The Denver Foundation: Strengthening Neighborhoods Grants

The Denver Foundation: Strengthening Neighborhoods Grants

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: The Denver Foundation
Amount: US $500 - US $5,000
Last Updated: January 23, 2026

Summary

The Denver Foundation's Strengthening Neighborhoods Grants program invites community groups to apply for funding aimed at enhancing local initiatives. Grants, averaging $2,500, support capacity-building efforts and grassroots projects that leverage community strengths. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) organizations and resident-led groups, focusing on solutions led by communities of color and low-income neighborhoods. Applications are accepted year-round, with monthly funding decisions, and the program closes each November.

Overview

What Is The Denver Foundation? The Denver Foundation is a community foundation that improves life for people in the seven-county Metro Denver region. We invest charitable funds for individuals, families, and businesses. We also oversee a permanent endowment called The Fund for Denver. This is a pool of money contributed by thousands of generous people since 1925. The Fund for Denver is used for Community Grants and Strengthening Neighborhoods. Supporting community-led efforts The Denver Foundation is pleased to invite qualified community groups to apply for funding from the Strengthening Neighborhoods Program. The Strengthening Neighborhoods Program provides small grants to 1. hire a capacity-building “coach” or 2. support grassroots community development campaigns or projects, or organizing. Projects must make use of the strengths and assets that already exist in the community, such as neighborhood leaders’ skills or neighborhood institutions (like businesses, schools, churches, or parks). The Strengthening Neighborhoods program supports community groups led by neighborhood leaders working together and leading solutions for their communities. The goal of this program is to support work led by community-led groups from communities of color and communities with lower incomes throughout the seven-county Metro Denver region. The average grant size is $2,500. Grants can be made to “informal” community groups led by residents, nonprofit organizations, or organizations with a fiscal sponsor for use in community-led projects or to hire a coach. We consider requests for Strengthening Neighborhoods on an ongoing basis, with decisions made monthly. The Strengthening Neighborhoods Fund closes in November each year. Funding Areas: Animals, Arts, Culture, Humanities, Capacity Building, Economic Opportunity, Education & Youth, Environment & Climate, Health & Behavioral Health, Housing & Homelessness, Human Services, Other, Policy & Advocacy, Transportation Please see FAQs for additional guidelines.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Your work must connect with the mission of The Denver Foundation. Strengthening Neighborhoods only funds 501(c)(3) organizations or groups with a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor. We will no longer accept applications from non-501(c)(3) groups, unless they have a fiscal sponsor.)Your community group must be led by at least three (3) unrelated people Your organization must be located in and do work in the seven-county Metro Denver region.If you have previously received a grant through Strengthening Neighborhoods, we request that you submit a final report summarizing the work that you did with those grant funds before we consider your organization for subsequent grants from Strengthening Neighborhoods.

Ineligibility

Not eligible for funding:  SponsorshipsRetroactive funding, i.e., activities, projects, or programs that will be completed before funding becomes availableDebt retirementGrants for re-granting purposesGrants for medical, scientific, or academic researchGrants that further religious activitiesScholarships (for more information, please visit our website)The Denver Foundation does not fund organizations or programs that discriminate on the basis of 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.Grant awards given in previous years are no guarantee of future grant awards.