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Colorado Gives Foundation

Annual Giving
$5.7M
Grant Range
$3K - $0.1M
Decision Time
3mo

Colorado Gives Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Total Assets: $500,513,271
  • Annual Grantmaking: $5.7 million+ (2024 Thriving Jeffco program)
  • Decision Time: 8-12 weeks
  • Grant Range: $2,500 - $50,000
  • Geographic Focus: Jefferson County (Jeffco), Colorado
  • Application Method: Rolling basis through GranteeView portal

Contact Details

Address: 5855 Wadsworth Bypass Unit A, Arvada, CO 80003

Phone: 720-898-5900

Email: hello@ColoradoGivesFoundation.org

Website: https://www.ColoradoGivesFoundation.org

Grant Support: Organizations with questions during the application process can submit a request to connect with the foundation team through their website

Overview

Colorado Gives Foundation (formerly Community First Foundation) was founded in 1975 as the Lutheran Medical Center Foundation, originally serving as the fundraising arm of Lutheran Medical Center. Over 50 years, it has evolved into an independent community foundation dedicated to improving lives in Jefferson County, Colorado. With assets exceeding $500 million, the foundation focuses exclusively on helping Jefferson County thrive through strategic grantmaking across three impact areas: Collective Wellbeing, Economic Freedom, and Vibrant Communities. Beyond grantmaking, Colorado Gives Foundation created ColoradoGives.org, a year-round online giving platform, and founded Colorado Gives Day in 2010, which has raised over half a billion dollars for Colorado nonprofits. In 2024, the foundation awarded its largest-ever funding opportunity, granting $5.7 million to 184 nonprofits serving Jefferson County. President and CEO Kelly Dunkin, who joined in 2019, has been recognized as one of Denver Business Journal's Most Admired CEOs for her leadership in building community connections and addressing local needs.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Colorado Gives Foundation offers grants across six core focus areas, with applications processed on a rolling basis through their GranteeView portal:

  • Food Security (Opens Spring 2027): $2,500 - $50,000. Four key funding areas include Pantries, People (expanding benefits like SNAP and WIC), Procurement (increasing food supply and access), and Policy (advocacy for food access). In 2025, the foundation awarded $3 million to 68 nonprofits for food security initiatives.

  • Housing (Opens Spring 2026): Funding to support improving access to stable and affordable housing for middle-income households in Jefferson County.

  • Early Care and Education (Opens Summer 2027): Supporting quality childcare and education for children 8 years and younger. Nearly $500,000 was awarded to nonprofit partners working to improve coordination and access for families and caregivers.

  • Workforce Development (Opens Fall 2027): Helping Jefferson County residents adapt to evolving job markets and securing better employment opportunities.

  • Health (Opens Summer 2026): Supporting holistic wellbeing of Jeffco residents, encompassing mental, social, spiritual, and physical health.

  • Convenient Neighborhoods (Opens Fall 2026): Enhancing community spaces and access to parks, transportation hubs, farmers markets, recreation centers, and other amenities.

  • Thriving Jeffco Responsive Grant: A major funding initiative that awarded $5.7 million to 184 nonprofits in September 2024, with individual grants ranging from $2,500 to $50,000. An additional $922,213 was awarded to 27 more organizations in a follow-up round.

Priority Areas

Colorado Gives Foundation's vision is to see all of Jefferson County thriving. Their funding is organized around three interconnected impact areas:

Collective Wellbeing: Ensuring all neighbors have consistent access to nutritious food and attainable housing, supporting stable, accessible, and affordable living conditions.

Economic Freedom: Starting with early care and education and extending through workforce development, creating careers that build generational wealth.

Vibrant Communities: Built on a foundation of holistic wellbeing, social connection, and easy access to the places where people can live, work, and interact.

What They Don't Fund

  • Organizations not serving Jefferson County residents
  • Applicants who cannot demonstrate impact in Jefferson County through number of residents served, percentage of budget applied to Jeffco, or specific programs focused on serving Jeffco populations
  • Grants to donor advised funds cannot be directed to organizations that are not 501(c)(3) public charities with status of 509(a)(1) or 509(a)(2)

Governance and Leadership

President & CEO: Kelly Dunkin joined Colorado Gives Foundation in February 2019. A veteran nonprofit leader and natural connector, she brings together partners interested in building a brighter, more equitable future for everyone. Recognized as one of Denver Business Journal's Most Admired CEOs, Dunkin is a leader in affordable housing initiatives and workforce development. She led the launch of the "Bring it Home" fund, seeding it with $15 million to support affordable housing for essential workers.

Leadership Philosophy: Dunkin emphasizes: "We've learned the importance of listening to nonprofits and the broader community in order to identify what the needs and opportunities are." She has also stated that "trust and relationships matter a lot." On the importance of giving, she noted: "Colorado's nonprofits need our support this year more than ever, and the incredible thing about Colorado Gives Day is that the opportunity to help has never been easier."

