GFF Strategic Grants

GFF Strategic Grants

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Gates Family Foundation
Last Updated: April 04, 2026

Summary

The Gates Family Foundation offers strategic grants focusing on K-12 education, natural resources, and community development, accounting for 60% of its annual budget. These grants support innovative educational strategies, sustainable resource management, and community resilience. While unsolicited proposals are not accepted, potential applicants are encouraged to explore the Foundation's priorities and engage with program officers. This funding promotes long-term partnerships aimed at achieving impactful outcomes in Colorado's communities.

Overview

NOTE: While the Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals for funding in these areas, we encourage you to browse our grants and investments database and strategic priorities to determine our scope of interest — and if you believe you might be a fit, reach out to one of our program officers. Strategic Grants The Gates Family Foundation uses a portfolio approach to grant making in three priority areas: K‐12 Education, Natural Resources, and Community Development. Overall, strategic grants constitute about 60% of the Foundation’s annual grant making budget (with the remaining 40% dedicated to capital grants). This approach allows the Foundation to pursue ambitious, large-scale outcomes with a set of key partners while also remaining responsive to the broader community’s needs. While we do not accept unsolicited proposals for funding in our priority areas, we do encourage you to browse our grants and impact database and strategic priorities to determine our scope of interest — and if you believe you might be a fit, reach out to one of our program officers or submit your idea online. Please note that this type of funding is not an opportunity for ongoing operating or program support, though it does allow us to work over multiple years with grantees focused on a specific set of goals and outcomes. While we continually work with grantees to adjust strategies and approaches, we expect to maintain a commitment to these broad priority areas over time. Education Approximately 23% of the Foundation’s annual grant making is devoted to strategic efforts to increase the quality and equity of Colorado’s public K-12 education system. Our K-12 education team uses this portfolio to support three key strategies: innovative learning environments, school system innovation, and conditions for sustained innovation. Innovative Learning EnvironmentsSchool System InnovationConditions for Sustained Innovation Natural Resources Approximately 23% of the Foundation’s annual grant making is devoted to strategic efforts to protect and steward our state’s precious land and water resources. Our natural resources team uses this portfolio to support three key strategies: balanced water management, forest health and watershed restoration, and landscape conservation and land trust capacity building. Balanced Water ManagementForest Health and Watershed RestorationLandscape Conservation and Land Trust Capacity Building Community Development Approximately 12% of the Foundation’s annual grant making is devoted to strategic efforts to increase the vitality and resilience of Colorado’s urban and rural communities. Our community development team uses this portfolio to support two key outcomes: economic mobility for families and individuals, and equitable community assets. Economic Mobility for Families and IndividualsEquitable Community Assets Informed Communities Approximately 5% of the Foundation’s annual grant making is devoted to catalyzing innovations in Colorado’s civic news ecosystem that make it more collaborative, sustainable, and responsive to the communities it serves. Our Informed Communities team uses this portfolio to support three key priorities: a stronger civic news ecosystem, more coverage of Gates’ core issue areas, and more diverse and inclusive local news leadership, voices and models. Evolve and Strengthen the Civic News EcosystemAddress Gaps in Civic News CoverageBuild Inclusive News Leaderships, Voices and Models

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website.