Daniels Fund
The Daniels Fund is a private charitable foundation based in Denver, Colorado, established by cable television pioneer Bill Daniels. It supports individuals and communities in Colorado, an individual recipient, Utah, and Wyoming through grants, scholarships, and Big Bets—investments in scalable solutions to complex challenges.
Daniels Fund at a glance
In short: Daniels Fund gave $69.7M across 1,593 grants in 2024 (avg $44K), mostly in Colorado. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $69,702,756
- +2.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 1,593
- +7.4% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $43,756
- -4.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $14,091
- Total assets
- $1,400,749,052
- +7.5% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Colorado (77% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Daniels Fund
- Review Cycle
- The filing lists grant timing as “none—annually—mid-November.” The 2026 Daniels Scholarship Program deadline is October 15 at 4:00 p.m. Mountain Time.
- Deadline
- The filing lists grant timing as “none—annually—mid-November.” The 2026 Daniels Scholarship Program deadline is…
- Next open deadline
- October 15, 2026 (Daniels Scholarship Program)
- Contact
Application contact: Daniels Fund Grants Program
Mailing address: 101 Monroe Street, Denver, CO 80206
Phone: (303) 393-7220
Email: grantsinfo@danielsfund.org
Website: https://danielsfund.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Daniels Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Young Americans Education Foundation ($4.2M across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $16.5M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1,053 individual scholarships ($14,701,631), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
4,568 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 3,411 grants of 4,568 (75%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Fund’s stated regional focus is Colorado, an individual recipient, Utah, and Wyoming. Its 2024 grant dollars went primarily to Colorado recipients (77%), followed by Wyoming (6%), an individual recipient (4%), Utah (4%), and Pennsylvania (3%). The Fund also supports select programs with national impact.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 1,593 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Daniels Fund gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+14%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 102% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $61.0M (2021) to $69.7M (2024). In 2024 it made 1,593 grants totaling $69.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Young Americans Education Foundation Denver, CO | 2024 Operating Support | $2,406,662 |
| Young Americans Education Foundation Denver, CO | Additional Operating Support | $1,800,000 |
| Advance Pathways Denver, CO | General Operating Support | $1,750,000 |
| US Chamber of Commerce Foundation Philadelphia, PA | National Civics Bee | $1,750,000 |
| WYO Complex DBA WYO Sports Ranch Casper, WY | WYO Sports Ranch Athletics Facility | $1,500,000 |
| Archdiocese of Denver Denver, CO | Catholic School Core Quality Teacher Pipeline and Preparation | $1,200,000 |
| Ace Scholarships Greenwood Village, CO | Tuition Assistance Across Our Four-State Region | $1,150,000 |
| Colorado Schools Fund Denver, CO | General Operating Support | $1,000,000 |
| Excellent Schools New Mexico Albuquerque, NM | New Mexico Charter School Expansion | $900,000 |
| Step Denver Denver, CO | Colorado Springs- Step Denver - Capital Portion | $750,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,400,749,052 | $184,503,751 | $85,624,815 | $69,702,756 | 1,593 | $81,531,756 | $203,344,026 | $79,755,358 |
| 2023 | $1,303,622,638 | $123,024,315 | $79,427,902 | $68,181,294 | 1,483 | $78,619,430 | $155,746,980 | $75,555,918 |
| 2022 | $1,260,081,162 | $-1,110,928 | $74,232,103 | $63,585,856 | 1 | $72,510,271 | — | $78,565,278 |
| 2021 | $1,337,017,417 | $136,981,565 | $72,466,663 | $61,004,769 | 702 | $68,996,571 | $133,867,807 | $83,866,708 |
| 2020 | $1,271,851,319 | $97,503,421 | $77,198,417 | $65,014,075 | 789 | — | $96,236,197 | $74,108,858 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Daniels Fund reported a distributable amount of $79.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Fund’s stated mission is to make life better for people in Colorado, an individual recipient, Utah, and Wyoming. Its work is guided by Bill Daniels’ values, including ethics, integrity, respect, and entrepreneurial spirit.
Its grantmaking areas are aging, amateur sports, disabilities, drug and alcohol addiction, early childhood education, homelessness and disadvantaged communities, K–12 education reform, and youth development. The Fund supports highly effective nonprofits in its four-state region and select programs with national impact; nationwide programs are by invitation only.
Examples from its 2024 grants illustrate the range of organizations supported. An individual recipient describes its work as identifying promising public schools and school leaders in an individual recipient, investing in their growth, and supporting their expansion. An individual recipient describes itself as a residential recovery community helping men rebuild their lives through sobriety, work, accountability, and community. Fullmer Legacy Foundation describes its mission as helping at-risk youth learn discipline, sportsmanship, and resilience through boxing.
The Fund’s scholarship work includes the Daniels Scholarship Program, which provides four-year college scholarships to graduating high school seniors, and the Boundless Opportunity Scholarship Program, which provides funding to selected colleges and universities for scholarships to non-traditional students.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Fund reported 1,593 grants totaling $69,702,756. Grant amounts ranged from $52 to $2,406,662, with a median grant of $14,091.
Among the largest reported grants were $2,406,662 and $1,800,000 to Young Americans Education Foundation for operating support; $1,750,000 to Advance Pathways for general operating support; $1,750,000 to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation for the National Civics Bee; and $1,500,000 to Wyo Complex dba Wyo Sports Ranch for an athletics facility.
The 2024 filing directs grant inquiries to the Daniels Fund Grants Program and says a grants brochure and additional program information are available on the Fund’s website. Its stated restrictions are that grants support nonprofit organizations in Colorado, an individual recipient, Utah, and Wyoming, as well as programs with national impact. The website says it does not fund regional, local, or community-based programs outside those four states.
