A Colorado family foundation
Helping young learners thrive, since 1984
Welcome to our new look! Please bookmark this website and the new grant portal for updates, announcements, and changes, and use our contact form to reach out with questions, comments, or concerns.
We award grants to Colorado nonprofits working in early childhood education and high school completion. We’re endowed by the Burt family and we never fundraise, so all of our attention goes to the organizations doing the work.
Grant cycle
The 2026 Grant Cycle is Open!
We upgraded our grant process and application platform. Here is a list of important dates:
- September 18, 2026Letter of Intent window opens
- October 18, 2026Letter of Intent window closes
- November 2, 2026Letter of Intent decisions communicated to organizations
- December 13, 2026Grant application deadline
We help to strengthen and enrich the lives of young learners in Colorado.
We’re endowed by the Burt family, so we never fundraise. Our whole job is providing financial support to nonprofits working on high school graduation and early childhood education across Colorado.
$250K+
granted to Colorado nonprofits each cycle
$10–25K
typical award range per organization
Since 1984
the year Nathan and Florence Burt endowed the foundation
What we fund
Two priorities, chosen for impact
We focus our giving where we believe it goes furthest: the earliest years of learning, and the finish line of high school.
Early childhood education & development
Whole-child programming that gives Colorado’s youngest learners a strong, supported start.
High school completion
Programs that help students stay on track, stay supported, and graduate.
How it works
One cycle a year, four clear steps
01
Letter of Intent
Introduce your organization in the applicant portal by October 18.
02
Invitation
Decisions are communicated by November 2.
03
Full application
Invited organizations submit a full application by December 13.
04
Awards
Grants announced by March 1.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
If your question isn’t here, write to us. These answers come from the questions applicants actually send.
How much should we ask for?
Most awards fall between $10,000 and $25,000. Ask for what your project actually needs. The board would rather fund fewer organizations fully than many partially, so a well-justified $25,000 request is stronger than a modest one without a plan.
When can we apply?
There’s one cycle a year. The Letter of Intent window opens in early summer and closes on October 18; invited organizations submit full applications by December 13, and awards are announced by March 1. The current grant cycle status is always posted at the top of this page.
We’ve received a Burt grant before. Can we apply again?
Yes. Every organization starts each cycle with a new Letter of Intent, and a past award neither guarantees nor prevents a new one. What matters is the work you’re proposing now.
We don’t have a fiscal sponsor. Is that a problem?
Not at all. If your organization is itself a tax-exempt 501(c)(3), you don’t need one. If an application question about fiscal sponsorship doesn’t apply to you, simply say so.
What can General Operating Support cover?
The everyday costs of running your mission: staff, rent, program materials. We know reliable operating support is often the hardest funding to find.
What counts as Program or Project Support?
Funding tied to a specific program or initiative with its own budget and outcomes, such as a new classroom cohort, a tutoring program, a summer bridge project.
What do you mean by “high school completion” programs?
Programs that help Colorado students stay on track and graduate: mentoring, tutoring, credit recovery, attendance and family support, career readiness opportunities that support high school graduation, and everything in between.
What do you mean by “early childhood” programs?
Education and development programming for Colorado’s youngest learners, with a whole-child approach: early literacy, school readiness, and the social and emotional foundations that support them.
What reporting will we owe if we’re awarded?
One report a year. Instructions arrive each June and the report is due August 31. It is a plain accounting of what the funding made possible.
Is an evaluation required?
Accountability is fundamental to good stewardship and evaluations such as surveys, feedback tools, and data tracking would be viewed favorably.
Can we get an extension on a deadline?
Deadlines are firm. It’s the only way to be fair to every applicant. We send a reminder before the Letter of Intent deadline so nothing sneaks up on you.
“We affirm the inherent worth and dignity of all people.”
From the values of the Burt Foundation
Get started
Ready to introduce your organization?
Every Burt grant begins with a two-page Letter of Intent. When the window opens, it all happens in our grant portal.