The Denver Foundation is among the largest and most well-established community funders in the Rocky Mountain west and has been on the philanthropy scene for almost 100 years. This is a prominent Colorado foundation that most local nonprofits are already familiar with. However, it has shifted its focus in recent years, adopting a new strategic framework designed to evolve over the next decade in response to changing needs in the community.
Here is some key information to know about the Denver Foundation and its local giving.
Prioritizes seven counties
As its name suggests, the Denver Foundation primarily gives in the seven-county region of metro Denver. These are the counties of Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas and Jefferson. But there are over 1,000 funds at the Denver Foundation, and some of those fund-holders have broader geographical interests. That’s why you’ll commonly see Denver Foundation grants going to organizations in other parts of Colorado and even to other states at times.
Numerous funding opportunties
Since the Denver Foundation oversees so many funds, at any given time there are often a lot of different grant opportunities available. For example, one big opportunity is the Community Grants Program, which operates according to seasonal cycles and supports economic opportunity, education, environment and climate, housing and transportation.
There are also a variety of niche funds at the Denver Foundation, such as the Black Resilience in Colorado Fund, Climate Equity Fund and Denver Immigrant Legal Services Fund. Other opportunities exist with the Denver Educational Senior Citizens Incorporated Community Housing Program, Environmental Affinity Group and Renewable Energy Trust.
A diversity and equity focus
One of the most significant developments at the Denver Foundation in recent years has been its deliberate shift to centering principles of racial equity, inclusion and diversity in its work. The foundation has stated that its purpose is to be a “proactive, collaborative and resolute leader in reducing racial disparities.”
An eye toward policy
The foundation has also established numerous policy positions and publicly supports and opposes specific legislative bills. These political opinions mostly revolve around economic opportunity for all people, an equitable education system, addressing climate change and creating accessible public transportation options.
Securing a grant
The best place to start is the Denver Foundation’s funding opportunities page, which lists open application periods for the Community Grants Program and other specialized funds. From there, the foundation uses an online application portal to receive and review grant requests for its various funding cycles. There are spring and fall grant cycles each year with deadlines around the first of March and the first of August.
Read more about this community funder in our Mountain States Funding Guide, which covers grantmaking in Colorado, Nevada, Utah and Montana.