Pikes Peak Community Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $10,610,505 (2024)
• Number of Awards: 186 (2024)
• Total Investment: $164+ million since inception
• Geographic Focus: El Paso and Teller Counties, Colorado (Pikes Peak Region)
• Grant Funds: Multiple specialized funds including arts, outdoors, education, and community development

Contact Details

Address: 315 E Pikes Peak Ave Ste 120, Colorado Springs, CO 80903-1924

Phone: 719-389-1251

Website: www.ppcf.org

Email: grants@ppcf.org

Grants Portal: www.grantinterface.com/Process/Apply

Overview

Founded with roots dating back to the 1928 creation of the Colorado Springs Community Trust, Pikes Peak Community Foundation (PPCF) has evolved into a major regional community foundation that has invested more than $164 million in the Pikes Peak region. The foundation's mission is to "inspire generosity, serve fundholders, and mobilize resources to effectively and equitably address the Pikes Peak Region's critical issues and transformational opportunities." PPCF takes a strategic, data-driven approach to grantmaking, recently launching "Our Spacious Skies," a major community visioning initiative that surveyed nearly 4,000 residents to identify shared priorities including belonging, environmental stewardship, access to opportunity, housing affordability, and the region's unique character. The foundation earned a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, demonstrating strong financial stewardship and transparency.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Pikes Peak Fund for a Thriving Community Funds emerging needs and opportunities in the region that align with the vision of a thriving, resilient, sustainable community with vibrant quality of life for all. Previous grantees include Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum and Peak Education.

Pikes Peak Fund for the Arts Supports arts and culture initiatives in the region. Has awarded over $500,000 to enhance regional arts and culture since inception. Previous grantees include Colorado Springs Philharmonic.

Pikes Peak Fund for the Outdoors Advances growth, stewardship, preservation, and responsible use of outdoor spaces in the Pikes Peak Region. Previous grantees include El Paso County Parks and Palmer Land Conservancy.

Edson Foundation Supports educational programs and initiatives that promote empowerment, encourage innovation, help with personal development, provide mentoring, and encourage creativity. Also funds nonprofit agencies that encourage personal growth and development skills, pro-social behaviors, job skills and placement, and pursuit of education. Operates on an annual grant cycle with Letters of Interest due May 30 and full applications due September 5.

Margarete Balke Fund Provides lasting support for legally blind and/or hearing-impaired children in the Colorado Springs area.

Gerald Erikson Fund Serves people experiencing blindness and visual impairment in Colorado.

Priority Areas

The foundation focuses on:

• Innovative, scalable solutions to systemic issues of importance to residents
• Projects that maximize impact measured both qualitatively and quantitatively
• Alignment with resident-identified priorities from the "Our Spacious Skies" initiative: belonging, environmental stewardship, access to opportunity, housing affordability, and regional character
• Community development and economic empowerment as tools for addressing critical issues
• Support for the Transforming Safety Initiative in Southeast Colorado Springs, which prioritizes community development and economic empowerment for crime prevention

What They Don't Fund

• Individuals
• Private foundations
• For-profit entities
• Internationally-based organizations (Edson Foundation: work done outside El Paso County)
• Scholarships (Edson Foundation)
• Events (Edson Foundation)
• Capital projects (Edson Foundation, unless supporting affordable housing in rare cases)

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees (18 members)

Leadership:

• Karla Grazier, Chair (Goodwill of Colorado)
• David Seals, Vice Chair (Root by Accenture)
• Venkat Reddy, Treasurer (UCCS)
• Donna Nelson, Secretary (Pikes Peak State College)
• Wendel Torres, Chair Emeritus (Reliant Construction)

Notable Board Members:

• R. Thayer Tutt, Jr. (El Pomar Foundation)
• Margaret Sabin (Dochas Consulting)
• Manya Whitaker (Colorado College)

Staff Leadership

Margaret Dolan, CPA - Chief Executive Officer Former President & CEO with extensive nonprofit and corporate experience. Graduate of University of Tennessee (BS in Business Administration/Accounting) and Vanderbilt University (MBA). Dolan emphasizes collaboration as central to her leadership philosophy, stating: "Collaboration is a word Dolan uses frequently because it's central to her belief that working together is necessary to improve the community." She focuses on "arriving at the shared vision that philanthropists, governments and businesses can look at and use metrics to see measurable improvement and quantify the return to the community."

Nicole Rivet, CFRE - Vice President, Community Investment Over 20 years of nonprofit leadership and fundraising expertise. Certified Fundraising Executive.

Jessie Martinez, CPA - Senior Director, Finance and Operations Previously an Assurance Manager at Forvis Mazars.

Kevin Farley, MBA - Director, Marketing and Communications 15+ years communication management experience, award-winning former broadcast journalist.

