Denver Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Denver Foundation supports basic human needs, economic opportunity, education, leadership, and equity in the Metro Denver area of Colorado.
FUNDING AREAS: Basic human needs, economic opportunity, education, leadership, equity
IP TAKE: This is largely a community funder that offers general operating support in the seven counties surrounding Denver.
PROFILE: Established in 1925, the Denver Foundation is a community foundation based in Denver, Colorado. It is the oldest and largest community foundation in the state. The foundation seeks to “inspire people and mobilize resources to strengthen our community.” It funds local basic human needs, economic opportunity, education, leadership, and equity efforts.
The Denver Foundation underwent a listening campaign and shifted its focus to primarily address economic opportunity, basic, needs, and high-quality education for children. Basic needs grants focus on hunger, homelessness, domestic violence, and access to medical care. Leadership and equity grants aim to increase racial equity in leadership roles. Economic opportunity grants target barriers to economic equality, while education grants support academic achievement for PreK-12 students. The Denver Foundation provides support for local arts organizations and for technical assistance as well. In addition to the community grants focus areas, the Denver Foundation supports the special programs of Strengthening Neighborhoods, Social Venture Partners Denver, and the Colorado Nonprofit Loan Fund. The funder also engages in impact investing.
The foundation also makes grants to address the COVID-19 pandemic within the community.
Grants range between about $10,000 and $100,000. In a recent year, the foundation awarded $79 million to local nonprofits. Learn more about this funder’s local giving in the funder’s recent tax records. Grantmaking focuses on the Denver metropolitan area of Colorado. This includes Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, and Jefferson Counties. Past local grantees include Ability Connection, Alliance for Choice in Education, Augustana Arts, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado.
This foundation accepts unsolicited grant applications from nonprofits, and the application process is conducted online. There are two application periods per year, with deadlines in August and February. Direct general questions to the staff at information@denverfoundation.org or 303-300-1790.
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