Building Excellent Schools (BES) serves as a national model for supporting excellence in public education through the national charter school movement. BES focuses on improving urban education by providing support for designing, launching and sustaining urban charter schools (independently-managed public schools). Atlas Prep’s Executive Director, Zach McComsey, is a former fellow at BES.
The Colorado League of Charter Schools serves and supports existing Colorado charter schools and groups or individuals wishing to start a charter school in Colorado. The League has a commitment to both individual charter schools, as well as the movement as a whole.
The Daniels Fund honors the legacy of Bill Daniels, whose direction was "to support innovative education initiatives (such as charter schools, voucher programs and school adoptions) that tend to improve the private or public educational system or allow disadvantaged students an opportunity to succeed."
El Pomar Foundation is one of the largest and oldest private foundations in the Rocky Mountain West, with assets totaling more than $550 million. El Pomar contributes over $25 million annually through grants and community stewardship programs to support Colorado nonprofit organizations involved in health, human services, education, arts and humanities, and civic and community initiatives.
Get Smart Schools is a group of educators, leaders, entrepreneurs and school officials who are working collaboratively for the good of Colorado kids. The goal of Get Smart Schools is to dramatically increase the number of new, public, high quality autonomous schools serving low-income students in the Front Range.
The Joseph Henry Edmondson Foundation was established as a private, multi-purpose foundation in 1987 to serve the greater Colorado Springs community. It works along side its nonprofit partners to: serve the needs of children, youth, the elderly and families; nourish the arts and education; and preserve the natural habitats and beauty of the Pikes Peak region and beyond.
The Walton Family Foundation pursues a philanthropic mission established by Sam and Helen Walton, and includes a focus on systematic reform in education, as well as a Charter School Initiative with both planning and start-up grant support.