Leadership Practitioner Catalyst Grants

The Leadership Practitioner Catalyst Grant Program, administered by the Boettcher Foundation, is designed to enhance the operational and strategic capacities of leadership organizations committed to cultivating an inclusive and accessible leadership environment across Colorado. The program aligns with the foundation's Leadership Practitioner Collaborative, a convening effort initiated in 2021 that brings together leadership-focused organizations quarterly to foster collaboration, share insights, and build a collective knowledge base. The grant supports projects that not only strengthen organizational capacity but also reinforce the collaborative values promoted in these meetings. The primary purpose of the Catalyst Grant is to provide targeted, one-time support for strategic projects. Award amounts range from $1,000 to $10,000 and must be applied toward efforts that deliver long-term benefits or transformative impacts within the recipient organization or broader community. Eligible project areas include launching evaluation or impact measurement initiatives, diversifying program participants, enhancing or formalizing collaboration across leadership programs or organizations, and supporting professional development for executive leadership. The grant is not intended to fund general operating support. Applicants must meet a set of eligibility criteria. Specifically, applicants must be either a Colorado-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in good standing with the IRS (having filed IRS Form 990, full or EZ, for the most recent tax year) or a governmental entity located in Colorado. In addition, organizations must have at least one staff member, volunteer, or board member who has attended a Leadership Practitioner Collaborative meeting in either 2024 or 2025. Attendance at these convenings is a prerequisite for application eligibility, emphasizing the grant’s alignment with Boettcher’s broader leadership ecosystem initiative. The application process is competitive and must address one of the four eligible project focus areas. Applications that do not align with these defined focus areas will not be considered. Applicants are also encouraged to limit submissions to one grant opportunity per cycle, choosing between the Leadership Practitioner Catalyst Grant, the Rural Catalyst Grant, or the Community Connections Grant. This limitation ensures a broad distribution of support across varied organizational types and initiatives. For the 2025 cycle, the application window opens on June 2 and closes on June 30. Applicants can expect to receive notification regarding funding or declination by August 1. The grant is structured as a recurring, non-rolling opportunity, and those interested in applying are encouraged to prepare in advance by attending one of the qualifying convenings and carefully aligning their proposed projects with the strategic objectives of the fund. Any questions about the grant process can be directed to Garrett Mayberry, grants program officer at the Boettcher Foundation, via email at garrett@boettcherfoundation.org. The grant emphasizes strategic investment in leadership capacity building across Colorado and serves as an important resource for organizations seeking to grow their impact through inclusive and collaborative efforts.