Funding search · EIN 846048381 · Denver, CO

The Denver Foundation

Name: The Denver Foundation grants, 2023–2024
Creator: PaperOrbit
License: https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/exempt-organization-public-disclosure-and-availability-requirements

A grantmaking public charity (files IRS Form 990, Schedule I). Charities like this often run real grant programs with application cycles.

2,339
grants reported: $262.9M
total given: 2023–2024
filing years: $27,190
median grant

Based on grants this organization reported to the IRS for tax years 2023–2024. This is what they filed, not a complete record of their giving, and recent years may be incomplete because filings lag.

What they fund

services development youth community education centers schools health

Funder website ↗Full IRS filings ↗How this is built Report an error

Funding pattern

What this funder pays for, at what size, and how to position adjacent work. Read from their filings, with every number checked against the record.

Where the money goes

Denver metro anchor institutions: public schools, Denver Health, Children's Hospital
Transfers to other funds and grantmaking intermediaries (DAF-to-DAF)
Colorado public college and university scholarship funds
Immigrant and refugee legal aid, civil rights, resettlement services
Denver arts and culture: museums, opera, symphony, music
Youth homelessness, food access, and emergency assistance in Denver

Typical grant

Half of all grants fall between $11,100 and $70,000, with a median of $27,190, so the working range for a new relationship is $25,000 to $75,000. The seven-figure checks go almost entirely to Denver anchor institutions and affiliated fundraising foundations (DPS Foundation, Denver Health Foundation, Urban Peak, Children's Hospital Colorado Foundation) plus one $25 million transfer to National Philanthropic Trust. With 2,339 grants going to 1,615 recipients across two years, roughly a third of grantees got money more than once, so repeat support is normal once a fund is behind you.

Their words

Phrases from their own grant descriptions, worth speaking back to them.

“FUND RAISING & FUND DISTRIBUTION”
“SCHOLARSHIPS & STUDENT FINANCIAL AID”
“SINGLE ORGANIZATION SUPPORT”
“ETHNIC & IMMIGRANT CENTERS”
“COMMUNITY & NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT”
“YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS”

Positioning adjacent work

Anchor the work to a Colorado institution already funded: CU Foundation, CSU, Metro State, Colorado Community College System.
Ask $50,000 to $75,000 for a first grant; six figures needs an existing Denver institutional partner.
Frame applied research as scholarships, workforce preparation, or immigrant services rather than as academic inquiry.
Identify the specific fund or donor advisor behind a comparable grant before writing anything.

Worth knowing: This is a community foundation running donor-advised funds, so most checks reflect individual fundholders' choices rather than a central strategy; the path in is the advisor, not a program pitch. 1,700 of 2,339 grants stayed in Colorado, heavily Denver metro, and the out-of-state money mostly lands at other DAF sponsors or at institutions with a personal donor tie.

