Welcome to the Organizing for Education in Colorado (OEC) Funder Collaborative 

Organizing for Education in Colorado (OEC) Funder Collaborative, formerly known as the Colorado Education Organizing Funder Collaborative or CEO is a collaborative effort between the Rose Community Foundation, Gates Family Foundation, and RootED Denver. 

We are deeply honored to collaborate with organizations in the community committed to organizing for the enhancement of Kindergarten through 12th-grade education— aiming to unlock the potential for every student to thrive and succeed.

OEC exists to provide support to organizations actively engaging families and/or youth in advocating for education improvement through policy enhancements. Our focus is twofold: listening to the voices of families and youth through organizing efforts and catalyzing action that brings about tangible changes in educational practices and policies.

Application Process For Community Organizations 

We invite organizations implementing community plans aimed at advocating for policy or practice changes to apply, as well as those transitioning from planning to action. 

Examples of eligible activities include:

  • Listening and awareness campaigns to identify areas for action in education policy.
  • Advocacy or research efforts targeting statewide or municipal/district policy initiatives addressing systemic educational gaps.
  • Advocacy and action on behalf of communities facing significant barriers to opportunity, advancing education-specific policy priorities.

501c3 organizations based in the state of Colorado are eligible to apply. Applications are accepted through an invitation-only process one-time a year— typically in the spring. If you would like to be considered for the opportunity please contact us.

Funding Details

Grant amounts typically range from $10,000 to $30,000, determined based on alignment with the opportunity and the organization’s clear perspective, approach, process, and goals related to fostering systems change or influencing educational policy levers.

Process for Grantmakers

Values-aligned grantmakers are always welcome to explore the OCE Funder Collaborative.

Join us in maximizing impact and driving positive change by contributing to our pooled funding opportunity. Contact Ana Soler (she/her/ella) for more information. 

Contacts for Inquiries

For inquiries about OEC funding priorities or proposal requirements contact: