John Duncan Trust

The John G. Duncan Charitable Trust is an actively open and accessible funder with a publicly available application portal (cybergrants.com). Colorado-based nonprofits working in education, human services, or health should apply directly through the portal during the relevant quarterly window: Education (Jan 1–Mar 31), Human Services (Apr 1–Jun 30), or Health (Jul 1–Sep 30). Organizations serving the 12 priority rural/southern counties — Crowley, Bent, Costilla, Saguache, Huerfano, Prowers, Conejos, Otero, Baca, Las Animas, Alamosa, and Pueblo — are particularly strong candidates. The trust explicitly prioritizes areas outside Metro-Denver and economically disadvantaged regions. With 45 grants made in 2024 and all classified as general operating support, this funder is an excellent target for unrestricted funding requests. Organizations may submit only one application per calendar year. Contact Wells Fargo at 800-352-3705 for application guidance.

The John G. Duncan Charitable Trust has delivered consistent and growing annual distributions over six years: $286K (2019), $273K (2020), $360K (2021), $348K (2022), $407K (2023), and $410K (2024). The 2024 cycle included 45 grants totaling $409,707 — an average of $9,105 per award, with a range of $3,245 to $26,840 and a median of $7,500. All 2024 grants were classified as general operating support, indicating the trust's preference for unrestricted funding rather than project-specific grants. Grant distribution is overwhelmingly Colorado-focused: 42 of 45 grants (93%) went to Colorado organizations in 2024, with only 3 awards outside the state. The trust maintains a zero-liabilities balance sheet with net assets of $6.16M as of 2024. Wells Fargo Bank N.A. serves as trustee, receiving $96,821 in annual compensation, and manages the endowment generating income primarily from dividends and asset sales. The 14% year-over-year increase in distributions from 2020 to 2024 suggests growing confidence in the endowment's sustainability.

The John G. Duncan Charitable Trust is a Wells Fargo-administered charitable trust — a common structure for legacy philanthropies where a bank manages the endowment and grantmaking on behalf of a deceased donor's estate. This structure is distinct from a family foundation (no family involvement post-establishment) and a community foundation (no public pooling of donor funds). Comparable trusts in Colorado include the El Pomar Foundation (much larger, similar rural Colorado focus), the Boettcher Foundation (education-focused, Colorado-only), and the Gates Family Foundation. Among Wells Fargo-administered charitable trusts nationally, the Duncan Trust is notable for its specific geographic equity focus on rural southeastern Colorado counties — an underserved funding region that larger national funders typically overlook. The trust's all-general-operating-support approach contrasts with many foundations of similar size that restrict funding to project expenses, making it a rare and valuable source of organizational capacity funding in rural Colorado.

In 2024, the John G. Duncan Charitable Trust distributed $409,707 across 45 grants — its highest annual total on record. Notable recipients included Careers in Construction Colorado, Delta Gamma Anchor Center, Project Angel Heart, and Valley Inc, each receiving $15,000. The trust's 2024 revenue surged to $745,206 (up from $363,285 in 2023), driven primarily by asset sales gains, strengthening the endowment's long-term grantmaking capacity. The trust maintained its three-track quarterly application cycle (education, human services, health) through cybergrants.com, with decisions issued within 60 days of each quarterly deadline. The geographic priority focus on 12 southern/rural Colorado counties remained unchanged. No new grant categories, eligibility changes, or special initiatives were announced in 2024–2025 filings.

1. Apply through cybergrants.com — the portal is open year-round with quarterly deadlines by focus area. 2. Choose the correct quarter: Education (submit Jan 1–Mar 31), Human Services (submit Apr 1–Jun 30), Health (submit Jul 1–Sep 30). Missing a window means waiting until the same window next year. 3. Request general operating support — all 45 grants in 2024 were for general operating, so the trust is receptive to unrestricted funding requests rather than project-specific budgets. 4. Emphasize Colorado geography and, if applicable, service in the 12 priority counties (Crowley, Bent, Costilla, Saguache, Huerfano, Prowers, Conejos, Otero, Baca, Las Animas, Alamosa, Pueblo) or other non-Metro-Denver, economically disadvantaged areas. 5. Keep the budget ask in the $7,500–$15,000 range for a first application — median grant is $7,500 and top grants are $15,000–$26,840. 6. Submit only one application per calendar year regardless of focus area. 7. Be prepared for periodic progress and final reports if funded. 8. Contact Wells Fargo at 800-352-3705 before applying to confirm current guidelines and portal URL.