Lauren Townsend Memorial Wildlife Fund

The Lauren Townsend Memorial Wildlife Fund is a charitable initiative managed by The Denver Foundation. Established in 1999 by the family of Lauren Townsend, the fund honors Lauren's deep passion for animals and commitment to education. Lauren was a class valedictorian, volleyball co-captain, and animal lover tragically killed during the Columbine High School shootings. Her family created the fund to ensure her legacy supports wildlife preservation and animal welfare causes she cherished. The primary objective of the fund is to support nonprofit organizations within the United States that are engaged in wildlife preservation or animal welfare efforts. Grants awarded through the fund are designated specifically for project or program-based initiatives rather than general operating expenses. Funding can range between $500 and $5,000 per grantee, and the fund typically distributes between $15,000 and $20,000 in total funding each year. Preference is given to smaller nonprofit organizations with operating budgets equal to or under $250,000, and previous grant recipients are not guaranteed future funding. Eligibility criteria are stringent to ensure alignment with the fund’s mission. Organizations must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits or have a qualifying fiscal sponsor, be located within the United States, and must apply for funding linked to a specific project. Applicants that have received two or more grants from the fund in the last three years are temporarily ineligible and may reapply in the next funding cycle. Funding cannot be used for general operations, administrative salaries, or lobbying activities. The application window for 2025 opens on May 1 and closes on June 16. Interested applicants must first register through The Denver Foundation’s grant application portal before submitting their proposal. The foundation encourages applicants to review its Grant FAQs to better understand the submission process and requirements. Applications are not accepted on a rolling basis, and the fund does not specify whether it is a recurring opportunity, though the yearly cycle implies periodic offerings. For assistance during the application process, applicants can contact The Denver Foundation directly via email at townsend@denverfoundation.org or by phone at 303.300.1790. The foundation’s headquarters is located at 1009 Grant Street, Denver, Colorado 80203. Additional information about the fund and its mission is available on The Denver Foundation’s website, where users can also make contributions to support the cause.