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Rose Community Foundation

Annual Giving
$28.5M
Grant Range
$5K - $0.2M
Decision Time
5mo

Rose Community Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $28,540,987 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $388 million
  • Decision Time: 4-6 months
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $200,000
  • Geographic Focus: Seven-county Greater Denver region (Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, Jefferson Counties)
  • Number of Awards: 487 grants awarded in 2023

Contact Details

Overview

Rose Community Foundation was established in 1995 with assets from the sale of Rose Medical Center, a hospital created by Denver's Jewish community in 1949. With $388 million in total assets and annual grantmaking approaching $29 million, the foundation advances inclusive, engaged, and equitable Greater Denver communities through values-driven philanthropy. Since its founding, the foundation has granted more than $304 million to 1,901 organizations and initiatives, including $44 million in facilitated grantmaking from donor-advised funds. In January 2020, the foundation released a new strategic plan that removes historical program silos in favor of three ambitious impact goals: advancing equity and justice, fostering an inclusive and engaged Greater Denver, and increasing resources dedicated to strengthening the region. Universal in aspiration yet anchored in Jewish roots and legacy, the foundation's values of justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, empathy, generosity, and transformation through collaboration guide all its work.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Rose Community Foundation offers a blend of open-call, invite-only, and responsive grantmaking for nonprofit organizations. Note: As of late 2025, grantmaking dollars are committed through the end of 2025. The foundation welcomes inquiries about potential opportunities starting in January 2026.

Program-Specific Grant Ranges:

  • Social-emotional learning programs: $25,000 - $100,000 (determined by program budget, staff engaged, and students impacted)
  • Civic engagement and voter participation: $10,000 - $30,000
  • Jewish Life (first-time or not funded since 2016): Up to $25,000 for project/program support
  • General grant range: $5,000 - $200,000

Special Funds:

  • Newcomers Fund: Established December 2022, has raised and distributed nearly $5 million to 60 organizations throughout Colorado supporting immigrants with housing, basic needs, and health/mental health support. Current priorities include immigration legal services, know-your-rights trainings, family preparedness programming, narrative change on immigration, and continuity of support for refugee populations.

Application Method: Rolling basis with no fixed deadlines, but requires initial conversation with program officer before submitting application.

Priority Areas

The foundation focuses on six main areas:

1. Aging

  • Direct in-home and community-based services
  • Transportation solutions
  • Systemic change initiatives supporting older adults living independent, meaningful lives

2. Child and Family Development

  • Early childhood education and development
  • Family self-sufficiency programs
  • Systemic change initiatives supporting healthy child development and economic self-sufficiency

3. Education

  • Teacher effectiveness programs
  • Systemic change initiatives to eliminate the achievement gap in Greater Denver K-12 public schools

4. Health

  • Access to care
  • Cost-effectiveness of healthcare systems
  • Health policy and public health leadership
  • Primary prevention initiatives

5. Immigrants & Refugees

  • Immigration legal services
  • Know-your-rights trainings and family preparedness
  • Narrative change on immigration topics
  • Support for refugee populations

6. Jewish Life

  • Jewish communal organizations and programs

Cross-Cutting Priorities:

  • Civics and Democracy: Civic engagement, civic education, community organizing, community research, media, redistricting, and voter participation
  • Policy and Advocacy: Nonprofits amplifying voices and advancing priorities of those furthest from opportunity
  • Systemic Change: Nonprofits working to remove barriers to self-sufficiency, wellbeing, and wealth building

What They Don't Fund

  • Individuals (no grants to individuals under any circumstances)
  • Programs outside the seven-county Greater Denver region (unless applicant can demonstrate specific relevance and impact on residents within these counties)
  • Grant requests exceeding 15% of an organization's current year operating budget

Governance and Leadership

President & CEO

Lindy Eichenbaum Lent leads the foundation with a focus on leveraging "our region's diversity and generosity in advancing values-driven philanthropy and community impact."

Board Leadership

Martha "Marti" Awad serves as Board Chair (2024-25).

Recent Trustee Additions (February 2025)

  • Katherine Archuleta: Seasoned public servant with career dedicated to helping others
  • David Foster: Co-managing partner of Foster Graham Milstein & Calisher, LLP
  • Leslie Sidell: Community leader with 25+ years nonprofit leadership experience

Previous Trustee Additions

  • 2024: Elise Barish, Krishna Kantheti, Matthew Rich
  • 2022: Martha "Marti" Awad, Steve Kris, Paul Washington

Committee Structure

The foundation established a new Impact Investing Committee in 2025 to oversee investments in companies, organizations, and funds generating positive social and environmental impact alongside financial returns.

