to learn and succeed, regardless of their background.

State Historical Fund: Special Workforce Development Funding Initiative

The Colorado State Historical Fund (SHF) is pleased to announce a Special Funding Initiative dedicated to advancing the Preservation Pipeline Workforce Development Initiative. This competitive grant opportunity is designed to strengthen and diversify Colorado's preservation workforce, with a special focus on engaging underrepresented communities. Through this initiative, SHF aims to address the urgent need for a skilled, inclusive workforce that reflects Colorado's cultural richness while preserving its historical legacy.

It supports CRS §44-30-1201 which allows SHF dollars to be used for educational, promotional, and archaeological activities related to historic sites and structures.

This competitive grant advances the 2030 State Preservation Plan, especially:

• Goal 4: Educate & Train – Growing the skills and leadership of preservation advocates and preparing the next generation of professionals
• Objective C: Focusing on workforce development through training, certification, and partnerships

Key Focus Areas:

• Training in preservation trades and archaeology
• Apprenticeships, internships, and certification programs
• Expanding career pathways for historically underrepresented communities
• Succession planning for legacy craftspeople
• Building preservation capacity in rural and underserved areas
• Supporting projects that create opportunities across the full range of preservation careers—from trades to leadership roles

Grant Details:

Awards from $5,001 to $250,000

25% cash match required, with possible waivers for projects that expand the narrative, show clear financial need, or support broad career pathways

The initiative emphasizes creating career and leadership pathways for individuals from traditionally underrepresented and under-resourced communities. It seeks to build this pipeline through education and training, including apprenticeships, internships, and various professional development opportunities, focusing on nurturing the preservation workforce of the future. Through this approach, SHF is committed to shaping the preservation professionals of tomorrow, ensuring that the workforce reflects the diversity of the communities it serves.

The JFLA Mini Grant for Japanese Arts & Culture Program supports projects aimed at enhancing the understanding of Japanese arts and culture. Grants of up to $5,000 are available for qualifying nonprofit organizations. Eligible projects must occur in the 13 states west of the Rocky Mountains and focus on fostering U.S.-Japan collaborations through various artistic mediums. Notably, applicants must be designated 501(c)(3) organizations and adhere to specific funding guidelines.

Special Education Teacher Shortage Grant

The Colorado Department of Education’s (CDE) Office of Special Education is offering 2026-2027 IDEA grant funding to administrative units and local education agencies to address the critical shortage of special education teachers specific to Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments, Teacher of Deaf/Hard of Hearing, Early Childhood Special Educators and Special Education Generalists. These shortages have been the most frequently cited concern since the late 1990s and remain a persistent challenge. The funding aims to support a cohort of special education teacher candidates in meeting the requirements for full licensure.

CDE is requesting Local Education Agencies (LEAs) and Administrative Units (AUs) to act as fiscal agents in collaboration with university educator preparation programs to recruit, employ, and support teacher candidates from preservice to induction. By fostering partnerships at the state, regional, and district levels, we hope to create a robust support system that ensures every student, regardless of location, has access to qualified and dedicated educators.

State Historical Fund: Survey Plan Grants

Survey plan grants create a comprehensive document to help communities assess the current state of their survey documentation and make informed decisions regarding future architectural survey projects. This planning document is strictly related to survey and does not cover topics generally included in a larger historic preservation plan. Survey plans are often developed for entire municipalities, communities, or neighborhoods, however, they are not intended for single properties.

The survey plan evaluates previous survey work, identifies appropriate historic contexts, identifies current survey needs, and prioritizes recommendations for future survey projects. Survey plan grants require completion of a limited reconnaissance survey and incorporate public involvement to introduce the project and share results.

Survey plans should be completed by consultants that are experienced and familiar with survey and planning projects. The selected consultant should be knowledgeable in applying the Secretary of Interior's Standards for Identification and Evaluation.

Request Amount:

• Up to $20,000.

