Community Grant Program is the signature funding strategy of The Denver Foundation, supporting nonprofits tackling pressing local issues and building a better Denver for the long term. Supported by The Fund for Denver, the Foundation's permanent endowment built by nearly 1,500 donors over 100 years, this program awards grants ranging from $20,000 to $50,000. Applications are open with a deadline of August 3, 2026.

The program focuses on direct-to-people programming that fills opportunity gaps in the Denver community. Eligible applicants must meet the Foundation's stated requirements; prospective applicants should review the official guidelines for complete eligibility criteria.

Community Grants Program Guidelines - The Denver Foundation Community Grants Program Guidelines The Community Grants Program is The Denver Foundation’s signature funding strategy, which is supported by The Fund for Denver, our permanent endowment. Our permanent endowment is made up of unrestricted gifts to The Denver Foundation given by nearly 1,500 donors in the past 100 years. Mi Casa Resource Center.

Photo courtesy: Armando Geneyro. These gifts are intended to meet the needs of today and ensure there are resources for building a better Denver far into the future. Learn more about The Fund for Denver here .

The Community Grants Program supports organizations in the seven-county Metro Denver region working in our four priority funding areas: economic opportunity, environment and climate, housing, and youth well-being. This grant opportunity’s goal is to support organizations working to reduce disparities by incorporating community and constituent leadership and racial equity into their approach.

Through the Community Grants Program, we aim to improve the lives of historically oppressed people living in Metro Denver, with a particular focus on people who live in low-income communities and communities of color. We seek to reduce racial and ethnic, and economic disparities. The Community Grants Program grants approximately $4M each year during two grant cycles.

Each grant ranges from $20,000-$50,000. If you are interested in applying for funding from the Community Grants Program, details are below. Cycle 1 applications open on January 15, 2026, and close March 2, 2026.

Cycle 2 applications open June 15, 2026, and close August 3, 2026. Groups that have not applied before can apply during either cycle. Current grantees can apply during either grant cycle if it has been at least 12 months since your last application submission, regardless of the results of your previous submission (approved or declined).

If you are unsure, please reach out to us to confirm eligibility . To learn more about how to apply, read through our 2026 pre-application information session slide deck ! The Community Grants Program supports organizations that work in the seven-county Metro Denver region.

The organization does not need to be located in Metro Denver to be considered for funding. We also consider organizations who are working on statewide efforts, as long as they have demonstrated impact in the Metro Denver region. Our priority areas reflect the community’s input on the most pressing issues faced by people in Metro Denver.

In 2025, we updated our priority funding areas in response to community feedback. (To learn more, please visit our blog ). We fund organizations working in at least one of these priority areas.

We recommend you focus your application on 1-2 areas. We fund organizations working on community wealth building (as defined by the Democracy Collaborative ) and workforce development. We seek organizations working on community wealth building, which is a method to improve local economies by giving communities ownership and control over their resources.

We aim to create pathways for individuals and communities to achieve economic stability and upward mobility. We seek organizations investing in initiatives that promote economic development, entrepreneurship, and career training. We do not fund financial literacy work, or higher education readiness programs.

We do not consider internal staff development and growth to be a priority area fit. We fund organizations working on air quality, energy efficiency, and renewable energy. We seek organizations working to support air quality, energy efficiency, and renewable energy in the community.

We do not fund access to the outdoors, wildlife, land conservation, or recreation. We do not fund projects to improve the air quality or energy efficiency of the applicant organization’s physical space or building. We fund organizations working to address affordable housing and homelessness, including temporary housing, permanent housing, and keeping residents in their homes.

We seek organizations working on long-term solutions, to impact those living with the lowest incomes (0-30% AMI, or area median income). We also consider organizations who address the immediate needs and temporary shelter of unhoused people. We do not fund organizations focused solely on wraparound services.

Youth well-being* (expanded focus starting 2025) We fund organizations working on school funding and K-12 reforms with a focus on racial equity, and youth mental health. School funding and reform: We fund organizations working on systemic improvements of K-12 schools and school funding, all with a focus on racial equity. We seek organizations working on school reforms that reduce disparities for students of color.

We seek organizations working on systemic efforts to improve educational outcomes, increase access to quality education, and provide young people with the tools and resources they need to succeed in school. These systemic changes must be focused on core curriculum and classroom experiences, not supplemental programming or mentoring.

We do not fund enrichment programs operating outside the school day as they are not considered a priority area fit. We do not fund early education, or private school education. Youth mental health: We now also fund organizations working on youth mental health for K-12 age youth.

