Denver Urban Gardens
Denver Urban Gardens' (DUG) mission is to provide access, skills, and resources for people to grow healthy food in community and regenerate urban green spaces.
Denver Urban Gardens at a glance
In short: Denver Urban Gardens gave $844K across 2 grants in 2025 (avg $422K), mostly in Colorado. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $844,304
- +2.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 2
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $422,152
- +2.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $422,152
- Total assets
- $1,587,956
- -25.4% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Colorado (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Denver Urban Gardens
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from Denver Urban Gardens
FROG (Front Range Organic Gardeners) Mini-Grants
Denver Urban Gardens
Amount
Up to $500
Deadline
Deadline not published
SeedMoney Crowdfunding Competition
Denver Urban Gardens
Amount
Up to $1,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Target Grants & Corporate Giving
Denver Urban Gardens
Amount
$25-$50 gift cards, up to $500 per year per organization
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Denver Urban Gardens funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was We Don't Waste ($659K). Together the top 2 received $844K.
Grant Size Distribution
6 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 3 grants of 6 (50%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 2 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $11K (2020) to $844K (2025). In 2025 it made 2 grants totaling $844K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| We Don't Waste Denver, CO | Food Education and Distribution | $659,309 |
| Slow Food Denver Denver, CO | Youth Cooking and Taste Education Classes | $184,995 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,587,956 | $4,093,066 | $4,446,764 | $844,304 | 2 | $14,893 |
| 2024 | $2,129,551 | $4,427,388 | $4,555,987 | $823,043 | 2 | $16,955 |
| 2023 | $2,290,861 | $3,035,529 | $4,086,475 | $256,734 | 2 | $30,370 |
| 2022 | $2,157,961 | $3,499,144 | $2,792,225 | — | — | $5,587 |
| 2021 | $1,439,830 | $3,963,280 | $2,323,744 | — | — | $1,174,792 |
| 2020 | $535,933 | $1,907,424 | $2,171,948 | $11,155 | 2 | $131 |
| 2018 | $467,803 | $1,969,459 | $2,107,831 | — | — | $14,663 |
About Denver Urban Gardens
Based on IRS filings
Denver Urban Gardens is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Denver, CO. IRS filing data is available from 2018 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.6M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 2 grants totaling $844K. Net investment income was $15K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Denver Urban Gardens is led by Linda Appel Lipsius, Executive Director since 2021 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 19 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Linda Appel Lipsius
Executive Director
Interim Executive Director → Executive Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$16K (2020) → $153K (2025)
Jason Longsdorf
Chair
Board Director → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Melinda Warner
Board Director
Director → Vice President, 2021
Vice President → Board Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jesse Ogas
Board Director
Director → Board Director, 2023
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Adam Larkey
Board Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kelly Nordini
Board Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Richard Hess
Board Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brianna Borin
Board Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bill Mahar
Board Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Corine Roberts
Board Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Denny Post
Board Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Doug Wooley
Board Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ginger White
Board Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jasmine McGlade
Board Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kelli Rojas
Board Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kendall Kadish
Board Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Peter Lifari
Board Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Charon Earnest
Secretary
Board Director → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brad Dodson
Treasurer
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (23)
- Former: Zane Way (2018–2024) — Board Director
- Former: Brooke Gabbert (2020–2024) — President
- Former: Melissa Rosas (2020–2024) — Past President
- Former: Andrew Feldman (2021–2024) — Vice President
- Former: Chris Shaffner (2021–2024) — Treasurer
- Former: Tim Craft (2021–2024) — Board Director
- Former: Jolon Clark (2023–2024) — Board Director
- Former: Brianna Borin-Lygizos (2023) — Board Director
- Former: Karen Good (2018–2022) — Preident
- Former: Le'alani Boykin (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Dana Bryson (2018–2020) — Director
- Former: Lara Marriken (2018–2020) — Director
- Former: Milan Doshi (2018–2020) — Vice President
- Former: Ramonna Robinson (2018–2020) — President
- Former: Chloe Mickel (2020) — Director
- Former: Diana Denwood (2020) — Director
- Former: Violeta Garcia (2020) — Former Executive Director
- Former: Arzella Dirksen (2018) — Director
- Former: Chris Armijo (2018) — Director
- Former: Jade Baranski (2018) — Director
- Former: Karin Lawler (2018) — Director
- Former: Michael Buchenau (2018) — Executive Director
- Former: Ron Katz (2018) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2018–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $153K, to Linda Appel Lipsius (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Denver Urban Gardens
How much does Denver Urban Gardens give each year?
Denver Urban Gardens gave $844K across 2 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $823K across 2 grants.
How large is Denver Urban Gardens?
Denver Urban Gardens reported $1.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $4.1M.
What is Denver Urban Gardens?
Denver Urban Gardens is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Denver, CO. It holds $1.6M in total assets as of 2025.
Where does Denver Urban Gardens operate?
Denver Urban Gardens has awarded grants in Colorado.
What is Denver Urban Gardens's EIN?
Denver Urban Gardens's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-2374848. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2018–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 10, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 10, 2026)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2018 (received by the IRS December 17, 2020)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Denver Urban Gardens's focus areas in our free grants database
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Denver Urban Gardens down — hundreds of funders to go?