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Ready Colorado at a glanceMostly funded, not a grantmaker: see who funds it →

· Public charity

Ready Colorado

READY COLORADO is an organization of conservatives working together to improve education in colorado.

$1.2M
Granted FY2024still arriving
9
Grants FY2024still arriving
1
States reached
$410k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
01100% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2018 to 2024.

Education$2.4MCivil Rights$2.2MPublic Benefit$2.1MEmployment$1.5MCommunity Improvement$1.2MEnvironment$310kHuman Services$70kPhilanthropy$8k
02FY2024 · 9 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k2 grants · $15k
  • $10k–50k2 grants · $48k
  • $50k–250k3 grants · $375k
  • $250k+2 grants · $720k
$75,000
Median grant
1
States reached
$141k
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
COLORADO DAWN$410,000
PROTECTING COLORADO'S FUTURE$310,000
COLORADIANS FOR ACCOUNTABLE GOVERNMENT$150,000
READY COLORADO ACTION FUND$150,000
COLORADIANS FOR CONSERVATIVE LEADERSHIP IE$75,000
PURPLE LABEL GOVERNMENT SOLUTIONS$34,600
SENATE MAJORITY FUND$13,625
NEW DAY COLORADO FUND$7,500
LEADERSHIP PROGRAM OF THE ROCKIES$7,500
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Dollar for dollar, its grants (FY18–24) land where the poverty rate runs at 9%, against an area that typically sits at 8%. 51% of its dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Its grants spread fairly evenly across need levels.

area typical 8%GREAT SCHOOLS STRONG LEADERS: $125k → 11%CAMPAIGN FOR JOBS AND OPPORTUNITY: $28k → 10%USA CONNECT: $10k → 11%CELF: $591k → 9%COLORADO RISING STATE ACTION: $465k → 3%BETTER JOBS COALITION: $585k → 7%LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLORADO'S KIDS: $525k → 8%NO ON HH: $50k → 8%COLORADO DAWN: $410k → 9%NEW DAY COLORADO FUND: $8k → 9%ADAMS COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT 14: $10k → 10%UNITE FOR COLORADO ACTION IEC: $50k → 12%COLORADO RISING STATE ACTION: $375k → 3%BETTER JOBS COALITION IEC: $353k → 7%ADVANCE COLORADO: $500k → 8%ACCOUNTABILITY IN EL PASO COUNTY: $19k → 9%MAKE COLORADO AFFORDABLE AGAIN IEC: $100k → 9%COLORADO OPPORTUNITY FOUNDATION: $100k → 12%REASONABLE DISTRICTS COLORADO: $50k → 12%PURPLE LABEL GOVERNMENT SOLUTIONS: $35k → 3%BETTER JOBS COALITION IEC: $232k → 7%PROTECTING COLORADO'S FUTURE: $310k → 12%BETTER JOBS COALITION: $205k → 7%DEFEND COLORADO: $150k → 8%COLORADIANS FOR ACCOUNTABLE GOVERNMENT: $150k → 12%BETTER JOBS COALITION: $100k → 7%WESTERN CITIZENS PROTECTING OUR CONST: $100k → 8%COLORADIANS FOR CONSERVATIVE LEADERSHIP IE: $75k → 12%COLORADO STRONG IEC: $15k → 7%SENATE MAJORITY FUND: $70k → 8%RESTORE COLORADO LEADERSHIP FUND: $8k → 12%VALUES FIRST COLORADO: $20k → 7%SENATE MAJORITY FUND: $14k → 8%VALUES FIRST COLORADO: $15k → 7%SENATE MAJORITY FUND: $13k → 8%SENATE MAJORITY FUND: $8k → 8%LEADERSHIP PROGRAM OF THE ROCKIES: $8k → 12%SENATE MAJORITY FUND: $8k → 8%DEFEND COLORADO: $750k → 8%READY COLORADO ACTION FUND: $150k → 12%READY COLORADO ACTION FUND: $130k → 12%CARE MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION LLC: $100k → 12%OUR COMMUNITY OUR FUTURE: $100k → 12%COLO REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE IEC: $10k → 12%BUILDING AURORA TOGETHER: $200k → 12%READY COLORADO ACTION FUND: $900k → 12%READY COLORADO ACTION FUND: $550k → 12%READY COLORADO ACTION FUND: $400k → 12%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

57%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$5.5M · 7 repeat orgs$4.2M to everyone else

7 repeat relationships: 3 still active in FY2024, 4 since wound down; 6 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

7
30

Total granted

$5.5M
$3.2M

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+3%
+14%

Still filing today

43%
37%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 15% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $987k went to new ones.

