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Caring for Denver Foundation

Annual Giving
$44.8M
Grant Range
$200K - $0.8M

Caring for Denver Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $44.8 million (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Varies by grant cycle (see Call for Proposals)
  • Grant Range: Varies widely by program (examples: $200,000 - $800,000+)
  • Geographic Focus: Denver, CO (City and County residents only)

Contact Details

Website: https://caring4denver.org/
Email: info@caring4denver.org
Phone: Not publicly listed
Grant Portal: Applications submitted through online Grants Portal

Overview

Caring for Denver Foundation is a taxpayer-funded, independent foundation created in 2018 with overwhelming voter support (70% approval) through a 0.25% sales tax initiative. Since beginning grantmaking in 2020, the foundation has awarded more than $228 million to address Denver's mental health and substance misuse needs through community-informed solutions. The foundation employs 15 staff members and is led by Executive Director Lorez Meinhold. With a Charity Navigator Four-Star rating (96% score) and a program expense ratio of 94.58%, the foundation demonstrates strong financial accountability. The foundation is governed by a 13-member board appointed by the Mayor, District Attorney, and City Council President, and has funded more than 218 unique community-based organizations, schools, and agencies. The foundation opens one funding area at a time to create concentrated impact that improves systems.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation focuses on three primary funding areas, opening one at a time:

  • Youth: Supporting organizations that provide resources to reduce crisis, address trauma, and increase mental well-being for Denver youth coping with life stressors. Emphasizes family and ally involvement in helping youth address trauma, mental health, and substance misuse needs.

  • Community-Centered Solutions: Supporting trusted community organizations and partnerships that prioritize access, cultural relevance, and connections. Includes support for providers, caregivers, and peers with resources and training for self-care while meeting community needs.

  • Alternatives to Jail: Preventing people with substance misuse and mental health conditions from unnecessarily interacting with the criminal legal system. For those who have interacted with the system, supports recovery with access to a wide range of community support to prevent reentry.

The foundation also funds Special Initiatives to address emerging needs.

Recent Grant Examples (2024-2025):

  • Metropolitan State University of Denver: $800,000 for clinical training programs
  • The Hadanou Collective: $552,500 for capacity building
  • Denver Health Foundation: Behavioral health care coordination expansion
  • The Blue Bench: Mental health services and culturally responsive therapy
  • The Gathering Place: Trauma-informed navigation for women, transgender, and nonbinary people experiencing homelessness

Application Method: Rolling basis with fixed Calls for Proposals (tri-annual funding cycles)

Priority Areas

  • Mental health and substance misuse prevention, treatment, recovery, and harm reduction
  • Initiatives that expand access to underserved communities
  • Programs tailored to community needs and informed by community members
  • Culturally relevant and trauma-informed services
  • Peer support and recovery services
  • Clinical training and workforce development
  • Services for BIPOC communities, youth, and populations experiencing homelessness

What They Don't Fund

  • Grants to individuals, for-profit organizations, or private foundations
  • Annual appeals, membership drives, underwriting, or fundraising events
  • Fee-for-service or other payments for individual care
  • Re-granting to other organizations (generally)
  • General operating support or facilities support (currently only accepting program/project support)
  • Programs requiring participation in or advancing a particular religious faith or belief
  • Programs serving residents outside the City and County of Denver

Governance and Leadership

Executive Director: Lorez Meinhold

Board of Directors (13 members appointed by Mayor, District Attorney, and City Council President):

  • Leslie Herod, State Representative, Board Chair (Appointed by District Attorney)
  • Christina Carlson, Urban Peak, Board Vice Chair (Appointed by City Council)
  • Dellena Aguilar, PhD, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Board Secretary (Appointed by City Council)
  • Donna Lynne, Denver Health, Board Treasurer (Appointed by Mayor)
  • James Greer, WellPower (Appointed by Mayor)
  • Frank Locantore, Colfax Ave Business Improvement District (Appointed by City Council)
  • Tristan Sanders, City and County of Denver, Department of Public Health & Environment Designee
  • Regina Huerter, Policy Research Associates (Appointed by District Attorney)
  • Keith Hayes, 5280 High School (Appointed by City Council)
  • Anne-Marie Braga, Denver Department of Human Services (Appointed by Mayor)
  • John Walsh, Denver District Attorney (Appointed by Mayor)
  • Jesse Ogas, 9News (Appointed by City Council)

Key Quote from Leadership:

Executive Director Lorez Meinhold emphasized: "We really try to keep community at the center of everything we do, and we always look for that in people's proposals. We want to see how the community you serve informs your work, and how members from that community are co-creators in whatever initiatives your organization is pursuing."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