Leadership Philosophy

Former President and CEO Sheila Bugdanowitz (1998-2016) emphasized: "Much of the work we do is really long-term. We're looking at long-term, systemic change" and "How can we leverage our dollars to create positive change?"

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Step 1: Initial Contact with Program Officer (Required) Before submitting an application, organizations must speak with a program officer. This is a mandatory prerequisite to the application process.

Step 2: Online Portal Submission

  • Access the grants portal at https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=rcfdenver
  • Create an account or log in to existing account
  • All applications and documentation must be completed and submitted through the online portal
  • Tutorial documents and videos provided by Foundant Technologies
  • For technical assistance, contact Kelly Costello during business hours

Step 3: Application Requirements

  • Grant requests should not exceed 15% of current year's operating budget
  • Complete all required fields in the online application
  • Submit all supporting documentation through the portal

Current Status: Grantmaking dollars committed through end of 2025. Contact Community Impact team starting January 2026 for new opportunities.

Decision Timeline

  • Application Review: Rolling basis (no fixed deadlines)
  • Decision Time: 4-6 months from submission to decision
  • Notification: Through grants portal
  • Awards Made: 487 grants awarded in 2023

Success Rates

While specific success rate percentages are not publicly available, the foundation made 487 awards in 2023, distributing $28,540,987 across various program areas.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants is not specified in publicly available materials. Applicants should inquire with program officers about reapplication guidelines during their initial consultation.

Reporting Requirements

Final Reports: Required one month following the end of the grant period

  • Must be submitted through grants portal only
  • Email, U.S. mail, or in-person submissions are not accepted

Interim Reports: May be required based on grant agreement specifications

Budget Modifications: Organizations can request budget revisions or term extensions by contacting Kelly Costello for access to modification forms within the portal

Application Success Factors

Foundation-Specific Priorities

1. Alignment with Strategic Impact Goals The foundation's 2020 strategic plan eliminated traditional program silos in favor of three overarching impact goals. Successful applications demonstrate how they contribute to:

  • Advancing equity and justice by addressing systemic disparities
  • Fostering an inclusive and engaged Greater Denver through community cohesion
  • Increasing resources dedicated to regional strengthening

2. Values Alignment Applications should reflect the foundation's core values: justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, empathy, generosity, and transformation through collaboration. The foundation emphasizes "values-driven philanthropy" rooted in Jewish legacy but universal in aspiration.

3. Focus on Systemic Change As former CEO Sheila Bugdanowitz stated, "Much of the work we do is really long-term. We're looking at long-term, systemic change." Applications demonstrating long-term impact beyond immediate service delivery are valued.

4. Centering Those Furthest from Opportunity The foundation prioritizes nonprofits "amplifying the voices and advancing the priorities of those furthest from opportunity." Strong applications center affected communities in leadership and decision-making.

5. Geographic Impact Programs must serve residents in the seven-county Greater Denver region (Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, Jefferson). If broader in scope, clearly articulate relevance and specific impact on these counties.

6. Leveraging Foundation Resources The foundation sees its role as catalytic—supporting policy/advocacy work and mobilizing additional resources. Applications showing how grant funds will leverage other support or create sustainable structural improvements are compelling.

7. Pre-Application Relationship Building The required conversation with program officers before applying is not merely procedural. Use this opportunity to ensure genuine fit, receive guidance on strengthening the proposal, and demonstrate your organization's mission alignment.

Recent Funding Examples

  • Arts & Culture (2023): $382,000 to 29 organizations promoting social change and justice through arts
  • Newcomers Fund: Nearly $5 million distributed to 60 organizations supporting immigrant housing, basic needs, and health services
  • Giving Circles: Roots & Branches Foundation (2024-25) focused on engaging young adults 25-45 in Jewish life; Generation Now (2025) supported immigrants, refugees, and newcomers with legal services and belonging programs

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Pre-application consultation is mandatory: Contact program officers before applying to ensure fit and strengthen your proposal
  • Think systemically, not just programmatically: The foundation seeks long-term systemic change over short-term service delivery alone
  • Demonstrate values alignment: Show how your work embodies justice, equity, inclusion, empathy, and collaboration
  • Center affected communities: Applications should demonstrate how those furthest from opportunity are leading and benefiting
  • Budget appropriately: Request no more than 15% of your organization's current operating budget
  • Plan for 4-6 month timeline: Decision processes take time; plan organizational cash flow accordingly
  • Geographic specificity matters: Clearly demonstrate impact on the seven-county Greater Denver region
  • Currently closed for 2025: Grantmaking committed through end of 2025; begin conversations in January 2026 for future opportunities

References

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