54 grants matching “rockies” · $6.7M

$766,285
Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network - Rmian · Westminster, CO · 2024
Civil rights
$406,500
Food Bank of the Rockies · Denver, CO · 2024
Food banks & pantries
$397,500
Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains · Denver, CO · 2024
Ethnic & immigrant centers
$296,398
Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains - Pprm · Denver, CO · 2024
Family planning
$109,245
Rocky Mountain Public Media - Rocky Mountain Pbs and Kuvo · Denver, CO · 2024
Television
$58,000
Rocky Mountain Adventist Healthcare Foundation - Adventhealth Foundation Ro · Atlanta, GA · 2024
Hospitals
$56,000
Rocky Mountain Children'S Health Foundation · Arvada, CO · 2024
Emergency assistance
$55,000
Rocky Mountain Employee Ownership Center · Denver, CO · 2024
Community & neighborhood development
$48,000
Junior Achievement - Rocky Mountain · Greenwood Village, CO · 2024
Youth development - business
$27,390
Rocky Mountain Institute · Boulder, CO · 2024
Research institutes & public policy analysis
$22,600
Rocky Mountain Microfinance Institute - Rmmfi · Denver, CO · 2024
Small business development
$20,000
Ymca of the Rockies · Estes Park, CO · 2024
Young men's or women's associations
$20,000
Rocky Mountain Down Syndrome Association Inc - Rmdsa · Aurora, CO · 2024
Down syndrome
$16,687
Rocky Mountain Multiple Sclerosis Center · Westminster, CO · 2024
Health support
$16,500
Arapahoe Philharmonic - Symphony of the Rockies · Littleton, CO · 2024
Symphony orchestras
$16,000
Parkinson Association of the Rockies · Denver, CO · 2024
Neurology & neuroscience
$15,708
Colorado Rocky Mountain School · Carbondale, CO · 2024
Secondary & high schools
$15,000
Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum · Golden, CO · 2024
Museums
$13,000
Canine Partners of the Rockies · Northglenn, CO · 2024
Animal-related n.e.c.
$12,000
Rocky Mountain Welcome Center · Aurora, CO · 2024
Human services n.e.c.
$10,000
Animal Rescue of the Rockies · Aurora, CO · 2024
Animal protection & welfare
$10,000
Boulder Pride - Rocky Mountain Equality · Boulder, CO · 2024
Lesbian and gay rights
$10,000
Rocky Mountain Partnership · Thornton, CO · 2024
Community improvement & capacity building n.e.c.
$10,000
Rocky Mountain Victim Law Center · Lakewood, CO · 2024
Legal services
$10,000
The Rocky Mountain District of the Evangelical Free Church of America · Colorado Springs, CO · 2024
Community & neighborhood development
$7,800
Rocky Mountain Refuge for End of Life Care - Lazarus Gate · Littleton, CO · 2024
Hospices
$1.3M
Food Bank of the Rockies · Denver, CO · 2023
Food banks & pantries
$451,000
Rocky Mountain Microfinance Institute - Rmmfi · Denver, CO · 2023
Small business development
$432,026
Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network - Rmian · Westminster, CO · 2023
Civil rights
$350,000
Rocky Mountain World Trade Center Institute · Denver, CO · 2023
Promotion of international understanding
$322,000
Junior Achievement - Rocky Mountain · Greenwood Village, CO · 2023
Youth development - business
$315,000
Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum · Denver, CO · 2023
History museums
$243,596
Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains - Pprm · Denver, CO · 2023
Family planning
$196,831
Rocky Mountain Institute · Boulder, CO · 2023
Research institutes & public policy analysis
$149,000
Rocky Mountain Employee Ownership Center · Denver, CO · 2023
Community & neighborhood development
$90,000
Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains · Denver, CO · 2023
Ethnic & immigrant centers
$73,700
Rocky Mountain Pbs - Channel 6 · Denver, CO · 2023
Television
$52,000
Parkinson Association of the Rockies · Denver, CO · 2023
Neurology & neuroscience
$51,000
Rocky Mountain Adventist Healthcare Foundation · Denver, CO · 2023
Rehabilitative care
$50,500
Rocky Mountain Welcome Center · Aurora, CO · 2023
Human services n.e.c.
$28,189
American Diabetes Association - Rocky Mountain Area · Merrifield, VA · 2023
Specifically named diseases
$25,000
Jdrf Rocky Mountain Chapter · Hagerstown, MD · 2023
Specifically named diseases
$20,718
Rocky Mountain Public Media - Rmpbs and Kuvo · Denver, CO · 2023
Television
$20,277
Rocky Mountain Down Syndrome Association Inc - Rmdsa · Aurora, CO · 2023
Down syndrome
$20,000
Strive Preparatory Schools - Rocky Mountain Prep · Denver, CO · 2023
Charter schools
$18,750
Ymca of the Rockies · Estes Park, CO · 2023
Young men's or women's associations
$17,000
Rocky Mountain Children'S Health Foundation · Arvada, CO · 2023
Emergency assistance
$13,070
Colorado Rocky Mountain School · Carbondale, CO · 2023
Secondary & high schools
$11,000
Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum · Golden, CO · 2023
Museums
$10,000
Rocky Mountain Stroke Center - Rmsc · Littleton, CO · 2023
Human services
$10,000
Rocky Mountain Horse Rescue · Arvada, CO · 2023
Animal protection & welfare
$9,636
Camp Wapiyapi - Rocky Mountain Children'S Resource Center · Denver, CO · 2023
Children & youth services
$8,250
Als Association Rocky Mountain Chapter · Westminster, CO · 2023
Diseases, disorders & medical disciplines n.e.c.
$5,489
Rocky Mountain Multiple Sclerosis Center · Westminster, CO · 2023
Health support

Top recipients

Repeat recipients are the strongest signal of whether a funder has an open door or quietly re-funds the same organizations.

National Philanthropic Trust1 grant · $25.0M
Denver Health Foundation2 grants · $13.4M
Denver Broncos Charities - Denver Broncos Foundation1 grant · $9.3M
Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver2 grants · $6.2M
Children'S Hospital Colorado Foundation2 grants · $4.0M
Plentiful1 grant · $4.0M
Lifespan Local2 grants · $3.4M
Denver Public Schools Foundation - Dps Foundation2 grants · $3.4M
Barton Institute for Community Action2 grants · $3.2M
University of Colorado Foundation2 grants · $2.6M

Giving over time

$131.2M

2023

$131.7M

2024

Grant history

The 100 largest of 2,339 grants.

