Colorado League of Charter Schools logo

Colorado League of Charter Schools

Public charity · Grantmaker Denver, CO EIN: 84-1288512 Website

The Colorado League of Charter Schools is a Denver-based nonprofit, membership-based organization that supports Colorado charter schools through services including advocacy, professional development, technical assistance, and school resources. It is listed as a public charity on Form 990 filings.

Colorado League of Charter Schools at a glance

In short: Colorado League of Charter Schools gave $1.1M across 17 grants in 2025 (avg $66K). Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.

Annual giving (2025)
$1,128,455
+269.1% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
17
+183.3% vs 2024
Average grant
$66,380
+30.3% vs 2024
Median grant
$25,983
Total assets
$4,421,544
-6.7% vs 2024
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2025 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026.

How to apply to Colorado League of Charter Schools

How to Apply

The 2025–2026 competition is a past cycle.

Contact

Mailing address: 104 N Broadway Suite 400, Denver, CO 80203
Phone: (303) 989-5356
Website: https://coloradoleague.org

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Colorado League of Charter Schools funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

CLCS Action: $321KCLCS Action$321KDSST Public Schools: $183KDSST Public Schools$183KRocky Mountain Prep: $155KRocky Mountain Prep$155KReach University: $132KReach University$132KJack Holmes LLC: $104KJack Holmes LLC$104KAtlas Preparatory School: $50KAtlas Preparatory School$50KUniversity Prep: $39KUniversity Prep$39KKipp Colorado: $28KKipp Colorado$28KSalida Montessori Charter School: $26KSalida Montessori CharterSchool$26KGeorgetown Community School: $15KGeorgetown Community School$15K

The largest 2025 recipient was CLCS Action ($321K). Together the top 10 received $1.1M.

Grant Size Distribution

34 grants across all recorded years

22<$50K2$50–100K6$100–250K3$250–500K1$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 22 grants of 34 (65%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The League’s stated work and Great Schools Colorado subgrant program focus on Colorado charter schools. The listed 2025 grants include charter schools and organizations, but recipient-state information is not provided for those grants.

Grant Distribution by State

3states

Cities

DenverLakewoodColorado SpringsLittletonTowaocAuroraBroomfieldCarbondaleCastle RockCommerce CityDurangoGardnerGeorgetownLovelandMinneapolisSteamboat SpringsWashington

How Colorado League of Charter Schools gives

  • 24% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving grew 52% from 2022 to 2025. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (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

$0$500K$1M$1.5M5 grants2019 6 grants2020 2 grants2021 4 grants2022 5 grants2023 6 grants2024 17 grants2025

From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $53K (2019) to $1.1M (2025). In 2025 it made 17 grants totaling $1.1M.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
CLCS Action Primary Purpose Funding$320,972
DSST Public Schools Charter educator development pathway program - applicant tuition reimbursement$182,850
Rocky Mountain Prep Charter educator development pathway program - applicant tuition reimbursement$154,600
Reach University Charter educator development pathway program - applicant tuition reimbursement$131,750
Jack Holmes LLC Charter educator development pathway program - applicant tuition reimbursement$103,500
Atlas Preparatory School Charter educator development pathway program - applicant tuition reimbursement$50,175
University Prep Charter educator development pathway program - applicant tuition reimbursement$39,425
Kipp Colorado Charter educator development pathway program - applicant tuition reimbursement$28,225
Salida Montessori Charter School Healthy Meals Project$25,983
Georgetown Community School Healthy Meals Project$15,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsNet Investment Income
2025$4,421,544$4,256,365$5,335,828$1,128,45517$108,364
2024$4,740,645$5,927,243$4,204,305$305,6926$97,780
2023$3,021,454$3,693,556$3,339,340$366,3265$28,999
2022$2,575,539$3,905,941$3,636,264$743,5674$1,483
2021$2,359,978$3,316,515$2,696,028$156,0002$1,147
2020$2,360,029$2,747,271$3,175,795$117,9506$10,335
2019$2,377,084$3,208,298$3,166,777$53,2505$15,254

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The League’s stated mission is to improve student achievement by supporting Colorado’s charter schools, positively reshaping the public school landscape, and advancing opportunities for innovation and expanded high-quality public school choice. Its work includes school services and membership support, advocacy, professional development, board governance resources, startup and expansion assistance, and school quality and accountability programs.

Through Great Schools Colorado, the League administers federal subgrants intended to increase the number of high-quality charter schools and seats in Colorado and improve school quality across the state. A 2024 announcement described the program as supporting schools serving educationally disadvantaged and at-risk students.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2025, the League reported 17 grants totaling $1,128,455. Grant amounts ranged from $7,705 to $320,972, with a median of $25,983. The largest reported grants included $320,972 to CLCS Action for “primary purpose funding,” and grants for charter educator development pathway tuition reimbursement: $182,850 to DSST Public Schools, $154,600 to Rocky Mountain Prep, and $131,750 to Reach University. The filing also listed $25,983 to Salida Montessori Charter School and $15,000 each to Georgetown Community School, Knowledge Quest Academy, and Steamboat Montessori for healthy meals projects.

Great Schools Colorado is a separate subgrant program funded through a federal award administered by the League. The League announced a $68 million award in 2024 and an additional $9 million in 2025, bringing the announced total to $77 million over five years. The 2025–2026 competition is described as funding seven subgrantees, each eligible for up to $2 million. The prior cycle funded six subgrantees, each eligible for up to $2 million. Awardees attend post-award training on requirements, fiscal procedures, compliance, and reporting. These are program awards administered by the League, distinct from grants the League reported giving in its filings.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists the following board directors: Dale Chu, Mary Seawell, Ian Stout, Kate Siegel Shimko, Pat Donovan, Laura Calhoun, Tricia Noyola, Rosemary Rodriguez, Ragland Luke, and Alison Griffin.

