Colorado Enterprise Fund
Colorado Enterprise Fund (CEF) is a Denver-based nonprofit small-business lender and a Form 990 public charity. Founded in 1976, it provides capital and business support to Colorado entrepreneurs and small businesses that do not qualify for traditional financing. CEF describes itself as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI).
Colorado Enterprise Fund at a glance
In short: Colorado Enterprise Fund gave $246K across 24 grants in 2025 (avg $10K), mostly in Colorado. 100% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $245,940
- -87.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 24
- -46.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $10,248
- -76.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $80,686,947
- +2.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 100% first-time grantees (24 of 24, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Colorado (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Colorado Enterprise Fund
- How to Apply
-
CEF’s website describes an application process for financing, not a grant application process. For a loan, applicants must be Colorado-based and at least 18; certain business types and residential real estate are excluded. Applicants must have 10% of the loan amount in their bank account at closing. Loans over $75,000 may require a homeowner to pledge their home as collateral. The website says applicants should expect a hard credit inquiry and a non-refundable $25 application fee. For startup applications, listed documents include a business plan, cash projection, proof of personal investment, personal bank statements, identification and residency documents, and a personal financial statement; some documents are conditional. The website warns that incomplete applications will be withdrawn.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1888 Sherman Street Suite 530, Denver, CO 80203
Phone: (303) 860-0242
Website: https://coloradoenterprisefund.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Colorado Enterprise Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Hungry Heart Kitchens LLC ($30K). Together the top 10 received $130K.
Grant Size Distribution
825 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 808 grants of 825 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
CEF says it serves small businesses throughout Colorado and funds businesses only in the state. Its 2025 reported grant dollars also went entirely to Colorado recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 24 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Colorado Enterprise Fund open to new grantees?
100%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 24 of 24 grantees (100%) were first-time recipients. With only 24 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $10K. How we count
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $246K (2025) to $6.0M (2021). In 2025 it made 24 grants totaling $246K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Hungry Heart Kitchens LLC Denver, CO | Restaurant Start-up | $30,000 |
| Cabrini Healthcare LLC Colorado Springs, CO | Underserved Business | $15,000 |
| Uf DIA B LLC Denver, CO | Underserved Business | $13,000 |
| Kemafy LLC Denver, CO | Underserved Business | $12,000 |
| SB Services Inc Castle Rock, CO | Underserved Business | $10,000 |
| Luckey Stars Early Learning Center Fort Collins, CO | Underserved Business | $10,000 |
| Geouplift LLC Del Norte, CO | Underserved Business | $10,000 |
| Blooming Connections Inc Aurora, CO | Underserved Business | $10,000 |
| DNVR Auto LLC Thornton, CO | Underserved Business | $10,000 |
| Toro Food Concepts LLC Denver, CO | Underserved Business | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Colorado Enterprise Fund?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $80,686,947 | $12,460,528 | $11,606,580 | $245,940 | 24 | $1,301,934 |
| 2024 | $78,725,779 | $24,012,822 | $13,173,847 | $1,921,692 | 45 | $869,748 |
| 2023 | $70,114,897 | $18,269,112 | $10,805,892 | $641,958 | 50 | $285,542 |
| 2022 | $67,369,528 | $16,879,154 | $10,206,734 | $1,862,265 | 169 | $10,549 |
| 2021 | $82,518,626 | $21,255,608 | $11,100,095 | $5,956,338 | 537 | $7,741 |
| 2020 | $62,851,045 | $9,333,574 | $9,121,625 | $342,935 | 12 | $3,170 |
| 2019 | $33,955,191 | $4,526,557 | $4,463,245 | $255,690 | 13 | $6,692 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
CEF’s stated mission is “to accelerate community prosperity by financing and supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses.” Its 2024 filing describes small-business lending for new and existing businesses and community enterprises throughout Colorado, particularly owners who lack access to conventional financing and entrepreneurial networks. CEF also describes providing one-on-one business coaching and other support to borrowers.
The organization’s website lists financing for microloans, small businesses, equipment, leasehold improvements, business acquisitions, and owner-occupied commercial real estate. It also describes working with businesses that have a startup or existing operation, lower credit scores, tighter cash flow, or limited collateral.
One 2025 recipient, A Child’s Song Inc., received $7,200. The grantee describes its mission as nurturing an appreciation for music and sharing music’s developmental, healing, and social-emotional benefits for children and adults.
Grantmaking
CEF’s 2025 filing reports 24 grants totaling $245,940. Grant amounts ranged from $6,000 to $30,000, with a median of $10,000. All reported grant dollars went to recipients in Colorado. The filing describes many listed grants as support for an “underserved business.”
