One Colorado Education Fund
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
ONE COLORADO EDUCATION FUND (OCEF) IS COMMITTED TO SECURING AND PROTECTING EQUALITY AND OPPORTUNITY FOR LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER (LGBT) COLORADANS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
- Income
- $1.6 million
- Spending
- $1.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 75%
- Reserves
- 5.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 70%
- Employees
- 20
- Highest pay
- $152,724, executive di
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.3 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 29% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 14% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1575% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- $1.4 million spent. ONE COLORADO (OCEF) WAS ALERTED TO A CHANGE IN CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL COLORADO'S INTERNAL GENDER AFFIRMING CARE POLICIES, PREVENTING YOUNG ADULTS FROM RECEIVING MEDICAL CARE. IN RESPONSE, OCEF ENGAGED IN ADVOCACY EFFORTS, AND COALITION BUILDING WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, PROVIDERS, AND STAKEHOLDERS, RESULTING IN A LETTER REQUESTING A CHANGE IN POLICY AND PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY. A PUBLIC LETTER, SIGNED BY NEARLY 1000 INDIVIDUALS, INCLUDING ELECTED OFFICIALS AND STAKEHOLDERS, WAS SENT EXPRESSING THEIR CONCERNS. CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL EXPRESSED ITS COMMITMENT TO EXPANDING GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE SERVICES THROUGH THE TRUE CLINIC AND PARTICIPATING IN ONGOING DISCUSSIONS WITH OCEF'S PROVIDER COALITION. IN 5 WEEKS, OCEF VISITED 14 CITIES: COLORADO SPRINGS, FORT COLLINS, SALIDA, GUNNISON, MONTROSE, GRAND JUNCTION, GLENWOOD SPRINGS, EDWARDS, PUEBLO, BOULDER, LONGMONT, GREELEY, AURORA, AND DENVER DURING A STATEWIDE TOUR. OCEF ENGAGED WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS ACROSS THE STATE AND PROVIDED LGBTQ+ COLORADANS AND THEIR FAMILIES EDUCATION REGARDING THE RISK TO MARRIAGE EQUALITY IN THE STATE OF COLORADO AND TO LEARN FROM COMMUNITY REGARDING CONCERNS ABOUT THE INCREASED ANTI-LGBTQ+ ATTACKS, ESPECIALLY ON THE TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY. FOLLOWING THE SCOTUS DECISION IN 303 CREATIVE LLC VS ELENIS WHICH RULED THAT ARTISTIC EXPRESSION IS PROTECTED SPEECH UNDER THE FIRST AMENDMENT, OCEF HOSTED A JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE WITH AG WEISER AT THE CARR JUDICIAL BUILDING; WHICH INCLUDED FAITH LEADERS, BUSINESS LEADER, COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS, ELECTED OFFICIALS, AN OVER 50 LOCAL AND NATIONAL PRESS MEMBERS. OCEF HEALTH EQUITY TEAM WORKED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CARE POLICY & FINANCING TO ALIGN MEDICAID POLICY WITH CURRENT WPATH BEST PRACTICES IN GENDER-AFFIRMING HEALTHCARE TO REDUCE BARRIERS IN ACCESSING CARE. THE COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT'S HEALTH EQUITY COMMISSION APPROVED THE OCEF'S HEALTH EQUITY TEAM RECOMMENDED SOGI DATA SET TO IMPLEMENT IN PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEMS ACROSS THE STATE OF COLORADO. OCEF COLLABORATED WITH LOCAL STAKEHOLDER TO PRODUCE A VOTER GUIDE AND GOTV CAMPAIGN ON EDUCATING COMMUNITY IN ADVOCATING FOR PRO-JUSTICE/PRO-EQUALITY SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES. OCEF