Nathan Yip Foundation Multi-Year Grant for Rural Colorado School Districts

Geographic Scope: Rural Colorado school districts only

Program Duration: 3-year partnerships (Year 1: 2026-27 school year implementation; Years 2-3: continuation with estimated budgets)

Number of Awards: 5-7 rural school district proposals selected in inaugural cohort

Funding Priorities

Proposals must align with one or more of the following priority areas:

• Career Exploration & Workforce Pathways - Hands-on career-connected learning aligned with local industries to help students see futures in their communities
• Early Literacy - Strengthen reading instruction and family engagement in literacy for strong foundational skills in early grades
• Equitable Academic Access - Increase opportunities for rural students in advanced coursework, concurrent enrollment, and inclusive learning experiences
• Family & Community Partnerships - Foster collaboration with families and local partners to boost student attendance, engagement, and success
• STEAM Education & Creative Expression - Expand integrated science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics learning experiences with hands-on, interdisciplinary exploration
• Student Mental Health & Belonging - Expand mental health supports, social-emotional learning (SEL), and relationship-building practices

Eligibility Requirements

• Applicant Type: Rural Colorado school districts
• Proposal Nature: Teacher-driven, superintendent-supported, student-centered proposals with clear three-year vision
• Strategic Alignment: Proposals must directly align with one or more NYF funding priorities and support the district's strategic plan
• Student Impact: Projects must reach and positively impact as many students as possible
• Sustainability: Must build year-over-year with continuity, momentum, and long-term benefits
• Relationship-Centered: Must outline strategies that strengthen connections among students, families, educators, and communities

What They Seek

• Bold, strategic student-centered proposals
• Clear three-year vision for growth, sustainability, and impact
• Proposals that address local challenges while supporting district strategic plans
• Projects that build year-over-year with increasing impact
• Teacher-driven ideas combined with district-level support for sustainability

Ongoing Partnership Benefits

Selected districts receive:

• Financial support for 3-year implementation
• Community and business resources provided by NYF
• Superintendent and Lead Teacher attendance at Nathan Yip Foundation's Chinese New Year Gala in Denver (at NYF's expense) to share their vision with the community
• Two virtual cohort calls per year to reflect on progress, share challenges, and exchange best practices
• Direct partnership with NYF to walk alongside the district in creating sustainable, shareable strategies

About the Foundation

Mission: Support rural Colorado education through strategic, multi-year funding partnerships

History: 10 years of community support with commitment to rural education

Impact to Date: Nearly $1.5 million invested in 93 districts, impacting nearly 19,000 students

Contact Information

Address: 6295 Greenwood Plaza Blvd, Suite 100, Greenwood Village, CO 80111

Executive Director: Stacey Vanhoy (stacey@nathanyipfoundation.org) - Contact for eligibility questions and application specifics

Application Process

Timeline for 2026 Cohort:

• September 19, 2025 - Application portal opens
• November 21, 2025 - Full grant application deadline
• February 1, 2026 - Grant announcements via email to all applicants
• February 21, 2026 - Chinese New Year Gala (selected districts' superintendent and lead teacher attend)
• May 1, 2026 - Grant funds distributed for implementation in 2026-27 school year

Application Requirements

1. Use Online Application Portal
   • Must use the official fillable online application form (not PDF or other formats)
   • Portal opens September 19 annually
2. Required Budget Template
   • All applicants must use the provided NYF budget template
   • Must outline funding needs across all three years
   • Years 2 and 3 may be estimates, but detailed budget shows resource allocation and demonstrates thoughtful planning
   • Save completed template in Excel or Google Sheets format
   • Upload saved file at the very end of the online application
   • ⚠️ Applications without completed uploaded budget template will be marked incomplete
3. Application Narrative
   • Review "Grant Questions" guide prior to application
   • Can draft answers offline before entering into fillable form
   • Answers should address all required questions with clarity and detail
4. Supporting Materials
   • Reference sample grants and budgets (organized by focus area: STEAM, Family/Community Partnerships + Student Mental Health, Art + Literacy, Non-Specific)
   • Consult scoring matrix to understand evaluation criteria

Submission Format

• All sections must be completed in the online fillable application
• Budget template must be uploaded as a file attachment
• All required materials must be submitted before the deadline for application to be considered complete

Resources Available to Applicants

• Sample Grants & Budgets - Examples showing detail and information for strong applications
• Grant Scoring Matrix - Shows key evaluation areas (teacher involvement, student impact, sustainability, etc.) so applicants can strengthen proposals
• Budget Template - Required Excel/Google Sheets file with instructions
• Grant Questions Guide - Full list of application questions for pre-planning

Key Evaluation Criteria (from Scoring Matrix)

Reviewers assess proposals based on:

• Teacher involvement and leadership
• Student impact and reach
• Sustainability and year-over-year growth
• Alignment with funding priorities
• Connection to district strategic plan
• Community and relationship-building components