Cash Match:

• 10% for all applicants

The Care Fund Grant, offered by The Denver Foundation, supports nonprofits dedicated to enhancing the health and mental well-being of low-income individuals with disabilities. This initiative spans 100 years of philanthropic efforts in Metro Denver, allocating grants between $10,000 and $20,000. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits operating within Colorado, aligning their missions with the fund's purpose. This grant aims to uplift marginalized communities by providing essential resources and support.

The Denver Foundation Community Scholarship supports first-generation, economically disadvantaged college students in Colorado. Aimed at promoting racial equity, this scholarship prioritizes students of color pursuing higher education. Selection criteria include academic performance, resilience, community service, leadership, and work experience. Recipients must demonstrate economic need and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.25. The scholarship funds are paid directly to the educational institution for the academic year.

The Museum of Contemporary Art Denver is offering the Failure Award Scholarship, providing $20,000 to a high school senior in Colorado who exemplifies creativity and a willingness to risk failure. This innovative scholarship focuses on a student's unique project demonstrating originality and creative risk-taking, rather than academic achievements. The award supports students pursuing higher education at accredited institutions or trade schools, with funds distributed over four years to encourage ongoing educational pursuits.

Wages and Stipends Grant

Sponsors receive funding for the meals they serve through accurate meal counting and claiming. Additional funding opportunities are available to help sponsors support healthy, nutritious meals and innovative programs.

CDE Office of Grants Program Administration is dedicated to enhancing school improvement through federal and state grant opportunities. Education professionals can find detailed information on grants, awards, and other relevant opportunities available through various CDE offices.

The Wages and Stipends grant offers funding to eligible sponsors to provide wage increases and/or stipends to frontline food service workers. Sponsors can expect to receive up to $0.12 per lunch served in School Year 2024-25 for School Year 2026-27.

Available Funds and Duration of Grant

$0.12 per lunch served in the 2024-2025 school year is available for the 2026-2027 school year, with funding contingent on approval of appropriations from the State Legislature. At minimum, eligible applicants who opt-in to the program will be eligible to receive $3,000 if their calculated awarded amount is less than the minimum amount. Grants will be awarded for a two-year term beginning in the 2026-2027 fiscal year. Additional grant funding for subsequent years will be contingent upon annual appropriations by the State Legislature, and grantees meeting all grant, fiscal, and reporting requirements.

Local Food Program

Farm to school programs connect schools with local producers to provide students with fresh, healthy food in school and summer meals. These programs promote healthy eating habits, support local agriculture and offer educational opportunities for students to learn about food systems, agriculture and nutrition through activities like school gardens and farm visits.

The Local Food Program offers funding to eligible sponsors for the purchase of Colorado grown, raised or processed products. The program has expanded to include all sponsors operating Healthy School Meals for All including individual charter schools, residential childcare institutes and facility schools. Sponsors are eligible to receive $0.25 per lunch served in SY 2024-25 for SY 2026-27.

The Local Food Program (LFP) offers eligible Child Nutrition Sponsors funding for the purchase of Colorado grown, raised, or processed products. The purpose of this grant program is to support small and mid-sized Colorado producers, while in return fostering nutrition education, bolstering nutrition activities in the state, and supporting Colorado producers, farmers and food manufacturers. This Colorado state funded grant program exists to:

• Provide funding to eligible school nutrition operators for the procurement of Colorado grown, raised, processed, and value-added products to be used in federal Child Nutrition Programs.
• Support implementation of Local Food Program requirements by utilizing a set percentage of the allocated funding for:
  • The mandatory advisory committee made up of students and parents (up to 12%)
  • Allowable costs associated with the administration of the Local Food Program (up to 10%)

Colorado products must be served to students in the School Breakfast Program and/or National School Lunch Program.

It is the General Assembly’s intent that these grant funds be used primarily to support small and medium sized farms and ranches.

Farm to School programs enrich communities with fresh, healthy food and support local producers by changing food purchasing practices. It is the intent of the LFP for students to gain access to healthy, local foods while strengthening Colorado’s economy. Farm to School and programs like the LFP can increase equitable financial opportunities, market growth, and customer diversification for local producers while simultaneously providing kids and teens access to nutritious, high quality, local food so they are ready to learn and grow.

