Programs must serve vulnerable and low-income residents of the Denver metropolitan area (restricted to Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, and Jefferson Counties).
Grant Making Focus Areas
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 underserved 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
The issue of homelessness persists in our community and providing housing and services is important in working to end homelessness and support families and individuals.
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.