Team: The foundation employs a dedicated team including Kim (Board and Committee Manager), Tim (Endowment Manager), Cindy (Director of Communications and Community Outreach), Lindsey Fontneau (Digital Marketing Manager), and additional administrative and program staff.

Endowment Management: The foundation manages an endowment portfolio consisting of funds for over 130 different organizations, with the average fund value at $300,000 and the largest fund valued at over $5 million.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

All applications are submitted through the GranteeView portal at cgf.iphiview.com:

  1. Register as a Grant Administrator: Go to the GranteeView Portal, click "Register as a Grant Administrator," and enter your first and last name and email address.

  2. Access Grant Opportunities: Visit ColoradoGivesFoundation.org, hover over the "Everyone" tab, and select "Grantee Portal Login." Browse available grant opportunities.

  3. Preview Application: Use the Preview Application button on the Application Dashboard to download a PDF of questions and prepare responses in advance.

  4. Complete Application: Follow instructions on the Application Dashboard. The final page contains full terms and conditions that must be accepted before submitting.

  5. Submit with Authority: The submission serves as both the application and grant agreement, so the person clicking "Submit" must have contractual authority to obligate the organization.

  6. Request Support: If you have questions during the application process or don't see an opportunity that aligns with your work, submit a request to connect with the foundation team.

Decision Timeline

  • Application Review: Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis, with decisions made within 60 days of the application close date
  • Notification: Grant Administrators are notified by email of the decision
  • Due Diligence: Once approved, the foundation verifies current charitable status and mailing address
  • Payment Processing: The foundation aims to process all applications and mail checks within 12 weeks of submission
  • Total Timeline: Approximately 8-12 weeks from submission to payment

Success Rates

In 2024, the Thriving Jeffco Responsive Grant program received over $8 million in funding requests for an initially planned $4 million program. The foundation increased funding to $5.7 million, ultimately awarding 184 grants in the first round and 27 additional grants in a follow-up round (totaling $6,623,600). This suggests strong competition for funding, though specific success rate percentages are not publicly disclosed.

In 2023, the foundation made 1,992 awards across all programs.

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants are not publicly documented. Organizations with questions about reapplying should contact the foundation team through their website or email hello@ColoradoGivesFoundation.org.

Application Success Factors

Demonstrate Jefferson County Impact: The foundation exclusively funds organizations serving Jefferson County residents. Applications must clearly demonstrate impact in Jeffco through quantifiable metrics such as:

  • Number of Jefferson County residents served
  • Percentage of budget applied to Jeffco programs
  • Specific programs focused on serving Jeffco populations

Align with Impact Areas: Successful applications align with one or more of the foundation's three impact areas (Collective Wellbeing, Economic Freedom, Vibrant Communities) and six focus areas (Food Security, Housing, Early Care and Education, Workforce Development, Health, Convenient Neighborhoods).

Show Community Listening: The foundation values organizations that listen to community needs. As Kelly Dunkin stated: "We've learned the importance of listening to nonprofits and the broader community in order to identify what the needs and opportunities are."

Address Documented Needs: The foundation's impact areas were "developed through active community listening and groundbreaking data and research to find out how to best help all of Jeffco thrive." Applications should reference local data and community-identified needs.

Build Trust and Relationships: According to CEO Kelly Dunkin, "trust and relationships matter a lot." While the foundation accepts applications from organizations they don't already know, building relationships with the foundation team can strengthen applications.

Recent Funded Examples:

  • Colorado Youth for a Change: $50,000
  • Commún: $50,000
  • Denver Indian Family Resource Center: $50,000
  • Jeffco Prosperity Partners: $100,000 (workforce development and health initiatives to help low-income families overcome poverty)
  • Jefferson Center for Mental Health: $200,000
  • Adaptive Adventures: $25,000
  • CASA of Jefferson and Gilpin Counties: $15,000
  • Brown Bag Ministries: $2,500

Eligibility Requirements: Organizations must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, an organization operating under fiscal sponsorship of a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, or a government entity.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Geographic exclusivity is absolute: If you don't serve Jefferson County residents with demonstrable impact, you are not eligible. Be prepared to provide specific numbers and percentages.

  • Responsive to community need: The foundation increased their largest grant program from $4 million to $5.7 million (then to $6.6 million total) when they saw the level of community need. They are willing to expand funding when justified.

  • Rolling applications with specific windows: While applications are processed on an ongoing basis, each focus area has scheduled opening dates (2026-2027). Plan ahead and watch for announcements.

  • 12-week funding timeline: Budget for a 3-month process from submission to receiving funds. Decisions come in 8-9 weeks, with another 3-4 weeks for payment processing.

  • Preview feature is your friend: Use the GranteeView portal's Preview Application feature to prepare thorough responses offline before entering them into the system.

  • Wide grant range reflects flexibility: Awards from $2,500 to $50,000 (and occasionally higher for large impact organizations) show the foundation funds organizations of varying sizes and capacities.

  • Submit with proper authority: Unlike many foundations, Colorado Gives Foundation's application submission serves as the grant agreement, so ensure the person submitting has contractual authority to bind the organization.

References

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