Transportation Safety Grants

The Highway Safety Office (HSO), a division of the CDOT Office of Transportation Safety, administers behavioral programs designed to cultivate a safer driving culture in Colorado. Our primary goal is to reduce the frequency and severity of traffic crashes through data-driven outreach and education.

Our Mission

Reduce the incidence and severity of motor vehicle crashes and the associated human and economic loss.

Core Focus Areas

Our programs are strategically designed to address the most significant risks on our roadways. We prioritize intervention in the following areas:

High-Risk Driving Behaviors:

• Impaired Driving: Reducing DUI and DUID incidents through enforcement and awareness.
• Speeding: Encouraging safe travel speeds on all state roadways.
• Distracted Driving: Combatting the use of devices while behind the wheel.
• Seatbelt Survey: Using systematic field data to determine the actual percentage of drivers and passengers who buckle up.

Vulnerable Populations:

• Age-Specific Safety: Tailored resources for younger drivers and our aging population.
• Motorcyclist Safety: Enhancing rider skill development and increasing motorist awareness to reduce motorcycle-involved crashes.
• Pedestrians & Bicyclists: Improving visibility and infrastructure awareness for our most vulnerable non-motorized road users.
• Occupant Protection: Promoting the consistent and proper use of seatbelts and child safety restraints.

The Reed Penington Family Trust Scholarship Fund, managed by The Denver Foundation, supports Colorado residents who are undergraduate or graduate students in their final two years of schooling. This fund aims to assist those facing financial barriers that hinder their educational pursuits. Eligible applicants must maintain a GPA of 2.75 or higher and demonstrate financial need through FAFSA or CASFA. The scholarship fosters academic persistence and helps students graduate within two academic years.

Bates Philanthropic Initiative

Mission Statement

The Bates Philanthropic Initiative (BPI) is committed to making a positive impact on our community by ensuring that high school students in Colorado experiencing financial hardship have access to quality post-secondary education and career opportunities with a particular focus on career and technical education (CTE).

We provide scholarships to graduating high school seniors with a financial need who are pursuing post-secondary certifications, associate degrees, and apprenticeships in skills-based fields.

In addition to scholarships, BPI provides grants to nonprofit partners that deliver critical wrap-around services like transportation, childcare, language support, and mentoring to these financially disadvantaged young adults.

Nonprofit Partner Grants

We provide grants to registered Colorado nonprofit partners who deliver critical support services to in-need students and eliminate the barriers to their education. From providing solutions for transportation, child-care, course, certification, and materials fees, and apprenticeship opportunities, nonprofits are at the forefront of making CTE more accessible to our under-served young adults. We are seeking to support nonprofits in expanding their impact.

Who does BPI focus its grants on, and how does this align with its mission?

At BPI, we focus our grants on empowering financially disadvantaged young adults aged 17 to 19 as they transition from high school to adulthood. While we support nonprofit partners serving broader communities, our grants are dedicated to programs that directly benefit this vulnerable group. By concentrating our efforts here, we aim to transform lives and create meaningful opportunities during this critical phase of personal and professional growth.

The John C. Ensslin Memorial Scholarship Fund (UA1) supports students dedicated to journalism, offering a $3,000 award and consideration for additional $1,500 Damon Runyon Scholarships. Eligible candidates must be enrolled in select Colorado schools for the 2025/2026 academic year, maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher, and show commitment to journalism. This one-time scholarship is intended to assist with tuition, fees, and related educational expenses.

The Muller Engineering's James M. Condon Memorial Scholarship, offered by the ACEC Colorado Foundation, supports U.S. citizens enrolled in ABET-accredited engineering programs in Colorado. This $3,000 scholarship is designed for full-time undergraduate or graduate students with a keen interest in consulting engineering. Applicants must meet specific eligibility criteria, including maintaining full-time status and having relevant work experience. The scholarship seeks to enhance educational opportunities in engineering and promote career paths in transportation and mobility.

The Bank of America Charitable Foundation focuses on supporting organizations that empower communities through basic needs, income creation, and stable housing. By investing in health and job opportunities, they aim to enhance economic mobility for low- and moderate-income families. Their partnerships target vulnerable populations, ensuring equitable access to resources that foster community vitality and resilience. This initiative emphasizes the importance of stable housing as a foundation for personal and communal growth.