50%100%’18’20’21’22’23’24
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’18’20’21’22’23’24
EducationPublic BenefitCivil RightsCommunity ImprovementOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • RC
    READY COLORADO ACTION FUND
    6× · 2019–2024 · $2.1M
  • DC
    Defend Colorado
    2× · 2020–2022 · $900k · revenue -73% · 52% of their budget
  • BJ
    BETTER JOBS COALITION
    3× · 2020–2022 · $890k · revenue -93% · 43% of their budget

Funded once

  • CE
    Children's Enviromental Literacy Fdngraduated
    one grant, 2018 · $591k · revenue +137%
  • LO
    LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLORADO'S KIDS
    one grant, 2021 · $525k
  • AC
    ADVANCE COLORADOgraduated
    one grant, 2022 · $500k · revenue +244% · 30% of their budget
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Protect Colorados Vote

To oppose a colorado statewide ballot initiative to join the national popular vote compact

—
2
Building a Better Colorado

To conduct research, promote community engagement, and provide an amalgamation of information to the citizens of colorado.

Community Improvement
3
Colorado Civic Education

Educate the general public about important policy issues.

Civil Rights
4
Unite for Colorado

To promote the common good and general welfare of americans by promoting public policy that strengthens the economy, promotes job growth, and supports fair and reasonable business regulations.

—
5
Coloradans for Progress

To research and distribute information to citizens concerning the general affordability of life, of the economy, and of the environment and advocating for workers and a strong jobs market in colorado.

—
6
Rocky Mountain Policy Group

Promoting a strong state economy with limited government taxes and regulation.

—
7
Pta Colorado Congress
Education
8
Colorado People's Action

Colorado people's action (cpa) is a member-driven, racial justice organization dedicated to winning long-lasting progressive public policies in colorado. cpa builds power by mobilizing voters, electing our own people to office, holding…

—
9
Clear Information Colorado

Clear information colorado conducts research, writing, online publication and citizen education on policies that will strengthen the united states of america. these activities will primarily be focused on the following four subject areas:…

Civil Rights
10
Colorado Democracy Alliance

The Colorado Democracy Alliance is an organization committed to protecting democracy and expanding Colorados civic engagement ecosystem.

Civil Rights
11
Colorado Succeeds

A non-partisan coalition of business leaders committed to improving the state's education system.

Education
12
Colorado Works

To research and distribute information to citizens advocating for workers and a strong jobs market in colorado

—
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Advance Colorado; the most unlike its peers is Leadership Program of the Rockies. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

19 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 19 of the 43 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

4
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
3
Early backer (in before they grew)
15/19
Grantees still filing
9/19
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

READY COLORADO ACTION FUND: $2,130,000 · OtherREADY COLORADO ACTION FUNDDefend Colorado: $900,000 · OtherDefend ColoradoBETTER JOBS COALITION: $890,000 · OtherBETTER JOBS COALITIONColorado Rising State Action: $840,000 · OtherColorado Rising State ActionBETTER JOBS COALITION IEC: $584,500 · OtherBETTER JOBS COALITION IECLEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLORADO'S KIDS: $525,000 · OtherLEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLORADO'S KIDSNO ON 73: $418,000 · OtherPROTECTING COLORADO'S FUTURE: $310,000 · Other+26 more: $1,456,760 · Other+26 moreChildren's Enviromental Literacy Fdn: $591,000 · EducationChildren's …COLORADO DAWN: $410,000 · EducationCOLORADO DA…+3 more: $17,000 · EducationADVANCE COLORADO: $500,000 · Public BenefitLeadership Program of the Rockies: $37,125 · Public BenefitCOLORADO OPPORTUNITY FOUNDATION: $100,000 · Civil RightsTHE COLORADO NONPROFIT DEVELOPMENT CENTER: $5,000 · Community Improvement
Other$8,054,260Education$1,018,000Public Benefit$537,125Civil Rights$100,000Community Improvement$5,000