$25.0M
National Philanthropic Trust · Jenkintown, PA · 2024
Philanthropy, voluntarism & grantmaking foundations n.e.c.
$10.7M
Denver Health Foundation · Denver, CO · 2023
Fund raising & fund distribution
$9.3M
Denver Broncos Charities - Denver Broncos Foundation · Englewood, CO · 2023
Philanthropy, charity & voluntarism promotion
$6.2M
Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver · Denver, CO · 2023
Housing development, construction & management
$4.0M
Plentiful · San Francisco, CA · 2024
Food programs
$3.3M
Lifespan Local · Denver, CO · 2023
Philanthropy, charity & voluntarism promotion
$3.2M
Denver Public Schools Foundation - Dps Foundation · Denver, CO · 2024
Fund raising & fund distribution
$2.7M
Denver Health Foundation · Denver, CO · 2024
Fund raising & fund distribution
$2.4M
Children'S Hospital Colorado Foundation · Denver, CO · 2023
Specialty hospitals
$2.2M
Regents of the University of California at Berkeley · Los Angeles, CA · 2024
Universities
$2.1M
Barton Institute for Community Action · Denver, CO · 2024
Philanthropy, voluntarism & grantmaking foundations n.e.c.
$2.1M
Colorado Department of Personnel and Administration · Denver, CO · 2023
Inmate support
$2.0M
Urban Peak · Denver, CO · 2024
Children & youth services
$2.0M
Colorado Community College System Foundation · Denver, CO · 2024
Fund raising & fund distribution
$2.0M
Denver Basic Income Project · Denver, CO · 2023
Human services
$2.0M
Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Diocese of South-West America · Beasley, TX · 2024
Christianity
$2.0M
Northeast American Diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church · Muttontown, NY · 2024
Christianity
$1.7M
Children'S Hospital Colorado Foundation · Denver, CO · 2024
Specialty hospitals
$1.5M
Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund · Cincinnati, OH · 2023
Philanthropy, voluntarism & grantmaking foundations n.e.c.
$1.4M
University of Colorado Foundation · Denver, CO · 2024
Single organization support
$1.4M
The Gathering Place · Denver, CO · 2024
Emergency assistance
$1.3M
Creede Repertory Theatre · Creede, CO · 2023
Theater
$1.3M
Food Bank of the Rockies · Denver, CO · 2023
Food banks & pantries
$1.3M
Cobalt Foundation · Denver, CO · 2024
Reproductive rights
$1.2M
Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust · Purchase, NY · 2024
Named trusts n.e.c.
$1.2M
Kirkland Museum of Fine and Decorative Art · Denver, CO · 2024
Art museums
$1.2M
City and County of Denver · Denver, CO · 2023
Parks & playgrounds
$1.1M
One Good Turn · Englewood, CO · 2023
Human services
$1.1M
University of Colorado Foundation · Denver, CO · 2023
Single organization support
$1.1M
Doctors Without Borders USA · Hagerstown, MD · 2023
Disaster preparedness & relief services
$1.1M
Kirkland Museum of Fine and Decorative Art · Denver, CO · 2023
Art museums
$1.1M
Barton Institute for Community Action · Denver, CO · 2023
Philanthropy, voluntarism & grantmaking foundations n.e.c.
$1.1M
Denver Museum of Nature and Science - Colorado Museum of Natural History · Denver, CO · 2024
Natural history & natural science museums
$1.1M
Opera Colorado · Englewood, CO · 2024
Opera
$1.0M
Colorado Health Institute · Denver, CO · 2023
Group health practices
$1.0M
Colorado Mesa University · Grand Junction, CO · 2023
Scholarships & student financial aid
$1.0M
The Gathering Place · Denver, CO · 2023
Emergency assistance
$1.0M
Colorado Schools Fund · Denver, CO · 2024
Public foundations
$1.0M
Construction Education Foundation of Colorado · Denver, CO · 2024
Educational services
$1.0M
Friends and Neighbors of Washington Park Inc - Fans · Denver, CO · 2024
Fund raising & fund distribution
$1.0M
Western Stock Show Association · Denver, CO · 2024
Fairs
$1.0M
Massachusetts General Hospital · Boston, MA · 2023
General hospitals
$1.0M
The Attainment Network · Denver, CO · 2023
Education n.e.c.
$855,802
Rose Community Foundation · Denver, CO · 2023
Community foundations
$783,500
Catholic Charities and Community Services - Archdiocese of Denver · Denver, CO · 2024
Human services
$770,000
Learning Ally · Princeton, NJ · 2024
Educational services
$766,285
Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network - Rmian · Westminster, CO · 2024
Civil rights
$765,000
Central Denver Classical High School - Saint John Paul the Great Catholic H · Denver, CO · 2023
Roman catholic
$750,000
Tahirih Justice Center · Falls Church, VA · 2024
Immigrants' rights
$749,886
Transforming Research Into Action To Improve the Lives of Students - Trails · Ann Arbor, MI · 2023
