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Mile High United Way Inc

Annual Giving
$37.6M
Grant Range
$20K - $0.1M
Decision Time
5mo

Mile High United Way Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $37.6 million
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: 4-5 months
  • Grant Range: Varies by program (recent awards $20,000-$50,000 average)
  • Geographic Focus: Seven-county Metro Denver area (Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, and Jefferson Counties)

Contact Details

Website: https://unitedwaydenver.org
Phone: 303.433.8383
Email: info@unitedwaydenver.org
Grants Team Email: mhuwgrants@unitedwaydenver.org
Address: 711 Park Avenue West, Denver, CO 80205

Overview

Founded on October 16, 1887, Mile High United Way is the world's first United Way chapter, established by a diverse group of visionaries including Frances Wisebart Jacobs, a priest, two ministers, and a rabbi. The organization invests $37.6 million annually across the seven-county Metro Denver community, impacting over 599,400 lives through direct services and community partnerships. They maintain Four-Star ratings from Charity Navigator and Gold Transparency from GuideStar, reflecting their commitment to fiscal responsibility. Their mission to "unite people, ideas and resources to advance the common good" drives strategic investments in early childhood education, housing stability, and economic opportunity throughout Metro Denver.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

  • Strategic Investment Grants (SIG): Flagship competitive grant program for nonprofits providing high-quality early childhood education, out-of-school time programming, and access to housing, food, legal services, and tax preparation
  • Targeted Community Investments: Recent examples include $1.25 million to 53 organizations (September 2025) and $1.9 million to 73 organizations (June 2024)

Priority Areas

  • Giving All Children A Strong Start in Life
  • Supporting Education and Academic Success
  • Creating Economic Opportunity for All
  • Basic needs support (housing, food security)
  • Early childhood care and education
  • Homelessness prevention and housing stability
  • Small business support
  • Tax assistance programs

What They Don't Fund

Not explicitly stated in available documentation

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership:

  • Christine Benero - President and Chief Executive Officer
  • Michael Burke - Chief Financial Officer
  • Vanecia Kerr - Chief Impact Officer
  • Chelsea Carver - Chief Strategy Officer
  • Cori Deterding - Interim Chief Development Officer
  • Wade Treichler - Chief Operations Officer

Board Chair: Neil Oberfeld (Greenberg Traurig, LLP)

The Board of Trustees comprises over 50 business and community leaders from major corporations including Comcast, Ball Corporation, Wells Fargo, and Bank of America, representing diverse sectors across Metro Denver.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are submitted through an online portal during specific application windows. The Strategic Investment Grants process follows this annual timeline:

  • February: RFP Released
  • Late February: Application Portal Opens
  • Early March: Application Deadline (typically 5:00 p.m. MT)
  • March-April: Zoom Application Meetings with applicants
  • June: Selection Process
  • July: Funding Begins

Required documentation includes:

  • Financial documents
  • Organization overview
  • Demographic information

Information sessions are offered throughout the application period to support applicants.

Decision Timeline

Approximately 4-5 months from application deadline to funding commencement. Organizations are notified of their application status, and funding begins after grant contract agreements are completed.

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed, though the organization describes the process as "competitive" and "community-driven"

Reapplication Policy

Not specified in available documentation

Application Success Factors

Mile High United Way employs an "innovative grantmaking process that centers the voices of each organization." They look for programs that:

  • Align with their three strategic priority areas
  • Demonstrate measurable community impact
  • Serve the seven-county Metro Denver region
  • Address critical needs in early childhood education, out-of-school programming, or basic needs
  • Show organizational capacity to deliver high-quality programs

Recent successful grants have supported organizations providing wraparound services that connect community members to resources throughout their life journey, "from infancy through adulthood."

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Mile High United Way invests heavily in comprehensive, multi-service approaches rather than single-issue programs
  • The organization values community-driven solutions and centers grantee voices in the selection process
  • Strong alignment with one of three strategic priorities (children's early start, education/academic success, economic opportunity) is essential
  • Applications open for a brief window (typically 10-12 days), so advance preparation is critical
  • Attending information sessions during the application period is strongly recommended
  • The grants team (mhuwgrants@unitedwaydenver.org) is available for questions during the application process
  • Recent grant sizes have ranged widely, with targeted investments averaging $20,000-$50,000 per organization

References

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