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetDefend Colorado: $900,000 over 2y, 52% of budgetBETTER JOBS COALITION: $890,000 over 3y, 43% of budgetColorado Rising State Action: $840,000 over 2y, 56% of budgetLEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLORADO'S KIDS: $525,000 over 1y, 18% of budgetADVANCE COLORADO: $500,000 over 1y, 30% of budgetCOLORADO DAWN: $410,000 over 1y, 5.5% of budgetGREAT LEADERS STRONG SCHOOLS: $125,000 over 1y, 12% of budgetCOLORADO OPPORTUNITY FOUNDATION: $100,000 over 1y, 4.9% of budgetOUR COMMUNITY OUR FUTURE: $100,000 over 1y, 9.4% of budgetWESTERN CITIZENS PROTECTING OUR CONSTITUTION: $100,000 over 1y, 24% of budgetLeadership Program of the Rockies: $37,125 over 5y, 0.4% of budgetREADY COLORADO: $10,010 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetALLIANCE FOR CHOICE IN EDUCATION: $6,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetStrive Preparatory Schools: $6,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE COLORADO NONPROFIT DEVELOPMENT CENTER: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetUNIVERSITY PREPARATORY SCHOOLS: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

  • Who funds Defend Colorado ↗
  • Who funds BETTER JOBS COALITION ↗
  • Who funds Colorado Rising State Action ↗
  • Who funds Children's Enviromental Literacy Fdn ↗
  • Who funds LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLORADO'S KIDS ↗
  • Who funds ADVANCE COLORADO ↗
  • Who funds COLORADO DAWN ↗
  • Who funds GREAT LEADERS STRONG SCHOOLS ↗
  • Who funds COLORADO OPPORTUNITY FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds OUR COMMUNITY OUR FUTURE ↗
  • Who funds WESTERN CITIZENS PROTECTING OUR CONSTITUTION ↗
  • Who funds Leadership Program of the Rockies ↗
  • Who funds READY COLORADO ↗
  • Who funds ALLIANCE FOR CHOICE IN EDUCATION ↗
  • Who funds Strive Preparatory Schools ↗
  • Who funds THE COLORADO NONPROFIT DEVELOPMENT CENTER ↗

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Unite for ColoradoOur Community Our Fut…National Philanthropi…Donor Advised Charita…Fidelity Investments …Amazonsmile Foundation
Unite for ColoradoCO26.3× affinity10 shared granteesties to 5 of 5Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Unite for Colorado · Our Community Our Future · National Philanthropic Trust · Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc · Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund · Amazonsmile Foundation

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization Ready Colorado funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Ready Colorado. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%4%15%34%60%funder's share of their income ↑0%19%38%56%75%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    2report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–75%
    typical government reliance, FY20–25
    How this is measured
    Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.
    05Through Plinth

    Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

    How do I get to Ready Colorado?

    Find your warmest path to Ready Colorado through trustees and officers whose names appear on both boards. Search for your organization and Plinth traces the shortest route it can evidence.

    Each link is a name appearing on two organizations’ public IRS 990 filings, matched on that name and, where the filings support it, on location. A same-state match has geographic support, which is a second matching feature rather than confirmation that the two are one person; a cross-state one is the likeliest to be two people who share a name. Every hop shows its tier, low-confidence and distant paths are held back rather than guessed, and it is worth confirming the person before you use the introduction.

    On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 43 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

    How this is measured
    Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

    Generated from the IRS Form 990 e-file return for fiscal year 2024, released 2024. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on Ready Colorado’s filings →

    More from the funding graph

    The unnamed billions
    grants reported with no recipient in the public record
    The regranting layer
    51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
    The DAF merry-go-round
    $9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
    The endowment market
    who holds foundation money, and what just moved
    The camps
    funders cluster by geography, not ideology
    By state
    where grant money is based, and what stays home