Jack's Community Grants, managed by the Jack in the Box Foundation, seeks to empower youth in local communities by providing funding to 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations. These organizations must focus on feeding, educating, and empowering youth and operate within 50 miles of a Jack in the Box restaurant. The Foundation promotes originality and opportunity while ensuring that applicants adhere to a nondiscrimination policy. Special consideration is given to applications with support from franchisees or employees.

The Leonard Rice Memorial Scholarship, administered by the ACEC Colorado Foundation, supports full-time students pursuing engineering degrees in Colorado. With a generous $7,500 award, it aims to assist those specializing in engineering geology, water engineering, or natural resource engineering. Eligible applicants must be U.S. citizens enrolled in ABET-accredited programs. This scholarship not only promotes academic excellence but also enhances awareness of consulting engineering as a viable career path, contributing to the future of engineering in the state.

The Equity in Arts Learning for Colorado Youth (EAL) Grant Program aims to enhance access to arts education for historically marginalized youth in Colorado. Grants ranging from $10,000 to $25,000 will support projects that engage professional artists in educational settings for youth aged 4-21. This initiative, backed by significant foundations, seeks to dismantle barriers to arts education, fostering creativity and community engagement while promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion.

The California Casualty Music & Arts Grant supports K-12 public schools facing budget cuts that threaten their music and arts programs. Eligible applicants, who must be active employees of public K-12 schools and members of specified educator associations, can request grants of $250 for music or arts needs. This initiative aims to enhance creative education across the states, excluding AK, HI, MA, MI, NY, and WI. Applications received by July 15 will be notified by November 30.

The A.V. Hunter Trust provides general operating grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in Colorado with budgets under $1 million. It focuses on supporting small, rural, or underserved organizations that offer direct services to individuals in financial hardship, youth, aging adults, or those with disabilities. Grants typically range from $10,000 to $20,000, enabling organizations to address community needs effectively.

The Community Foundation Serving Southwest Colorado presents the "A Taste of the Nonprofit Sector Grant," offering $2,500 to 10 selected nonprofits. This grant allows winners to showcase their missions during the Durango Wine Experience events on April 25-26, 2025. To qualify, organizations must be 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entities or affiliated with one. Previous recipients from 2024 are ineligible. This initiative highlights the diversity of local nonprofits and supports community engagement.

Coover/Rural Schools Partnership Celebrate Rural Schools Grant Program

The Louis L. and Julia Dorothy Coover Foundation, a partnership between Community Foundation of the Ozarks and The Commerce Trust Company is proud to offer the Celebrate Rural Schools grant program, which will support projects that celebrate, strengthen, and elevate the unique identity of rural schools and the communities they serve. This grant supports projects that celebrate the unique culture, achievements, and identity of rural schools and their communities. It encourages districts to amplify local voices, showcase student success, and strengthen community connections. 

• Eligible applicants must be a member of the CFO's Rural Schools Partnership program.
• Total amount to award is $100,000.00.
• This is a single year grant program with final reports due in May 2027.
• Applicants may apply for up to $5,000 in funding for this grant cycle. 

The Community Foundation of the Ozarks and its Rural Schools Partnership Program are committed to supporting rural schools. In awarding grants, the CFO and its affiliates will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, ability, sexual orientation, gender identity or veteran status. As part of the grant process, all grantees will be required to affirm that, in providing services funded in whole or in part by a CFO grant, the grantee will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, ability, sexual orientation, gender identity or veteran status either in its employment practices or in its policies and procedures concerning access to services. 

The Martin Family Foundation, established in 2001, focuses on supporting 501(c)(3) organizations that promote faith-based education, assist the poor and at-risk, and uphold the sanctity of human life. With a mission rooted in Christian values, the Foundation prioritizes programs in Colorado, Montana, and Wyoming that break the cycle of poverty and encourage community involvement. While it occasionally supports operating expenses, the Foundation prefers funding projects that align with its core values.