The largest reported grant was $30,000 to Hungry Heart Kitchens LLC in Denver for a restaurant start-up. Other notable grants included $15,000 to Cabrini Healthcare LLC in Colorado Springs and $13,000 to UF Dia B LLC in Denver, both for an “underserved business.” CEF’s 2024 filing says it continued administering grants to small businesses affected by pandemic-related economic hardship during 2025 and 2024.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Cecilia Prinster (President), Nim Patel (COO), Luke Anderson (CFO), Lewis Hagler (Director of Business), Alan Ramirez (Director of Strategy), Jeremy Dunn (Controller), Jaione Axpe (Director of Business Operations), Dawn Akers (Director of Data), Paul Bunyard (Chair and Treasurer), and Sean Koutsakis (Vice Chair and Assistant Secretary).
Colorado Enterprise Fund is led by Cecilia Prinster, President An since 2022 (on filings since 2019); 8 of 21 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Cecilia Prinster
President An
President & CEO → President An, 2022
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$158K (2019) → $386K (2025)
Paul Bunyard
Chair & Treasurer
Treasurer → Treasurer & A, 2023
Treasurer & A → Chair & Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sean Koutsakis
V Chair
Director → V Chair, 2025
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alan Ramirez
Director of Strat
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$112K (2023) → $125K (2025)
Lewis Hagler
Director Business
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$121K (2023) → $144K (2025)
Dawn Akers
Director of Data
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$114K (2024) → $117K (2025)
Jaione Axpe
Director of Bus O
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$118K (2024) → $114K (2025)
Izzy Abbass
Director Thr
Director → Director Thr, 2025
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kyle Frazer
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Simone Ross
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Laura Blomquist-Rodriguez
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Melissa Buck
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Josh Griff
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kate Horle
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Natriece Bryant
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shannon Ward
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Zaneta Kelsey
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nim Patel
COO
Interim CFO → COO, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$171K (2023) → $311K (2025)
Luke Anderson
CFO
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$20K (2024) → $202K (2025)
Jeremy Dunn
Controller
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$130K (2025)
Nick Anderson
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (20)
- Former: Andrew Rubin (2019–2024) — Secretary
- Former: Brian Peagler (2019–2024) — V Chair
- Former: Mizraim Cordero (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Dave Mesko (2022–2024) — CFO
- Former: Liddy Romero (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Kelly Green (2024) — Director of Markt
- Former: Ed Briscoe (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Susan Graf (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Tina Robinson (2019–2023) — Director of Finance T
- Former: Carrie Hanson (2023) — Director of Development
- Former: Haroun Cowens (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Wes Parham (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Gregg Moss (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Nan Hinton (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Jeff Steepleton (2019–2020) — Past Chair
- Former: Leigh Taylor (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Sandra Hadlock (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Mindy McCloughan (2019) — Director
- Former: Simon Fox (2019) — Director of Finance
- Former: Tom Hollinshead (2019) — Past Chair
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $386K, to Cecilia Prinster (President an). 8 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Colorado Enterprise Fund
How much does Colorado Enterprise Fund give each year?
Colorado Enterprise Fund gave $246K across 24 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.9M across 45 grants.
What is Colorado Enterprise Fund's typical grant size?
Colorado Enterprise Fund's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $10,248, across 24 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Colorado Enterprise Fund that year got $10K on average.
Where does Colorado Enterprise Fund give grants?
Colorado Enterprise Fund gives mostly in Colorado: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Denver, CO (6 grants), Colorado Springs, CO (4 grants), Aurora, CO (3 grants) and Thornton, CO (2 grants).
Does Colorado Enterprise Fund give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 24 grants with a stated purpose on Colorado Enterprise Fund's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Underserved Business" (19 grants) and "Small Biz Growth" (4 grants).
Who are Colorado Enterprise Fund's largest grantees?
Colorado Enterprise Fund's largest 2025 grantees include Hungry Heart Kitchens LLC ($30,000), Cabrini Healthcare LLC ($15,000) and Uf DIA B LLC ($13,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 24% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Colorado Enterprise Fund?
Colorado Enterprise Fund reported $80.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $12.5M.
What does Colorado Enterprise Fund fund?
CEF’s stated mission is “to accelerate community prosperity by financing and supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Colorado Enterprise Fund?
CEF’s website describes an application process for financing, not a grant application process. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Colorado Enterprise Fund's EIN?
Colorado Enterprise Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-0837398. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 16, 2026)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 17, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 10, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 23, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS June 3, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 1, 2025)
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Colorado Enterprise Fund's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Colorado Enterprise Fund funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/colorado-enterprise-fund-morg_38d1513aa6a94371a0a7b03cf91d47e5
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_840837398_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Colorado Enterprise Fund funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/colorado-enterprise-fund-morg_38d1513aa6a94371a0a7b03cf91d47e5},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Colorado Enterprise Fund's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Colorado Enterprise Fund down — hundreds of funders to go?