Denver Foundation’s Community Grants Program

The Denver Foundation’s Community Grants Program is a cornerstone of the foundation’s philanthropic efforts, supported by The Fund for Denver—a permanent endowment funded by nearly 1,500 donors over the past century. The purpose of the program is to provide strategic financial support to nonprofit organizations working within Metro Denver, Colorado, specifically targeting systemic and community-rooted solutions in economic opportunity, environment and climate, housing, and youth well-being. This program seeks to address and reduce disparities in access and outcomes for historically oppressed communities, particularly communities of color and low-income populations. The program awards approximately $4 million annually, split across two grant cycles. Each grant typically ranges from $20,000 to $50,000. The grant is not limited to organizations physically located in Metro Denver, but applicants must demonstrate that their efforts significantly impact the seven-county Metro Denver region. Additionally, statewide initiatives are eligible if they include a measurable focus on Metro Denver. Applicants must align their work with one or more of the four funding priority areas. The economic opportunity area supports efforts in workforce development and community wealth building—defined as community-controlled economic strategies promoting local ownership and stability. The environment and climate category prioritizes projects addressing air quality, energy efficiency, and renewable energy, but excludes recreational or conservation projects. Housing-related grants are for initiatives aimed at affordable housing and homelessness, with a focus on households earning 0-30% of area median income (AMI). Youth well-being, newly expanded in 2025, includes systemic K–12 school reforms grounded in racial equity and mental health programs serving youth directly through community or in-school models. Ineligible activities include enrichment, early or private education, and substance-use-focused programs. A critical criterion for selection is alignment with The Denver Foundation’s core values of racial equity and community and constituent leadership. The foundation evaluates applicants on their integration of these values into program design, governance, and community involvement. The application process includes a requirement for past grantees to submit a final report before being eligible for new funding. Both new and returning applicants may apply in either grant cycle, provided it has been at least 12 months since the last submission. The 2025 grant cycles are as follows: Cycle 1 opens on January 15 and closes March 3, while Cycle 2 opens on June 16 and closes August 1. A pre-application workshop for Cycle 1 was held on January 22, 2025, with materials available for review via recording and slide deck. The application is managed through TDF Grant Manager, an online portal. Instructions and application previews are available to assist applicants. The foundation encourages applicants to contact them for guidance and allows applicants to opt out of having their proposals shared with potential donors or fundholders. Evaluation is conducted jointly by The Denver Foundation staff and the Advisory Committee for Community Impact (ACCI), a diverse 50-member body comprising community representatives, nonprofit leaders, donors, and civic stakeholders. Funding preferences are given to organizations demonstrating strong fiscal health, engaging in more than one priority area, and those requesting general operating support—although program-specific requests are also considered. The foundation does not fund capital campaigns, endowments, retroactive expenses, or discriminatory programs.