Season to Share Grant

The Season to Share Grant, presented by the Denver Post Community Foundation, supports nonprofit organizations committed to helping low-income children, youth, and families in the Denver area. Grant funding focuses on programs addressing children and youth development, health and wellness, homelessness, and hunger. Eligible organizations must demonstrate strong outcomes and sustainable funding. Applications are reviewed annually, with a competitive process ensuring that funding is allocated to impactful programs that effectively serve vulnerable populations.

NOTE: Letters of Inquiry for the 2024/25 Season To Share grant cycle were accepted from May 15 – June 30, 2024.
The Denver Post, The Denver Post Community Foundation and Denver Active 20-30 Children’s Foundation, with funds raised through Season To Share, are committed to helping those less fortunate in our community improve their lives and become self-sufficient. Thanks to the generous support of donors, readers and corporations…grants are made to qualified nonprofit organizations that focus on children and youth, health and wellness, homelessness and hunger.
Children and Youth
All children should have the chance to succeed in life and opportunities to help them reach their full potential by being on track for success in the classroom and in life.
Funding will focus mainly on out-of-school time programs that support the development of children and youth in the community, ages 5 – 18. Programs must be evidence-based and demonstrate positive outcomes in academic achievement and/or social and emotional development and show ongoing relationships with children/ youth beyond a one-time encounter. Programs must also focus on youth with barriers to success, serving at least 60% who qualify for free and reduced lunch or other low-income indicator.
Health and Wellness
Everyone deserves access to services that help them be healthy, including physical, behavioral and dental health care.
Funding will focus on established programs providing access to affordable, high-quality health care services for low-income residents in under-served communities. Programs of interest include community health centers serving under- and uninsured populations that provide integrated care and K-12 school-based health centers in schools where at least 60% of students qualifying for free and reduced lunch. Organizations must be able to demonstrate positive health outcomes for clients in addition to other output measures.
Homelessness
This funding area supports prevention services and/or long-term housing strategies with multiple wrap-around services for individuals and families. Eligible programs include homelessness prevention programs that provide short-term financial support (i.e. rent, utilities, mortgage) to maintain current housing and supportive and transitional housing (six months or more) with additional supporting services. Programs must effectively demonstrate impact by tracking clients who are able to maintain housing and/or those who transition into and maintain more permanent and/or stable housing.
Hunger
Families and individuals deserve access to nutritious, supplemental food in order to meet their daily needs and to help support them in work and school.
Funding priority is given to established providers with large-scale programs or initiatives that reduce food insecurity. Eligible organizations and programs must meet the following criteria: effectively use data to make organizational decisions; provide client-choice services; offer nutritious food options; work in geographic areas where gaps for and access to nutritional services exist; support enrollment in SNAP/benefit programs; and provide warm referrals to other community supports.

Eligibility

Guidelines for Funding ConsiderationThe Denver Post Season To Share presented by Denver Active 20-30 Children’s Foundation supports eligible nonprofit organizations and programs that help low-income children, youth and families access services to overcome obstacles impeding progress out of poverty and towards stabilization and self-sufficiency.Funding consideration is given once per year to programs that meet criteria in one of the issue areas already mentioned. There is a competitive application review process and funding is not guaranteed to any organization, returning or newly invited.Eligible organizations/programs will:Meet the specific grant making criteria in one funding areaHave active 501(c)3 federal tax-exempt status (IRS letter dated within the last 5 years)Demonstrate one full year of program services and financial reportingReport strong measurable outcomesHave clearly presented goals, objectives and strategiesShow sustainable and diversified funding streamsDemonstrate a solid, stable financial positionServe vulnerable and low-income residents of the Denver metropolitan area (restricted to Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, and Jefferson Counties)

Ineligibility

A grant request must not exceed 10% of the general operating budget for the organization or if requesting program support, 30% of the program budget.Ineligible funding requests include:Capital campaigns or endowments or other reserve fundsPublic or private schoolsGovernment agenciesPrograms that do not fit funding guidelines or grant making strategiesOrganizations that practice discrimination of any kindOther foundations or nonprofits that distribute money to recipients of its own selectionIndividualsReligious organizations in support of religious programsResearch projects or programsInfluencing legislation or supporting candidates for political officeStart-up funding