The Daniels Scholarship Program is a separate scholarship opportunity for individuals, not a grant program for outside applicants. Its 2026 application period runs from September 1 through October 15 at 4:00 p.m. Mountain Time.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists David Brown as treasurer and chief financial officer; Hank Brown, Brian Deevy, Francisco Garcia, Margaret Kelley, Tom Marinkovich, and Susana Martinez as directors; Joshua Green as senior vice president as of March 2024; and Kristen Morgan as chief of staff. John Fitzgerald is listed as a director through June 2024. The Fund’s website identifies Hanna Skandera as president and CEO.
Daniels Fund is led by Hanna Skandera, President & Chief Executive Officer since 2023 (on filings since 2020); all 18 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Hanna Skandera
President & Chief Executive Officer
President, CEO & Starting → President & CEO, 2021
President & CEO → President & Chief Executive Officer, 2023
On filings since 2020
50 hrs/week
$53K (2020) → $970K (2024)
John Suthers
Board Chairman
Board Chair Starting → Chair, 2022
Chair → Board Chairman, 2023
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$41K (2023) → $76K (2024)
Brian Deevy
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$50K (2020) → $71K (2024)
Francisco Garcia
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$42K (2020) → $66K (2024)
Hank Brown
Director
Director & Interim CEO Starting → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$343K (2020) → $6K (2024)
James R. Nicholson
Director
Board Chairman → Director & Board Chair, 2021
Director & Board Chair → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$64K (2020) → $69K (2024)
John Fitzgerald
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$53K (2020) → $62K (2024)
Leroy Williams
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$58K (2020) → $65K (2024)
Margaret Kelley
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$47K (2020) → $69K (2024)
Randall Wells
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$64K (2020) → $70K (2024)
Tom Marinkovich
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$45K (2020) → $68K (2024)
Susana Martinez
Director
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
$8K (2021) → $62K (2024)
Bo Peretto
Senior Vice President
Senior Vice President → Senior Vice President, Ethics Initiative & Committee, 2021
Senior Vice President, Ethics Initiative & Committee → Senior Vice President, 2022
On filings since 2020
50 hrs/week
$211K (2020) → $227K (2024)
David Brown
Treasurer & Chief Financial Officer
Treasurer, CFO & Starting → CFO & Treasurer, 2022
CFO & Treasurer → Treasurer & Chief Financial Officer, 2023
On filings since 2020
50 hrs/week
$212K (2020) → $390K (2024)
Kristen Morgan
Chief of Staff
Chief of Staff → Chf of Staff, 2022
Chf of Staff → Chief of Staff, 2023
On filings since 2021
50 hrs/week
$203K (2021) → $336K (2024)
Laura Rizzo
Senior Vice President
Senior Vice President & Communications → Senior Vice President, 2022
On filings since 2021
50 hrs/week
$19K (2021) → $10K (2024)
Luke Ragland
Senior Vice President
Senior Vice President & Grants → Senior Vice President, 2022
On filings since 2021
50 hrs/week
$127K (2021) → $341K (2024)
Joshua Green
Senior Vice President
New on the 2024 filing
50 hrs/week
$172K (2024)
Former officers (8)
- Former: William Fowler (2020–2023) — Senior Vice President
- Former: June Travis (2020–2022) — Director5
- Former: Karren Turner (2020–2022) — Secretary & Vice President
- Former: Nicole Frazier (2020–2022) — Senior Vp-
- Former: Jeb R. Dickey (2020–2021) — Treasurer & CFO
- Former: Kristin Todd (2020–2021) — Executive Vice President
- Former: Linda Childears (2020) — President & CEO
- Former: Tony Acone (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $970K, to Hanna Skandera (President & Chief Executive Officer). 18 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Daniels Fund
How much does Daniels Fund give each year?
Daniels Fund gave $69.7M across 1,593 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $68.2M across 1,483 grants.
What is Daniels Fund's typical grant size?
Daniels Fund's median grant in 2024 was $14,091, and its average grant was $43,756, across 1,593 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Daniels Fund give grants?
Daniels Fund gives mostly in Colorado: 77% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Wyoming (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Denver, CO (159 grants), Colorado Springs, CO (35 grants), Aurora, CO (16 grants) and Greenwood Village, CO (13 grants).
Does Daniels Fund give general operating support?
Occasionally: 9% of Daniels Fund's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (141 of 1,593) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Educational Scholarship" (1035 grants), "2024 Rapid Response Fund" (76 grants) and "Boundless Opportunity Scholarship (Bos)" (18 grants).
Who are Daniels Fund's largest grantees?
Daniels Fund's largest 2024 grantees include Young Americans Education Foundation ($4,206,662 across 2 grants), US Chamber of Commerce Foundation ($1,950,000 across 2 grants) and Advance Pathways ($1,751,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1,053 individual scholarships ($14,701,631), which are not listed by name. Together they received 11% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Daniels Fund?
Daniels Fund reported $1.4B in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $81.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $79.8M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Daniels Fund fund?
The Fund’s stated mission is to make life better for people in Colorado, an individual recipient, Utah, and Wyoming. Its work is guided by Bill Daniels’ values, including ethics, integrity, respect, and entrepreneurial spirit. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Daniels Fund?
Daniels Fund has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check danielsfund.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Daniels Fund's EIN?
Daniels Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-1393308. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Daniels Fund funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 9, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/daniels-fund-morg_475c7183ba2e4adb96a4c72ffc9e6c91
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_841393308_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Daniels Fund funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/daniels-fund-morg_475c7183ba2e4adb96a4c72ffc9e6c91},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-09. 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 Daniels 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.
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