Colorado Women's Education Foundation

What Colorado Women's Education Foundation does

Colorado Women's Education Foundation (CWEF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1976 and headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, that provides scholarships to non-traditional women students aged 25 and older who are pursuing higher education, vocational training, or certifications at accredited institutions in Colorado. Since inception, CWEF has awarded nearly 750 scholarships totaling approximately $750,000, with a 2025 cohort of 51 scholars—78% first-generation students and 51% single mothers. The organization's core product is the CWEF Scholarship Program, supplemented by named and endowed scholarships, a volunteer mentoring program, and a suite of giving channels including individual donations, corporate sponsorships, planned giving, vehicle donations, Colorado Gives Day, and the ReFUND Colorado state tax refund program.

CWEF operates without any proprietary technology platform; its infrastructure consists of a Wix-based website, Bloomerang CRM for donor management, and online application forms. The business model is donation-driven, with seven distinct revenue streams: individual donations, corporate sponsorships (structured in tiers ranging from $500 Bronze to $22,000+ Lifetime, plus Diamond at $10,000 and Platinum at $5,000), planned giving (including bequests, charitable trusts, and beneficiary designations), endowed and named scholarships (with contributions ranging from $25,000 to $100,000+), vehicle donations via Vehicles for Charity, Colorado Gives Day participation, and ReFUND Colorado tax refund donations. Major endowed scholarship sponsors include Carol Grever ($100,000 Diamond Endowed Fund), The Steam Ahead Scholarship Fund ($70,000+), and the Women's Empowerment through Education Scholarship Fund ($55,000+), among others.

The organization is staffed by approximately 10 employees (with three named staff: Executive Director Meredith Graham, Program and Administrative Manager Ali Lavender, and Communications & Design Specialist Aleah Cordoba) and governed by a Board of Trustees that includes senior executives from Molson Coors, Charles Schwab, Gartner, and Ensign-Bickford Industries. CWEF's go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, leveraging word-of-mouth referrals, partnerships with educational institutions and community organizations, the 50th Anniversary Gala (April 25, 2026), house parties, and corporate partner engagement. The organization is geographically restricted to Colorado and serves a clearly defined demographic of non-traditional women students with financial need.

Name

Colorado Women's Education Foundation

Legal name

Colorado Women's Education Foundation

Website

https://cwef.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Colorado Women's Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1976 that awards scholarships to Colorado women aged 25+ pursuing higher education, having supported nearly 750 scholars with a 2025 cohort of 51 women.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Scholarship Foundation

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Educational Support Services (611710), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK), Degree-Level Scholarships (Undergrad/Masters/PhD/Postdoc) (EDAIAOAE)

Keywords

• Women's education scholarships
• Nonprofit scholarship foundation
• Endowed scholarship funds
• Donor fundraising programs
• Mentorship for students

Headquarters

HQ city

Boulder, Colorado

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting women's education. Donors can make one-time or recurring gifts, receive recognition on website and in Annual Report, and make donations in honor or memory of loved ones.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors provide financial support at various tiers (Lifetime, Diamond, Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze) with corresponding recognition benefits. Sponsors can also provide in-kind resources, act as liaisons to introduce CWEF to potential supporters, and engage employees through volunteerism and donations.
3. Planned Giving: Bequests in wills, beneficiary designations on retirement accounts/life insurance, charitable trusts (lead and remainder), and lifetime gifting of appreciated assets. Carol Grever has included CWEF as partial beneficiary of her Charitable Remainder Unitrust.
4. Endowed and Named Scholarships: Organizations and individuals establish named scholarships through one-time contributions or multi-year commitments. Endowments create lasting legacies. CWEF administers scholarship selection and disbursement for partner organizations via MOU.
5. Vehicle Donations: Partnership with Vehicles for Charity (VFC) allows donors to contribute vehicles. VFC handles towing, auction, and transfer logistics. CWEF receives proceeds from vehicle sales.
6. Colorado Gives Day: Annual giving day through ColoradoGives.org where CWEF participates to receive donations from the public. Eligible for portion of over $1 million Incentive Fund. 2024 goal: $100,000 through 250 donors.
7. ReFUND Colorado: State tax refund donation program allowing Colorado taxpayers to donate some or all of their state tax refund directly to CWEF. CWEF's Colorado Secretary of State registration number: 20093003863.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Colorado Women's Education Foundation provides financial scholarships to Colorado women aged 25 and older who are pursuing higher education, vocational training, or certifications at accredited institutions. The foundation also offers named and endowed scholarship funds for donors, a volunteer mentor matching program for scholars, and multiple giving pathways including corporate sponsorships, planned giving, vehicle donations, and participation in state-administered giving programs.