Colorado League of Charter Schools is led by Daniel Schaller, President on every filing since 2021; 4 of 18 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Daniel Schaller

    President

    On filings since 2021

    40 hrs/week

    $117K (2021) → $199K (2025)

  • David Singer

    Board Chair

    Secretary → Director, 2022

    Director → Board Chair, 2024

    On filings since 2019

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Alison Griffin

    Board Director

    Vice Chair → Director, 2023

    Director → Board Director, 2025

    On filings since 2019

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Dale Chu

    Board Director

    Secretary → Director, 2024

    Director → Board Director, 2025

    On filings since 2019

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Pat Donovan

    Board Director

    Director → Board Director, 2025

    On filings since 2021

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Ian Stout

    Board Director

    Director → Board Director, 2025

    On filings since 2023

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Laura Calhoun

    Board Director

    Director → Board Director, 2025

    On filings since 2023

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Mary Seawell

    Board Director

    Director → Board Director, 2025

    On filings since 2023

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Tricia Noyola

    Board Director

    Director → Board Director, 2025

    On filings since 2023

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kate Siegel Shimko

    Board Director

    Director → Board Director, 2025

    On filings since 2024

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Rosemary Rodriguez

    Board Director

    Director → Board Director, 2025

    On filings since 2024

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Ragland Luke

    Board Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Peter Mason

    Vice President Communications

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $102K (2020) → $143K (2025)

  • Mark Heffner

    Vice President Finance & Operations

    Vice President Finace → Vice President Finance & O, 2023

    Vice President Finance & O → Vice President Finance & Operations, 2025

    On filings since 2021

    40 hrs/week

    $76K (2021) → $142K (2025)

  • Dawna Taylor

    Chief of Staff & Vice President of School Services

    New on the 2025 filing

    40 hrs/week

    $159K (2025)

  • Casey McComsey

    Treasurer

    Director → Treasurer, 2024

    On filings since 2021

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Nicole Wetzel

    Vice Chair

    Director → Vice Chair, 2023

    On filings since 2022

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Karega Rausch

    Secretary

    Director → Secretary, 2024

    On filings since 2023

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (22)
  • Former: Kimberlee Sia (2019–2023) — Board Chair
  • Former: Teresa Tate (2019–2023) — Vice President School Se
  • Former: Chad Miller (2021–2023) — Treasurer
  • Former: Rosemary Rodirguez (2022–2023) — Director
  • Former: Steve Colella (2023) — Director
  • Former: Arkan Haile (2019–2022) — Director
  • Former: Tim Matlick (2019–2022) — Board Chair
  • Former: Erin Kane (2022) — Director
  • Former: Trina Maull (2022) — Hr Director
  • Former: Andy Franco (2019–2021) — Board Chair
  • Former: Benjamin Lindquist (2019–2021) — President
  • Former: Joyce Schuck (2019–2021) — Director
  • Former: Marcia Bickel (2019–2021) — Vice President Finance & O
  • Former: Susan Marshall (2019–2021) — Director
  • Former: Nicole Caldwell (2021) — Director
  • Former: Bob Schaffer (2019–2020) — Director
  • Former: Eric Duran (2019–2020) — Treasurer
  • Former: F. Mike Miles (2019–2020) — Director
  • Former: Sam Todd (2019–2020) — Director
  • Former: Jay Cerny (2019) — Director
  • Former: Peter Groff (2019) — Director
  • Former: Todd Ziebarth (2019) — Director

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

Daniel Schaller — President: $199KDaniel SchallerPresident$199KDawna Taylor — Chief of Staff/VP of School Services: $159KDawna TaylorChief of Staff/VP of School…$159KPeter Mason — VP Communications: $143KPeter MasonVP Communications$143KMark Heffner — VP Finance/Operations: $142KMark HeffnerVP Finance/Operations$142K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $199K, to Daniel Schaller (President). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Frequently asked questions about Colorado League of Charter Schools

How much does Colorado League of Charter Schools give each year?

Colorado League of Charter Schools gave $1.1M across 17 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $306K across 6 grants.

What is Colorado League of Charter Schools's typical grant size?

Colorado League of Charter Schools's median grant in 2025 was $25,983, and its average grant was $66,380, across 17 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.

Does Colorado League of Charter Schools give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 17 grants with a stated purpose on Colorado League of Charter Schools's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Healthy Meals Project" (8 grants).

Who are Colorado League of Charter Schools's largest grantees?

Colorado League of Charter Schools's largest 2025 grantees include CLCS Action ($320,972), DSST Public Schools ($182,850) and Rocky Mountain Prep ($154,600), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 58% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Colorado League of Charter Schools?

Colorado League of Charter Schools reported $4.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $4.3M.

What does Colorado League of Charter Schools fund?

The League’s stated mission is to improve student achievement by supporting Colorado’s charter schools, positively reshaping the public school landscape, and advancing opportunities for innovation and expanded high-quality public school choice. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Colorado League of Charter Schools?

The 2025–2026 competition is a past cycle. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

Where does Colorado League of Charter Schools make grants?

The League’s stated work and Great Schools Colorado subgrant program focus on Colorado charter schools. The listed 2025 grants include charter schools and organizations, but recipient-state information is not provided for those grants.

What is Colorado League of Charter Schools's EIN?

Colorado League of Charter Schools's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-1288512. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.

Data update history

(7)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 4, 2025)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS January 23, 2026)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 24, 2020)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 24, 2021)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 24, 2022)
  6. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 9, 2023)
  7. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS January 24, 2024)

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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open

Figures come from Colorado League of Charter Schools'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.

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