Civic Fabric Fund

Civic Fabric Fund is sponsored by The Denver Foundation. The Civic Fabric Fund supports nonpartisan, community-led policy and advocacy work, and voter engagement. Grants prioritize historically underserved communities, young voters, and communities with historically low turnout and low civic engagement.

Civic Fabric Fund - State & Local Policy - The Denver Foundation Civic Fabric Fund – State & Local Policy Supporting state and local policy and advocacy The Denver Foundation is pleased to invite qualified nonprofits to apply for funding from the Civic Fabric Fund.

Through the Civic Fabric Fund, The Denver Foundation provides nonprofits with funding to support their policy and advocacy efforts at the state and local levels, including research, community engagement, and coalition building. Grants will support nonprofits’ efforts to pursue efforts to advance and implement policy change on the issues outlined in the foundation’s policy principles .

Organizations invited to apply will have the option to apply for a general operating grant or a program-specific grant. Organizations will also be asked to identify their efforts to advance policy change as either grasstops or grassroots. Grants from the fund typically range from $15,000 to $30,000.

This funding opportunity is open only to eligible organizations that have been invited to apply by The Denver Foundation. Your organization must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization or have an equivalent fiscal sponsor. Your organization must be located in and do work in Colorado.

If your organization has received a grant from the Community Grants Program in the same calendar year of this funding opportunity, your organization is ineligible to apply for this funding opportunity. Coalitions are eligible to apply for funding. One organization must submit an application on behalf of the entire coalition.

Grant awards given in previous years are no guarantee of future grant awards.

Within the online application, you will be required to submit Your organization’s mission A summary of your proposed work The dollar amount requested Your organization’s current budget and, if applicable, a project budget You will be required to answer: Describe how your organization’s work fits with the issue areas outlined in The Denver Foundation’s Policy Principles.

If applicable, explain how your organization’s policy works in response to federal actions. Where your proposed work will focus along the continuum of policy making: problem identification, policy analysis, policy strategy and development, and/or policy enactment and implementation.

What efforts has your organization made to engage the voice, experience, and leadership of residents, constituents, and/or clients in the development, implementation, and evaluation of your organization’s activities? Opening Date: August 3, 2026 Closing Date: September 15, 2026 Typical Grant Range: $15,000 - $30,000 Metro Denver, Statewide Colorado Apply by invitation only.

You will need to register on The Denver Foundation’s grant application portal before completing your online application. Read our Grant FAQs . Questions?

If you have questions during this grant process, please contact Naomi Amaha, director of policy and government affairs, at namaha@denverfoundation. org . In 2021, the foundation adopted a policy framework and principles that outline its efforts to advance systemic change at the local and state level in the following issue areas: economic opportunity, environment and climate, housing, and youth well-being.

When creating the framework, the foundation recognized the need to invest in policy efforts that prioritize the following populations (American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian American or Pacific Islander, Black, Indigenous, and Latino/Latina, and those of economic disadvantage).

A component of the foundation’s commitment to advancing systemic change is funding nonprofit organizations to further their work to advocate for policy proposals, including legislation, ordinances, regulations, and ballot measures at the local and state level, that will promote a healthy and equitable Metro Denver. Learn more about the foundation’s policy and advocacy work on our website . information@denverfoundation.

org EIN: 84-6048381 | 501(c)(3) If you are human, leave this field blank.