Product overview

Colorado Women's Education Foundation operates as a scholarship nonprofit organization offering a unified suite of educational support programs. The core offering is the CWEF Scholarship Program providing direct financial assistance to Colorado women aged 25+ pursuing higher education. Supporting programs include Named and Endowed Scholarships for donors seeking personalized giving options, the Mentoring Program connecting scholars with volunteer mentors, and various fundraising/engagement programs including House Party Hosting, Planned Giving, ReFUND Colorado, and Vehicles for Charity donations. The organization also participates in Colorado Gives Day as its primary annual fundraising event. All offerings center on empowering women through education to achieve economic self-sufficiency.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CWEF Scholarship Program Annual scholarship program providing direct financial assistance to Colorado women aged 25 and older who are pursuing higher education, vocational training, or certifications at accredited institutions. Funds are disbursed directly to recipients' educational institutions.
• Named and Endowed Scholarship Program Custom-named and permanent endowed scholarship funds allowing organizations and individuals to establish one-time or multi-year commitments to support women in need. Donors receive recognition benefits and create lasting legacies; CWEF administers selection and disbursement for partner organizations via MOU.
• CWEF Mentoring Program Volunteer mentor matching program pairing scholarship recipients with dedicated mentors who provide guidance, encouragement, and professional insights to support scholars' educational and career advancement.
• Planned Giving Program Estate planning options including bequests in wills, beneficiary designations on retirement accounts and life insurance, charitable lead and remainder trusts, and lifetime gifting of appreciated assets, allowing donors to support CWEF's mission beyond their lifetime.
• Vehicles for Charity Donation Program Vehicle donation program through partnership with Vehicles for Charity (VFC), enabling donors to contribute cars, trucks, boats, motorcycles, and RVs; VFC handles towing, auction, and title transfer logistics while CWEF receives proceeds from sales.
• ReFUND Colorado Donation Program State tax refund donation option allowing Colorado taxpayers to direct some or all of their state tax refund to CWEF through the Colorado Department of Revenue-administered program. CWEF's Colorado Secretary of State registration number: 20093003863.
• Colorado Gives Day Campaign Annual statewide giving initiative through ColoradoGives.org, serving as CWEF's largest one-day fundraising campaign of the year with eligibility for a portion of the over $1 million Incentive Fund.
• Corporate Sponsorship Program Tiered corporate sponsorship program (Lifetime $22,000+, Diamond $10,000+, Platinum $5,000+, Gold $2,500+, Silver, Bronze) offering visibility and recognition for brands supporting CWEF's scholarship mission, with options for in-kind donations, employee volunteerism, and liaison introductions.
• House Party Fundraising Program Community fundraising initiative enabling supporters to host house parties to introduce others to CWEF, share scholar stories, and raise funds; CWEF provides tools and guidance for organizing and executing these events.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 750 scholarships totaling almost $750,000 awarded since 1976
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Vehicles for Charity (VFC) / ARC Thrift StorescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2001Vehicles for Charity is a comprehensive vehicle donation program of ARC Thrift Stores established in 2001. VFC has working agreements with tow companies and auto auctions to disposition donated vehicles. CWEF partners with VFC to receive proceeds from vehicle donations as a fundraising mechanism, with VFC handling all logistics including scheduling, towing, and titling.
• Colorado Gives FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerColorado Gives Foundation operates ColoradoGives.org and Colorado Gives Day, the largest one-day giving movement in the country. CWEF participates annually in Colorado Gives Day, receiving donations through the platform and eligible for portion of over $1 million Incentive Fund. CWEF's online profile is screened for transparency standards by IRS and Colorado Secretary of State.
• Colorado Department of RevenuecoreOthersColorado state agency that administers the ReFUND CO program, allowing taxpayers to donate state tax refunds to registered Colorado nonprofits including CWEF. CWEF's registration number: 20093003863.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Denver Foundation: Colorado-based community foundation managing endowments, scholarships, and grantmaking funds for nonprofits and individuals statewide. Comparable as a regional philanthropic administrator with scholarship fund management capabilities.
• Boettcher Foundation: Colorado-based private foundation providing scholarships to Colorado students for higher education. Comparable as a state-focused Colorado scholarship foundation with significant endowment and corporate ties.

Broad incumbents

• Hispanic Scholarship Fund: Large national nonprofit providing scholarships and educational support to Hispanic students. Comparable as a demographic-specific scholarship foundation with substantial corporate sponsor base and similar donor/student engagement model.
• Scholarship America: One of the largest U.S. scholarship administration nonprofits, managing scholarship programs for corporations, foundations, and individuals. Comparable as a national scholarship-administration peer and potential partner/administrator for CWEF's endowed programs.
• American Indian College Fund: National nonprofit providing scholarships to American Indian and Alaska Native students pursuing higher education. Comparable as a demographic-targeted scholarship foundation with corporate partnerships and endowment structure.

Direct peers

• Soroptimist International: Global volunteer service organization funding education awards (including the Women's Opportunity Award) for women pursuing higher education and economic empowerment. Directly comparable in target demographic (non-traditional/low-income women) and mission.
• American Association of University Women (AAUW): National nonprofit awarding scholarships and fellowships specifically to women pursuing higher education. Closely comparable mission (women-in-education scholarships) and similar selection/award process.
• Jeannette Rankin Women's Scholarship Fund: National nonprofit providing scholarships and support to low-income women aged 35+ pursuing higher education. Closely comparable as a non-traditional-age women scholar funder with similar cohort profile (first-generation, mothers, older students).
• Women's Foundation of Colorado: Colorado-based women's philanthropic foundation funding economic self-sufficiency and education initiatives for women. Directly comparable as a state-focused women's grantmaking organization with overlapping donor base and corporate sponsors.
• P.E.O. Sisterhood: Philanthropic organization dedicated to supporting women's higher education through multiple scholarship and loan programs. Directly comparable as women-focused educational grantmaker with established community/mentor model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ColoradoWomensEducationFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/colorado-women's-education-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/cwefscholars/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Colorado Women's Education Foundation