7 survey respondents
Location: 55 Madison St 8th Floor, Denver, 80206 CO
EIN: 84-6048381
86%
14%
12 hours
Median
64%
36%
57%
43%
2017 Deadlines:
Types of Grants Awarded:
Geographic Focus:
For Fiscal Year
Total Assets:
Total Grants:
Change in Assets FY :
Amount of Grants to Minnesota Nonprofits:
Largest Grant:
Smallest Grant:
Average Grant:
Reviewer 6547 - Grant Applicant - applied in 2018
Be ready to discuss racial equity in depth. It's a priority for them, and they will ask. Sadly, other forms of diversity and inclusion are barely on their radar.
Positive leader in the field, Culturally sensitive, Friendly, Builds relationships, "Gets" nonprofits and issues
Colorado
Current or former grantee
Funded for amount requested
2018
Average
On the whole, I find them relatively accessible (e.g., they return emails and phone calls); however, staff members frequently complain about being overworked and remind us how they don't have assistance, or are going through turnover, or whatever. It's a tough sell to a nonprofit. Really? We're all busy, and we don't have assistants either.
Average
I think pretty well
Shorten the amount of time it takes you to consider a grant. 18 months is really ridiculous. Broaden your view of diversity.
They push the entire community to work on racism. And, they really walk their talk. This foundation has a wonderfully diverse board and staff - really a great model in that respect.
5
Grant Applicant - applied in 2016
They are accessible but answers are often incomplete, their service areas are often very narrowly defined in a way that is unclear without serious digging and meeting with staff. They don't really work to build rapport and partnership with the orgs they fund.
Frankly, the amount of work we did for the funds we received seemed pretty out of proportion. If you are an outsider or new to the nonprofit world, it can seem intimidating and the learning curve can be very steep.
Communication and timelines after the grant was awarded was inconsistent and reporting requirements were unclear.
Gives more than money, Culturally sensitive, Friendly, "Gets" nonprofits and issues
Array
Current or former grantee
Funded for lesser amount
2016
Average
Average
The programs and folks they serve are very narrowly defined, and it seems like trust in the orgs they fund is fairly low.
Examples of successfully funded and unsuccessful applications would be super helpful!
Be prepared to spend a lot more time than expected planning and in meetings before you apply.
22
Grant Applicant - applied in 2016
Talk to one of their program officers before applying. They should be able to help find where your programming fits best in their funding priorities.
Positive leader in the field, Culturally sensitive, Friendly, Builds relationships, Openminded
Colorado
Applied and not funded
2016
Average
Sometimes emails go unanswered. I found that voicemails usually do the trick.
Average
They bring together really diverse and unique groups together in their giving circles and DAFs.
7
Grant Applicant - applied in 2018
The Denver Foundation really walks its talk around working in partnership with nonprofits. Their representatives are very responsive and happy to answer questions, and they truly are invested in the success of our organization and those we serve. Definitely call and set up an introductory meeting or phone call before applying, this is a great opportunity to float your ideas, get advice on the best way to proceed, and begin building this valuable relationship.
Positive leader in the field, Gives more than money, Culturally sensitive, Insightful, Friendly, Builds relationships, Likes site visits, "Gets" nonprofits and issues, Responsive
(Unknown)
Current or former grantee
Funded for lesser amount
2018
Good
Very responsive to calls and emails.
Good
This is one of few funders that "gets it" about working with nonprofits that serve at risk populations, particularly undocumented individuals. We don't have to verbally tap dance around the fact that we serve undocumented individuals, so we can more fully disclose the challenges this work involves and engage foundation staff in helping us to figure out new service strategies. They also firmly believe in advocacy!
Keep doing what you're doing - general operations funding, technical assistance for grantees to help them build capacity, support for neighborhood-level projects initiated by community members - it all works and is so needed.
The Denver Foundation also manages numerous donor-advised funds.
Communicate! Across the board this is one of their strengths.
16
Grant Applicant - applied before 2014
Definitely speak to a program officer first and take very seriously the definition of vulnerable populations, which is incredibly narrowly defined.
Bureaucratic
Colorado
Current or former grantee
Funded for amount requested
Before 2014
Bad
When I first reached out to meet with a program officer when considering a 2016 application, I got passed around to various people, handed off to an admin and then told to wait several weeks until a general meeting, at which time they said that no one should consider applying without meeting with a program officer first. It was like they were confused about being approached by a potential grantee and then changed their minds and pretended the outreach never happened. It was very frustrating and unwelcoming. Ultimately, that experience and a few others have led me to exclude this funder from my list of potential foundations.
Average
Either increase the amount of your grants or decrease the application requirements. The two are way out of synch. We expect to complete this amount of application due diligence for grants that are 10 times bigger than what DF usually awards.
This funder demands a disproportionate amount of work to apply and to deliver for the amount they are willing to invest in their grantees. I would be hard pressed to ever say that it would be worth the effort, unless you are applying for a small, discrete project with very specific and measurable deliverables. Also, they encourage collaborative grants but will only award $20-25,000, which, once divided among collaborators is an impossibly small amount of funding to work with unless supplementing another source.
I think they are good stewards in the community and provide a great service on donor advised funds.
30
Reviewer 987 - Grant Applicant - applied in 2015
The new Education program officer is great, the former Education program officer did not return calls or emails. The new President of the foundation is also great- she gets it, she gets non profits, she gets leadership, its a nice change of pace for the Denver Foundation.
Friendly, Builds relationships, Likes site visits, "Gets" nonprofits and issues, Openminded, Responsive
Colorado
Current or former grantee
Funded for lesser amount
2015
Good
The new Education Program officer wants to meet with anyone who is interested, she is candid and responsive and also gets what its like to be on the grantee end.
Average
I think some more innovation and risk taking would further their place in the community as a leader.
Be thought partners for your grantees, connect your directive and responsive grant making more seamlessly where possible.
Represents the broad array of perspectives of the community.
8
Reviewer 851 - Grant Applicant - applied in 2016
Reach out to the program officer for a call or meeting before applying. Be sure to highlight partnerships with current grantees if possible or submit a collaborative proposal.
Friendly, Likes site visits, Responsive
California
Current or former grantee
Funded for lesser amount
2016
Good
Fairly easy to get a meeting with. This funder encourages communication with program officers for its community grantmaking initiatives.
Average
The majority of the foundations wealth is held in inaccessible donor advised funds making it difficult for community groups to access more sizable, unrestricted grants.
Simplify the grant application for requests under $20,000. The CO common grant format is helpful, but very time intensive for technical assistance grants and other requests of $10,000 or less.
Support people of color giving circles in Denver.
