The Boettcher Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- The Boettcher Foundation funds only within Colorado, so this is the right fit solely for Colorado-based work; organisational applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits or governmental entities with a qualified exempt purpose.
- Match your request to the right programme: Community Connections Grants run $20,000–$75,000, Rural Catalyst Grants and Leadership Practitioner Catalyst Grants run $1,000–$10,000, and the Webb-Waring Biomedical Research Awards Program offers $250,000 for early-career investigators at Colorado research institutions and hospitals.
- Start with an inquiry form during an open cycle - Community Connections Grants have three cycles a year and Rural Catalyst Grants two - and only wait for an invitation before submitting a full application; Community Connections inquiries go through a competitive review of fit with the programme's focus area.
- Rural Catalyst and Leadership Practitioner Catalyst grants must support strategic projects rather than general operating support, so anyone seeking core running costs under these two programmes should not apply there; Community Connections Grants carry their own list of exclusions, including general operating support, ongoing cultural, social and human service programming, fundraising events, capital projects for religious purposes, and work at K-12 schools, hospital facilities or standalone affordable housing.
Overview
The Boettcher Foundation is a US private foundation based in Denver, CO.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Boettcher Foundation invests in people, programmes and organisations across Colorado to build community and support transformational impact. Its grantmaking supports initiatives and infrastructure projects that connect people and organisations, alongside capacity-building projects for rural organisations and leadership organisations seeking a more inclusive and accessible leadership ecosystem. It funds biomedical research by early-career investigators at Colorado research institutions and hospitals, and its leadership work develops emerging leaders through fellowships and collaboratives. The Foundation also supports high-potential Colorado graduating seniors through scholarships to attend a Colorado college or university. Its organisational grant proposals may come from 501(c)(3) nonprofits or governmental entities with a qualified exempt purpose.
Themes
- Community connections
- Rural capacity-building
- Biomedical research
- Inclusive leadership
- Colorado scholarships
Geographic Focus
Colorado.
What They Don't Fund
- Community Connections Grants only: General operating support; Ongoing cultural, social, and human service programming; Fundraising events; Foundations or funds that provide financial assistance to individuals; Capital projects and programs for religious purposes; Organizations primarily serving animals; Capital projects at K-12 charter, public, or private schools; Hospital facilities; Affordable housing (standalone); Emergency service equipment or vehicles
- Rural Catalyst Grants only: general operating support
- Leadership Practitioner Catalyst Grants only: general operating support
How to apply
For grant opportunities using the inquiry process, organisations submit an inquiry form during an open grant-cycle window. If invited, they submit a full application and the additional documents requested.
Deadlines:
- Community Connections Grants have three funding cycles each year.
- Rural Catalyst Grants have two funding cycles.
Application success factors
What the foundation says:
- Community Connections inquiries are invited to a full proposal when they most align with the programme focus area after competitive review.
- Rural Catalyst projects must be strategic rather than general operating support.
- Leadership Practitioner Catalyst projects must be strategic rather than general operating support.
Officers and directors
- Karen Kruse — COO / VP Finance
- Katie S Kramer — President / CEO
- Pamela Shockley-Zalabak — Trustee
- Rick Pederson — Trustee
- Lindsey Paulson — Trustee
- Rico Munn — Trustee
- David Miller — Trustee
- Rebecca Love Kourlis — Trustee
- Jason Wheeler — Treasurer
- Michelle Lucero — Secretary
- Gregory L Moore — Chair-Elect
- Tony Frank — Chair
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
2 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $14,850,545 | $9,477,349 | $317,037,939 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $15,117,821 | $9,803,372 | $346,776,896 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
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Applying to The Boettcher Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required