Denver Post Community Foundation Grant

The Denver Post Community Foundation, funded in part by contributions from its signature program "Season To Share," supports nonprofit organizations that serve individuals and families in need across the Metro Denver region. The Foundation targets efforts that align with its mission to alleviate poverty and promote stability, primarily by addressing issues in the domains of Children and Youth, Health and Wellness, Homelessness, and Hunger. Grants are made possible through charitable donations from individuals and corporate sponsors who are committed to enhancing the well-being of Colorado communities. Under the Children and Youth focus area, the Foundation funds out-of-school-time programs that promote academic achievement and social-emotional development among youth aged 5 to 18. These programs must be evidence-based, demonstrate ongoing relationships with participants, and serve at least 60% low-income children, as measured by free or reduced lunch eligibility or similar indicators. The goal is to ensure youth have consistent, enriching opportunities that enhance their long-term success in school and life. The Health and Wellness category is designed to support established healthcare programs that offer access to high-quality, affordable services. Priority is given to community health centers and school-based health initiatives serving predominantly low-income, under- or uninsured populations. Programs must integrate care (physical, behavioral, and dental), be based in schools where 60% or more students qualify for free and reduced lunch, and demonstrate measurable improvements in health outcomes. In the area of Homelessness, the Foundation supports initiatives offering housing and comprehensive wrap-around services for individuals and families. This includes both prevention services like short-term rent or utility assistance, as well as transitional and supportive housing that lasts six months or more. Programs should track and demonstrate their impact through data on housing retention and stability outcomes. The Hunger focus area prioritizes organizations with large-scale food distribution or nutrition programs that target food insecurity. Eligible programs must use data to guide operations, provide nutritious, client-choice food options, fill geographic gaps in service, and support benefit program enrollments like SNAP. Partnerships and warm referrals to complementary services are also key factors in the selection process. To be eligible, organizations must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits with one year of programmatic and financial history. Applicants must serve low-income populations in Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, or Jefferson Counties in Colorado. The Foundation does not fund individuals, government bodies, schools, capital campaigns, endowments, or religious programming. Discrimination and lobbying activities also disqualify applicants. Applications must show clear objectives, measurable outcomes, financial sustainability, and program alignment with one of the Foundation’s four focus areas. The 2025/26 grant cycle requires organizations to submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) between May 15 and June 30, 2025, through the Foundation’s online portal. LOIs are reviewed through late September, with notifications sent via email that may include invitations to submit a full application, letters of decline, or rotation notices. Returning grantees from the past two years do not need to submit an LOI unless applying for a new program. If invited, full applications follow the Colorado Common Grant Application format and are also submitted through the online portal. Maximum grant awards are capped at 10% of an organization’s operating budget or 30% of a program-specific budget. For questions, applicants may contact the Foundation at dpcommunity@denverpost.com.

Save LOI in Word before using the online portal as it does not allow saving progress.