  1. Check Current Funding Area: The foundation opens one funding area at a time. Check caring4denver.org/grants to see which area is currently open. (Alternatives to Jail is scheduled to open March 2026)

  2. Review Resources: Visit the Resources page to see required documents and download the Word template showing all application questions

  3. Register in Grants Portal: New users must register for an account by the registration date listed in the Call for Proposals (typically a few days before the application deadline)

  4. Complete Application: Submit application online through the Grants Portal, including:

    • Completed application form
    • Line-Item Budget using their template
    • Supporting documents as specified in the Call for Proposals

  5. One Application Per Cycle: The foundation accepts one application per organization in each open Call for Proposals

Important Note: Organizations do not have to be located in Denver, but programs/projects must serve residents of the City and County of Denver. Organizations must demonstrate a strong Denver presence.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines vary based on application volume and are specified in each Call for Proposals document.

Post-Submission Process:

  1. Review and evaluation period (length varies by cycle)
  2. Award notification via email award letter
  3. Program officer outreach to review and refine objectives
  4. Grant agreement outlining terms and conditions
  5. Payment processing (twice monthly once signed agreement is received)

Success Rates

The foundation awarded:

  • 2024: 108 grants
  • 2023: 112 grants
  • 2022: 172 grants
  • 2021: 126 grants

More than 218 unique organizations received funding in the first three years. Specific application-to-award ratios are not publicly disclosed.

Reported Impact: Grantees report that among those served, 71% showed reduction in substance misuse, 76% showed improvement in mental health, and 94% did not enter or return to incarceration. More than 311,000 Denverites learned about or used services as a result of grantees' work.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations with declined applications can reapply in future grant cycles. Reapplications are subject to the same review process as new applications, with no specific waiting period required. The foundation encourages applicants with questions to contact them at info@caring4denver.org.

Application Success Factors

Based on guidance from the foundation and their funding patterns, successful applications demonstrate:

1. Community Co-Creation (Most Critical)
Executive Director Lorez Meinhold explicitly stated this is what they look for: "We want to see how the community you serve informs your work, and how members from that community are co-creators in whatever initiatives your organization is pursuing." Applications must demonstrate that community members are actively shaping the work, not just receiving services.

2. Cultural Relevance and Responsiveness
The foundation's grantmaking process is "centered in reflecting the unique cultural needs, values, and beliefs of the city's diverse communities." Successful applicants show how their approach is culturally tailored to the populations they serve.

3. Alignment with Priority Populations
Recent funding has prioritized:

  • BIPOC communities (including maternal mental health initiatives)
  • Youth experiencing trauma
  • People experiencing homelessness
  • Individuals at risk of criminal legal system involvement
  • LGBTQ+ populations

4. Trauma-Informed Approaches
Multiple funded organizations emphasize trauma-informed care models. Applications should demonstrate understanding and implementation of trauma-informed practices.

5. Access and Equity Focus
The foundation prioritizes initiatives that expand access to underserved communities and address gaps in the mental health and substance misuse care ecosystem.

6. Systems Change Potential
The foundation opens one funding area at a time "to create impact that improves systems." Applications should articulate how the proposed work contributes to systemic improvements, not just individual services.

7. Strong Denver Presence
While organizations don't need to be located in Denver, they must demonstrate a strong presence in the city and exclusively serve Denver residents through the grant-funded work.

8. Peer Support and Lived Experience
The foundation funds significant peer recovery work. Organizations incorporating peers with lived experience of mental health challenges or substance use are well-positioned.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Community co-creation is non-negotiable: Your proposal must clearly demonstrate how community members actively inform and shape your work, not just benefit from it
  • Only one funding area open at a time: Check the website before investing time in proposal development—if your focus area isn't open, you'll need to wait for the next cycle
  • Denver residents only: Even if your organization is based elsewhere, 100% of grant-funded activities must serve City and County of Denver residents
  • Cultural responsiveness matters deeply: The foundation explicitly prioritizes work that reflects the unique cultural needs, values, and beliefs of Denver's diverse communities
  • Tri-annual funding cycle: Plan ahead—the foundation typically opens each priority area once per year, so missed deadlines mean significant wait times
  • Register early in the Grants Portal: Registration closes before the application deadline, and you cannot submit without an account
  • Use their templates: The foundation provides Word templates and line-item budget formats—use them to ensure you're addressing all requirements
  • This is a public trust: The foundation distributes voter-approved tax dollars and operates under intense scrutiny for transparency and accountability. Applications should demonstrate responsible stewardship of public funds.

References

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