Catalyst Grant Program
The Catalyst Grant Program invests in emerging nonprofit organizations and programs with bold ideas to expand opportunity, advance equitable systems change, and improve outcomes for families in mountain communities.
Through flexible, multi-year support, this program aims to catalyze community-led efforts positioned to drive meaningful change around the following program areas:
- Early childhood education
- Food security
- Immigrant services
- K-12 out-of-school opportunities
Initially, the program will serve Summit County, Colorado, Eagle County, Colorado, and Park City, Utah – communities where the Katz Amsterdam Foundation has longstanding relationships and understanding.
Catalyst grants are designed to help promising initiatives grow and achieve meaningful impact, while also strengthening the overall nonprofit ecosystem in the communities they serve.
Our Approach
The Catalyst Grant Program uses a direct grantmaking model that is rooted in trust and designed to reduce barriers and maximize impact. Rather than a traditional open application process, we proactively identify and partner with organizations through research, community engagement, and landscape analysis.
Our approach is guided by several core principles:
Flexible, multi-year support
We provide flexible, often unrestricted funding paired with three-year commitments, enabling organizations to deploy resources effectively while supporting planning, growth, and sustainable impact.
Collaborative Partnership
We center the expertise of the organizations and communities we support, seeking to advance more equitable outcomes by listening, learning, and engaging as collaborators.
Deep community knowledge
Our work is grounded in an understanding of local nonprofit ecosystems, informed by ongoing relationships with community leaders and partners.
Focus on catalytic impact
We prioritize funding at inflection points—where an investment can unlock growth, strengthen infrastructure, or significantly expand reach.
Reduced administrative burden
We streamline processes and minimize reporting requirements so organizations can focus on their work.
Our Program Priorities
The Catalyst Grant Program focuses on a set of social services program areas that reflect acute needs in mountain communities. These include:
Early childhood education
Advancing systems that expand access to high-quality care, strengthen the workforce, and support long-term sustainability for children, employees and families.
Food security
Improving access to reliable, culturally relevant food and strengthening the systems that support it.
Immigrant services
Supporting wraparound resources and legal services that foster inclusion, stability, and belonging.
K-12 out-of-school opportunities
Addressing critical gaps in out-of-school time and student support, providing safe and engaging experiences for children.
Within these areas, we prioritize investments that:
- Fill critical gaps that are not currently addressed by existing funding
- Support emerging or under-resourced organizations and programs with strong potential
- Advance equity and respond to the lived experiences of community members