Grant Request Guidelines
Rural Education Grants & Partnership Program
Apply For a Grant
Now accepting applications for the 2022/2023 school year! See deadlines and details below.
The Nathan Yip Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity that raises funds from the public through individual gifts and special events. These funds are then reinvested in rural schools through our Rural Education Grants & Partnership Program. See grant cycle dates and details below!
The Nathan Yip Foundation supports schools, teachers, and students in Colorado’s rural communities through its Rural Education Grants & Partnership Program.
Since our founding in 2002, we have focused our efforts where we can uniquely add value so we can generate the most positive impact. Rural communities have been at the heart of our foundation’s work worldwide, and now we’re making a difference here in Colorado. The Nathan Yip Foundation specializes in providing funding, materials, expertise, and access to strategic partnerships to help develop programs to improve the quality of education to schools and communities that can’t otherwise afford the time or resources. This focus enables us to take advantage of our strengths and vast network, and reflects the foundation’s ongoing commitment to providing equal and quality access to education all over the world.
Each request is carefully evaluated by a committee of various community leaders and volunteers to determine alignment with the foundation’s mission and resources. After initial internal review, we will select a few finalists to host a small group of foundation representatives for a site visit and listening tour. Finalists will then go through one more round of internal review before notifications are sent out and funds are distributed.
We invite you to dream with us and submit your letter of inquiry for support! We love unique and innovative projects, as well as requests for basic but highly needed resources and materials that will have an immediate and direct impact on your classroom, school, or community. You know your community best, and we look forward to learning more about your vision.
What You Need to Know Before Applying
If you have any questions regarding eligibility or specifics of your application, contact Executive Director, Tarika Cefkin, at (303)817-8400 or tarika@nathanyipfoundation.org.
- Only requests from rural schools, school districts, and BOCES in Colorado will be considered.
- Questions on eligibility? Please refer to the Colorado Department of Education definition of rural schools and school districts.
- Grant amounts typically range from $1,000 to $30,000 USD*.
- Applicants must apply each year for new funding.
- Each project may receive grant funds for up to three consecutive years, at which point grantees must wait one year to re-apply for additional funds.
- Our funding priority is K-12 programs/projects.
- The Nathan Yip Foundation DOES NOT fund:
- The purchase, lease, or renovation of real property including buildings, land, or other physical spaces (other capital requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis)
- Salaries
- Student scholarships and tuition support
- Non-rural organizations/schools/entities (i.e. 3rd party private or non-profit service/program providers)
- Special events or fundraisers
- Legislative action
- Endowments or loan requests
STEP 1: Submit a one-page Letter of Inquiry (think of this as your cover letter).
- Tell us a little about yourself and your school/community.
- Include an overview of your project.
- Specify the intended grant request amount (don’t worry – you can always tweak this for the final application).
- Tell us how will this impact your school/community for the better and why is this project and funding so important (including how this fits in to your school’s overall funding priorities).
STEP 2: Our committee will review all letters and invite semi-finalists to submit a full grant application.
- In other words, you will ONLY complete the full grant application if invited, after submitting your LOI.
STEP 3: Once grant applications have been submitted, our committee will review again and select finalists for site visits (if possible).
- We love to see you in action and walk a day in your shoes, so this site visit is key in helping us understand your community.
STEP 4: Our committee will present funding recommendations to the NYF Board of Directors for final approval.
- Grant funds will be distributed shortly after.
ONE YEAR POST-GRANT:
Our staff will send a link to an online post-grant questionnaire.
- We will ask you to provide some metrics to help us measure project success.
After submitting the questionnaire, our team will schedule a follow-up conference call to discuss your feedback.
February 1: Letter of Inquiry due (open to all)
April 1: Full grant application due (by invitation only)
May: Site visits
June: Final funding decisions made and grant checks distributed (for implementation during 2022/2023 school year)
- Mail or email Letter of Inquiry to tarika@nathanyipfoundation.org
- If invited, submit a full grant application (click the button below to view and save the 2022 Grant Application Form)
- Follow the instructions in the Grant Application Form to complete your application
- Mail or email your completed application to:
Nathan Yip Foundation
6295 Greenwood Plaza Blvd, Suite 100
Greenwood Village, CO 80111
How We Make A Difference
Investing in Colorado's Rural Communities
We partner to implement programs and support in some of Colorado’s most underserved communities, and work directly with stakeholders so that we know our work is thoughtful, sustainable, and fits with the school’s most pressing needs.
During our first year supporting Colorado’s rural communities, we have developed relationships through our projects in the San Luis Valley, on the Eastern Plains, and in Colorado’s Southwest. By working directly with schools and district administrators, we get grassroots buy-in and ensure that our programs are making the biggest impact in a way that is culturally relevant to the community.