YOUTH AND SCHOOLS PROGRAM HOSTED THEIR IN-PERSON QUEER YOUTH SUMMIT. OCEF ATTENDED OVER 25 PRIDES THROUGHOUT COLORADO. OCEF STAFF AND BOARD FINALIZED THE STRATEGIC PLAN WHICH WAS INTRODUCED IN 2022 AND BEGAN IMPLEMENTING THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN IN 2023. OCEF FINISHED A REBRANDING PROCESS AND LAUNCHED A NEW WEBSITE. ONE COLORADO (OCEF) WAS ALERTED TO A CHANGE IN CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL COLORADO'S INTERNAL GENDER AFFIRMING CARE POLICIES, PREVENTING YOUNG ADULTS FROM RECEIVING MEDICAL CARE. IN RESPONSE, OCEF ENGAGED IN ADVOCACY EFFORTS, AND COALITION BUILDING WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, PROVIDERS, AND STAKEHOLDERS, RESULTING IN A LETTER REQUESTING A CHANGE IN POLICY AND PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY. A PUBLIC LETTER, SIGNED BY NEARLY 1000 INDIVIDUALS, INCLUDING ELECTED OFFICIALS AND STAKEHOLDERS, WAS SENT EXPRESSING THEIR CONCERNS. CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL EXPRESSED ITS COMMITMENT TO EXPANDING GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE SERVICES THROUGH THE TRUE CLINIC AND PARTICIPATING IN ONGOING DISCUSSIONS WITH OCEF'S PROVIDER COALITION. IN 5 WEEKS, OCEF VISITED 14 CITIES: COLORADO SPRINGS, FORT COLLINS, SALIDA, GUNNISON, MONTROSE, GRAND JUNCTION, GLENWOOD SPRINGS, EDWARDS, PUEBLO, BOULDER, LONGMONT, GREELEY, AURORA, AND DENVER DURING A STATEWIDE TOUR. OCEF ENGAGED WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS ACROSS THE STATE AND PROVIDED LGBTQ+ COLORADANS AND THEIR FAMILIES EDUCATION REGARDING THE RISK TO MARRIAGE EQUALITY IN THE STATE OF COLORADO AND TO LEARN FROM COMMUNITY REGARDING CONCERNS ABOUT THE INCREASED ANTI-LGBTQ+ ATTACKS, ESPECIALLY ON THE TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY. FOLLOWING THE SCOTUS DECISION IN 303 CREATIVE LLC VS ELENIS WHICH RULED THAT ARTISTIC EXPRESSION IS PROTECTED SPEECH UNDER THE FIRST AMENDMENT, OCEF HOSTED A JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE WITH AG WEISER AT THE CARR JUDICIAL BUILDING; WHICH INCLUDED FAITH LEADERS, BUSINESS LEADER, COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS, ELECTED OFFICIALS, AN OVER 50 LOCAL AND NATIONAL PRESS MEMBERS. OCEF HEALTH EQUITY TEAM WORKED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CARE POLICY & FINANCING TO ALIGN MEDICAID POLICY WITH CURRENT WPATH BEST PRACTICES IN GENDER-AFFIRMING HEALTHCARE TO REDUCE BARRIERS IN ACCESSING CARE. THE COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT'S HEALTH EQUITY COMMISSION APPROVED THE OCEF'S HEALTH EQUITY TEAM RECOMMENDED SOGI DATA SET TO IMPLEMENT IN PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEMS ACROSS THE STATE OF COLORADO. OCEF COLLABORATED WITH LOCAL STAKEHOLDER TO PRODUCE A VOTER GUIDE AND GOTV CAMPAIGN ON EDUCATING COMMUNITY IN ADVOCATING FOR PRO-JUSTICE/PRO-EQUALITY SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES. OCEF YOUTH AND SCHOOLS PROGRAM HOSTED THEIR IN-PERSON QUEER YOUTH SUMMIT. OCEF ATTENDED OVER 25 PRIDES THROUGHOUT COLORADO. OCEF STAFF AND BOARD FINALIZED THE STRATEGIC PLAN WHICH WAS INTRODUCED IN 2022 AND BEGAN IMPLEMENTING THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN IN 2023. OCEF FINISHED A REBRANDING PROCESS AND LAUNCHED A NEW WEBSITE.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 2010.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.