Lowe Fund

The Lowe Fund is a field-of-interest fund administered by The Denver Foundation, a community foundation based in Colorado that manages charitable funds and distributes grants to support local nonprofit organizations. Established in the 1960s by the Lowe family and housed at The Denver Foundation since 1994, the fund reflects a long-standing philanthropic commitment to improving the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities. The foundation itself plays a central role in convening resources, donors, and nonprofit partners to address pressing community needs across Colorado. The primary purpose of the Lowe Fund is to support nonprofit organizations engaged in training, education, and research related to cerebral palsy, developmental disabilities, and other nervous and muscular diseases and disorders. The fund prioritizes efforts that contribute to understanding causes, advancing treatments, and improving quality of life for affected individuals. In alignment with its mission, the fund supports initiatives that foster inclusion, independence, and meaningful participation in society, including access to employment, education, and health-related opportunities. Funding is available in the range of 10000 to 25000 dollars per award. While specific allowable cost categories are not explicitly detailed, the scope of funding includes programmatic activities such as direct services, research initiatives, and educational programming that align with the fund’s mission. Organizations engaged in systems-level advocacy, including legal advocacy, are also eligible. However, funding is restricted to efforts directly related to the specified populations; organizations serving individuals with unrelated physical disabilities are not eligible. Eligibility requirements specify that applicants must be recognized as 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations or operate under a fiscal sponsor with such status. Organizations must be located in or provide services within the state of Colorado. Additionally, organizations with annual budgets of 6 million dollars or more are generally ineligible unless they provide services outside the seven-county metro Denver area. Rural organizations are explicitly encouraged to apply, reflecting an emphasis on geographic equity in service provision. The application process requires organizations to register and submit materials through The Denver Foundation’s online grant portal. While detailed application components are not explicitly outlined, applicants are expected to complete an online submission aligned with the foundation’s guidelines. There is no mention of pre-application requirements such as letters of intent. Applicants may only submit one application per year, even though the program operates on two distinct cycles. The Lowe Fund operates on a recurring annual cycle with two application windows. The spring cycle runs from early February through mid-March, and the fall cycle runs from July 1 through August 17. For the current cycle, applications opened on July 1, 2026, and close on August 17, 2026. The program is competitive, with an approximate funding rate of 32 percent. Applicants with questions during the process are encouraged to contact the program via the provided email address. While specific award notification timelines and performance periods are not stated, the recurring nature of the program indicates ongoing annual opportunities for eligible organizations.