We seek organizations working on youth mental health in both prevention and intervention, using both evidence-based and community-informed programming. We fund organizations that offer mental health programs or services directly to K-12 age youth. Organizations working in community and/or in-school programs, including after-school programs, are eligible.

We do not fund applications focused solely on substance misuse. Core Values: Community and Constituent Leadership & Racial Equity The Denver Foundation’s goal is to support organizations that advance our core values of community and constituent leadership & racial equity. We believe that organizations have the greatest impact when they include these core values into their programs, policies, and approach.

Core Values: Constituent Engagement v. Leadership Constituent engagement includes the voices of those who are receiving or will receive services from an organization. Constituent leadership makes space for community members at the decision-making table to help direct and improve programs.

We believe organizations are most effective when they involve community members and constituents in planning, programming, and leadership.

We support organizations that: Understand the assets that community members and constituents bring to the work Ask for input from community members and constituents on their programming and organizational direction and put that input to use Organize their work and programming around the self-described needs of community members and constituents Include community members and constituents as members of the board, staff, volunteers, committees, and donors Core Values: Racial Equity We believe that diverse and inclusive organizations achieve more equitable outcomes.

Racial equity is the intended outcome of diversity and inclusion practices. The following definitions are used in the Community Grants Program’s core values framework: Review these guidelines , which explain the core values of The Denver Foundation, specific funding priorities, and submission requirements. Create an account or login to our online portal , TDF Grant Manager.

Instructions on how to use the portal are on our website . Attend the pre-application workshop or review information slides. This should address most of your questions.

Reach out if you have questions . We are here to help determine if your proposal fits within our strategic framework. Please call 303.

300. 1790, or email cgp@denverfoundation. org .

The grant letter that you receive contains important information, including due dates. A member of the Engaged Philanthropy Team will reach out to you during your grant cycle to learn how your organization is doing and to support your reporting.

If you have previously received a grant through the Community Grants Program, you must submit a final report summarizing the work that you did with those grant funds before we consider your organization for subsequent grants from the Community Grants Program. Sharing your application with donors The grant requests always exceed our ability to give, meaning there are great organizations that don’t get funded.

We’d love to share your application with donors and fundholders who care about your work and may be interested in supporting your organization. If you do not want us to share your proposal, please let us know in your application.

As we review applications, we look for the following organizational characteristics, in order of importance: a demonstrated commitment to community and constituent leadership and racial equity alignment with The Denver Foundation’s priority area(s) and geographic region the financial health of the organization (Organizations that have fiscal sponsorship from a 501(c)(3) are eligible to apply.)

We acknowledge that an organization may fit within multiple priority areas. We recommend you focus your application on 1-2 areas. We prefer requests for general operating support, but we will consider both general operating and program support.

Proposals that fall outside our priority areas Building endowments or reserve funds Retroactive funding, i.e., activities, projects, or programs that will be completed before funding becomes available Grants for re-granting purposes Grants for medical, scientific, or academic research Grants that further political doctrine or religious activities Grants to private, parochial, or religious schools Scholarships ( for more information about scholarships, please click here ) The Denver Foundation does not fund organizations or programs that discriminate based on race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), physical or mental disability, pregnancy status, body type, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, except to serve a historically disadvantaged group.

Our own work is also strengthened by community and constituent leadership. Our Advisory Committee for Community Impact (ACCI) provides feedback and guidance on our work, including the Community Grants Program. This 50-person committee is made up of community members, nonprofit and civic leaders, donors, and other partners.

The Denver Foundation staff and members of the ACCI review grants and make the final decisions jointly. 2025 Community Grants Program Recipients 2024 Community Grants Program Recipients, Cycle 2 2024 Community Grants Program Recipients, Cycle 1 2023 Community Grants Program Recipients The Park People. Photo courtesy: Armando Geneyro.

Interested in learning more about our grants? Questions about submitting an application through our online portal? Find answers to common questions about our grants process and additional funding sources on our website .

We also offer additional grant opportunities. Please visit our grant opportunities page for application instructions and submission deadlines. Are you wondering whether or not your organization is a good fit, or have questions that are not answered above?

First, review the slide deck and recording above. They should be able to answer most of your questions. Still wondering?

The Denver Foundation staff are available during office hours. You can contact us at 303. 300.

1790, or cgp@denverfoundation. org to schedule a meeting or ask questions. information@denverfoundation.

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