Colorado Opportunity Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE COLORADO OPPORTUNITY FOUNDATION IS ORGANIZED EXCLUSIVELY FOR PUBLIC EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES, PERFORMING RESEARCH, MODELING, ANALYSIS, AND PUBLIC EDUCATION ON GOVERNMENT POLICIES THAT EXPAND AND GROW STATE AND NATIONAL ECONOMIC CONDITIONS. THE COLORADO OPPORTUNITY FOUNDATION SERVES AS A RESOURCE PROVIDING PRACTICAL RESEARCH AND INFORMATION REGARDING THEORETICAL AND EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE CONCERNING THE COSTS AND EFFECTIVENESS OF STATE AND LOCAL TAX, SPENDING, AND REGULATORY POLICIES. PUBLIC EDUCATION IS PROVIDED THROUGH SOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC WITHOUT RESTRICTIONS OR FEES.
- Income
- $950,000
- Spending
- $1.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 100%
- Reserves
- 0 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 0
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
Weak: 39 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 32% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 65% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Fair: 52 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
18 of 253 of 3 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (2)
- $1.1 million spent. COLORADO OPPORTUNITY FOUNDATION MADE GRANTS TO OTHER CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS TO SUPPORT SPECIFIC PUBLIC EDUCATION ACTIVITIES THAT ARE CONSISTENT WITH AND ADVANCE COLORADO OPPORTUNITY FOUNDATION'S MISSION AND PURPOSE. COLORADO OPPORTUNITY FOUNDATION'S GRANTS TO OTHER CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS WERE LIMITED TO DEFINED ACTIVITIES THAT SUPPORT THE SAME CHARITABLE PURPOSE AS COLORADO OPPORTUNITY FOUNDATION. COLORADO OPPORTUNITY FOUNDATION HAS POLICIES AND COMPLIANCE CONTROLS IN PLACE TO ENSURE RECIPIENT ORGANIZATIONS: EXPEND GRANT FUNDING IN A MANNER THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH COLORADO OPPORTUNITY FOUNDATION PURPOSES AND PRIORITIES; DO NOT HAVE A FAMILY OR BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP WITH COLORADO OPPORTUNITY FOUNDATION OR ITS DIRECTORS; AND KEEP PROPER FINANCIAL RECORDS RELATED TO THE AMOUNTS AND PURPOSE OF GRANT DISTRIBUTIONS. COLORADO OPPORTUNITY FOUNDATION MONITORS THE PROGRESS OF ACTIVITIES ACHIEVED THROUGH GRANTS.
- $200,000 spent. THE COLORADO OPPORTUNITY FOUNDATION CONDUCTED RESEARCH, ANALYSIS, AND PUBLIC EDUCATION SUPPORTING POLICIES AND REGULATIONS IMPACTING STATE ECONOMIC GROWTH, INCLUDING PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT STATE RIGHTS UNDER THE U.S. CONSTITUTION. PUBLIC EDUCATION WAS MADE AVAILABLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC WITHOUT RESTRICTION THROUGH OPEN ACCESS WEBSITES, PUBLISHED ARTICLES, AND ADVERTISEMENTS THAT ARE OPEN AND ACCESSIBLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
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 November 6, 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 June 2020.
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 November 4, 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.