Mental health & crisis intervention
$748,595
Array Education · New York, NY · 2023
Education n.e.c.
$747,291
Pikes Peak Community Foundation · Colorado Springs, CO · 2023
Community foundations
$716,109
Schwab Charitable Fund · Orlando, FL · 2023
Philanthropy, voluntarism & grantmaking foundations n.e.c.
$713,000
Cobalt Foundation · Denver, CO · 2023
Reproductive rights
$709,000
Rose Community Foundation · Denver, CO · 2024
Community foundations
$705,679
Kipp Colorado Schools · Denver, CO · 2023
Charter schools
$705,388
Metropolitan State University of Denver Foundation · Denver, CO · 2024
Scholarships, student financial aid & higher education
$651,657
Activate Work · Denver, CO · 2023
Human services
$640,000
One Good Turn · Englewood, CO · 2024
Human services
$620,348
Colorado State University Foundation · Fort Collins, CO · 2023
Single organization support
$607,407
Denver Scholarship Foundation · Denver, CO · 2023
Scholarships & student financial aid
$602,050
Fort Lewis College Foundation · Durango, CO · 2024
Single organization support
$600,000
University of Hawai'I Foundation · Honolulu, HI · 2024
Fund raising & fund distribution
$600,000
Aurora Public Schools Foundation · Aurora, CO · 2023
Public foundations
$600,000
Rise Colorado · Aurora, CO · 2023
Alliances & advocacy
$600,000
University of Hawai'I Foundation · Honolulu, HI · 2023
Fund raising & fund distribution
$599,040
University of Colorado Health · Colorado Springs, CO · 2024
Universities
$596,175
Colorado Mesa University Foundation · Grand Junction, CO · 2024
Scholarships & student financial aid
$592,750
Bluff Lake Nature Center · Denver, CO · 2023
Education n.e.c.
$590,000
La Raza Services Inc - Servicios De La Raza · Denver, CO · 2023
Emergency assistance
$580,054
Craig Hospital Foundation · Englewood, CO · 2023
Specialty hospitals
$555,000
St Vrain Valley Schools · Longmont, CO · 2024
Elementary & secondary schools
$545,494
University of Denver · Denver, CO · 2023
Universities
$534,500
Nourish Colorado · Denver, CO · 2023
Public health
$528,500
Denver Botanic Gardens · Denver, CO · 2023
Botanical gardens & arboreta
$525,000
Transcend · New York, NY · 2024
Educational services
$513,938
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute · Boston, MA · 2024
Hospitals
$505,000
City Year Denver · Dorchester, MA · 2024
Educational services
$500,000
Just Keep Livin Foundation · Los Angeles, CA · 2024
Youth development programs
$481,800
Voces Unidas De Las Montanas · Glenwood Springs, CO · 2024
Education n.e.c.
$474,080
Nyu Langone Health · New York, NY · 2024
Hospitals
$460,000
Archbridge Institute · Washington, DC · 2024
Research institutes & public policy analysis
$452,000
Village Exchange Center · Aurora, CO · 2023
Ethnic & immigrant centers
$451,000
Rocky Mountain Microfinance Institute - Rmmfi · Denver, CO · 2023
Small business development
$450,000
Generation Schools Network · Denver, CO · 2023
Management & technical assistance
$444,144
Colorado Youth for a Change · Denver, CO · 2023
Educational services
$443,450
Metro Caring · Denver, CO · 2023
Food banks & pantries
$440,000
City and County of Denver - Office of Housing Stability · Denver, CO · 2024
Housing support
$438,426
Colorado Symphony Association · Denver, CO · 2024
Performing arts
$435,023
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute · Boston, MA · 2023
Hospitals
$432,026
Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network - Rmian · Westminster, CO · 2023
Civil rights
$423,000
University of Northern Colorado Foundation · Greeley, CO · 2024
Scholarships & student financial aid
$420,149
Nyu Langone Health · New York, NY · 2023
Hospitals
$418,312
Colorado Coalition for the Homeless · Denver, CO · 2023
Homeless centers
$414,000
Colorado State University Foundation - Scholarship Office · Fort Collins, CO · 2024
Scholarships & student financial aid
$414,000
University of Colorado - Denver - Office of Advancement · Denver, CO · 2024
Scholarships & student financial aid
$412,850
Colorado Open Lands · Lakewood, CO · 2024
Land resources conservation
$408,635
Young Life · Boone, IA · 2024
Christianity
$407,000
Hunger Free Colorado · Denver, CO · 2023
Food programs
$406,500
Food Bank of the Rockies · Denver, CO · 2024
Food banks & pantries

View all 2,339 grants →

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Source: IRS Form 990, Schedule I, as filed by this organization. These are grants already paid. Grants paid directly to individuals are reported to the IRS only as totals, so they do not appear as named lines here.