Together, we’re building great schools, strong teachers, and thriving students.
Committed to and Invested In
Rural Colorado Education
Funding Priorities
We invite districts to submit strategic, student-centered proposals focused on one or more of the following priority areas:
Career Exploration & Workforce Pathways
Create hands-on career-connected learning aligned with local industries, helping students see a future in their communities.
Early Literacy
Strengthen reading instruction and family engagement in literacy, ensuring all students build strong foundations in the early grades.
Equitable Academic Access
Increase opportunities for rural students to participate 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 access to integrated science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics learning experiences that foster creativity, critical thinking, and student identity through hands-on, interdisciplinary exploration.
Student Mental Health & Belonging
Expand mental health supports, social-emotional learning (SEL), and relationship-building practices.
What We Are Looking For
Teacher Driven, Superintendent Supported
At the Nathan Yip Foundation, we are seeking bold, student-centered proposals from rural Colorado school districts that carry a clear three-year vision for growth, sustainability, and impact.
Proposals should:
- Directly align with one or more of NYF’s funding priorities, ensuring that projects reflect shared goals for student success.
- Address local challenges while supporting the district’s strategic plan.
- Reach and positively impact as many students as possible, amplifying equity and opportunity across rural communities.
- Build year over year, creating continuity, momentum, and long-term benefits for students, families, and educators.
- Be teacher-driven and district-supported, combining innovative classroom ideas with the structure and leadership needed for sustainability.
- Outline relationship-centered strategies that strengthen connections among students, families, educators, and communities.
Each year, the Nathan Yip Foundation invests in a new group of Rural Innovation Network districts—rural school systems committed to creating meaningful opportunities for students and strengthening their communities. Through three-year partnerships, districts receive funding and support to implement ambitious, locally designed initiatives that deliver lasting impact.
Ongoing Partnership
Selected districts will:
- Have their Superintendent and Lead Teacher attend the Nathan Yip Foundation’s Chinese New Year Gala in Denver (at NYF’s expense) to share their vision with our community. (February 6, 2027)
Participate in two virtual cohort calls per year to reflect on progress, share challenges, and exchange best practices.
Our goal is to walk alongside each district, helping create sustainable, shareable strategies so rural Colorado students can thrive—now and into the future.
Resource Hub
Sample grants and budgets are here to guide you, showing the detail and information that help create strong, successful applications.
- Exemplary (90+ pts)
- Strong (60-80 pts)
- Developing (30-50 pts)
- Weak (<20 pts)
Our scoring matrix helps ensure transparency, consistency, and equity in how proposals are reviewed. It shows the key areas we consider—like teacher involvement, student impact, and sustainability—so applicants can see what matters most. Using it as a guide can help districts and teachers strengthen their applications and maximize their impact on students and communities.
All applicants must use the NYF budget template to outline funding needs across all three years. We understand years two and three are estimates, but a detailed budget shows how resources will be used, ensures transparency, and demonstrates thoughtful planning. Be sure to save your completed template—it will need to be uploaded at the very end of the application.
Use this guide to review all the application questions ahead of time. It’s a handy way to plan and draft your answers offline before entering them into the fillable form for submission.