Alex McCreary-Ellis, CAPM® - Philanthropic Services Manager Background in St. Louis nonprofit community.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are submitted through an online grants portal at www.grantinterface.com/Process/Apply. The foundation no longer uses a traditional online grants platform for reporting; grant recipients should complete PDF forms and email them to the Program Officer.

For most funds, the process includes:

1. Letter of Intent (LOI) submission
2. Full application invitations sent to selected applicants
3. Application submission through the online portal or via email to grants@ppcf.org

Edson Foundation Specific Timeline:

• Letters of Interest: Due May 30 annually
• Full Applications: Due September 5 annually (invitation only)
• Awards made: October
• Grants distributed: Beginning of November

Decision Timeline

Based on the Edson Foundation timeline, decisions are typically made in October with grants distributed at the beginning of November. The foundation's board reviews applications once per year for certain funds. Specific timelines may vary by fund, so applicants should check the grant portal or contact the foundation for current deadlines.

Success Rates

The foundation made 186 awards in 2024, 189 awards in 2023, 165 awards in 2022, and 150 awards in 2021. Specific application success rates are not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants is not publicly available. Applicants should contact the foundation directly at grants@ppcf.org or 719-389-1251 for guidance on reapplication.

Application Success Factors

Foundation-Specific Guidance

Demonstrate Alignment with Community Priorities: The foundation seeks submissions that align with resident priorities identified through the "Our Spacious Skies" initiative. Proposals should demonstrate how they address belonging, environmental stewardship, access to opportunity, housing affordability, or the region's unique character.

Show Measurable Impact: PPCF explicitly seeks "projects that maximize impact measured both qualitatively and quantitatively." Applications should include clear metrics for success and evaluation plans.

Innovation and Scalability: The foundation looks for "innovative, scalable solutions to systemic issues of importance to the residents of the Pikes Peak Region." Demonstrate how your project addresses root causes and has potential for broader impact.

Strong Preference for Regional Service: While the foundation accepts applications from organizations serving Colorado, they give "strong priority to organizations serving the Pikes Peak Region" (El Paso and Teller Counties).

Edson Foundation Values: For Edson Foundation applicants, align your proposal with their guiding values of perseverance, spirit of overcoming, initiative, sustainability, and curiosity. The foundation is inspired by Al Edson's life story and believes in "the power of possibility and that people sometimes need a boost to hedge the hurdle."

Transparency and Stewardship: PPCF takes its "commitment to transparent, effective, and responsible stewardship of community assets very seriously." Applications should demonstrate sound financial management and accountability.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Regional focus is critical: Strong preference for organizations serving El Paso and Teller Counties; emphasize your local presence and community connections
• Data-driven proposals win: Demonstrate both qualitative and quantitative impact metrics; the foundation values measurable outcomes
• Align with "Our Spacious Skies" findings: Reference community priorities identified through their major research initiative (belonging, environmental stewardship, access to opportunity, housing, regional character)
• Think systemic change: Focus on innovative, scalable solutions that address root causes rather than just symptoms
• Multiple funding opportunities: Explore all relevant funds (Arts, Outdoors, Edson, Thriving Community) to maximize potential support
• Build relationships proactively: The foundation emphasizes collaboration; consider engaging with their community investment initiatives before applying
• Plan ahead for annual cycles: Most funds operate on annual timelines; note specific deadlines for Letters of Intent and full applications

References

• Pikes Peak Community Foundation official website - www.ppcf.org (Accessed January 2026)
• PPCF Grantmaking page - https://www.ppcf.org/community-investment/grantmaking/ (Accessed January 2026)
• PPCF Our People page - https://www.ppcf.org/about-ppcf/our-people/ (Accessed January 2026)
• PPCF Edson Foundation page - https://www.ppcf.org/community-investment/edson-foundation/ (Accessed January 2026)
• PPCF Reports page - https://www.ppcf.org/about-ppcf/reports/ (Accessed January 2026)
• Pikes Peak Community Foundation - GuideStar Profile (EIN 84-1339670) (Accessed January 2026)
• Pikes Peak Community Foundation - Candid Foundation Directory profile (Accessed January 2026)
• Pikes Peak Community Foundation - ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer (Accessed January 2026)
• "Pikes Peak Community Foundation gets new CEO" - Colorado Springs Gazette, September 2022
• "'Take the time to participate': Massive research project seeking to use community input to shape future of Pikes Peak region" - KKTV, February 2025
• "What's important to Colorado Springs-area residents? New civic initiative looks to uncover priorities" - Colorado Springs Gazette, 2025
• Our Spacious Skies website - www.ourspaciousskies.org (Accessed January 2026)
• Cause IQ - Pikes Peak Community Foundation profile (Accessed January 2026)