Investing in Colorado’s Future
The Buell Foundation partners with hundreds of organizations across Colorado to support early childhood in our communities. Through our grantmaking, we play a vital role in shaping policies and practices that support the healthy development of Colorado’s youngest generation.
In the last five years...

In the last five years...

Founded by Temple Hoyne Buell
Enduring Commitment to Giving
The charge of Temple Buell to the trustees of the Buell Foundation was clear: meet a pressing need of the day. We have supported Colorado communities continuously since the early 1960s. Beginning in 1996, the Foundation committed to meeting today’s pressing needs through investment in the early childhood field. The trustees knew that by starting early, young children would have the greatest chance to thrive. Today, the Foundation continues its early childhood focus and seeks deeper, more impactful investments with the goal of improving the lives of generations to come. Â
Apply for Grants
We have three grant cycles per year: deadlines are in mid-January and the first business day of May and September.


Grantee Spotlight
Learn about the important work of our partners in Colorado’s early childhood communities.
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Grand Beginnings
Families as Children’s First and Best Teachers
"Buell is different,” Hale added, “they are committed to prioritizing early childhood in Colorado—and by making this commitment, they have become more than a funder, they are a partner in our work.""
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Early Childhood Service Corps
Workforce Solutions Through Intergenerational Support
"The Buell Foundation has been instrumental in helping us scale our intergenerational program that supports the recruitment and retention of Colorado’s early childhood caregivers," said Armao."
Early Childhood Resources
Our online resource library contains a range of information relevant to partners and grantees across topics within the Colorado early childhood system, workforce, and general education & development interests.

Get to Know Our Trustees
Diverse backgrounds and richness of experience are essential to the Buell Foundation’s enduring grantmaking.
News
Stay informed with updates about what’s happening at the Buell Foundation.
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Letter from Leadership: Steve ErkenBrack, President & CEO
When I was growing up, I had the advantage of having a stay-at-home parent who loved me, kept me safe, provided a place to play and grow, taught me how to share, and guided my development. These days, few children have the reality of such a stay-at-home parent. The stark economic facts of life for […]
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Buell Sponsors and Presents at the Rocky Mountain Early Childhood Conference 2025
The Buell Foundation is proud to have been a Visionary Sponsor for this year’s Rocky Mountain Early Childhood Conference (RMECC) hosted by the Denver Early Childhood Council. The conference welcomed more than 1,500 early childhood attendees to the two-day event that was held March 6-7. In addition to our sponsorship, two from our Program Team, […]
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Underinvestment: The Larger Problem Underpinning Colorado’s Child Care Freeze and the Cost to Families and our Economy
Colorado’s child care system is broken. Here’s what we can do to fix it. Counties across Colorado have had to take the unwanted action of freezing working families’ applications to the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP). This critical program helps almost 26,000 children attend child care and thousands of adults participate in the workforce […]

Advocacy
Invest in Colorado's Future
It is in children’s interest. It is in our interest. It is nothing less than our future.