Colorado Diversity Equity and Inclusion Grants

This funding opportunity supports Colorado cities, counties, and conservation organizations in developing strategic initiatives that enhance outdoor spaces and promote equity in natural resource management.

This program provides funding to support education and outreach initiatives that raise public awareness of water issues in Colorado, targeting local basin coordinators and broader statewide projects.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for new events and activities that enhance community engagement, tourism, and economic vibrancy in Breckenridge, targeting local nonprofits, event producers, schools, and businesses.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations focused on animal welfare and children's health, with a preference for those serving Colorado communities.

The "2024 Fall Advancing Advocacy and Justice with Communities of Color" grant aims to financially support advocacy organizations led by or focused on people of color, with the goal of promoting health equity, influencing policy, and advancing racial and economic justice in their communities.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to Colorado nonprofit organizations and schools to create accessible arts education projects for historically marginalized youth, fostering collaboration with professional artists and addressing community needs.

This grant provides financial support to arts and culture organizations in the Denver area that are facing economic challenges due to recent federal policy changes, particularly those serving marginalized communities.

The Caring for Denver Foundation is offering the "Alternatives to Jail" grant, aligning with its mission to address mental health and substance misuse conditions, particularly in relation to the criminal legal system. This initiative seeks to prevent unnecessary interactions with law enforcement, provide support within jail or prison systems, and offer culturally responsive community-based services for those impacted by the criminal legal system. The program is a direct manifestation of the Foundation's strategic priorities, aiming to foster a healthier and more supportive environment for Denver residents by reducing the reliance on incarceration for individuals with these conditions. The grant targets Denver residents, including those physically residing full-time in the city, individuals experiencing homelessness within the city, minors in the custody of Denver Human Services, minors in the primary legal and residency custody of a City resident, and non-City residents placed in mental health/substance abuse programs within a City Jail. The overarching impact goal is to improve mental health and substance misuse outcomes, reduce criminal legal system involvement for these populations, and enhance access to appropriate care and support. The foundation seeks to achieve measurable results through projects that demonstrate improved access to care, increased feelings of understanding and respect in care settings, and smoother transitions between care phases, ultimately leading to greater stability and reduced recidivism. The Foundation prioritizes projects that address Denver's mental health and substance misuse challenges across three key areas: Inclusive Access, Attention to Fit, and Care Over Time. Inclusive Access focuses on making care and support accessible in ways that are convenient, comfortable, and tailored to individual schedules, promoting participation and skill-building. Attention to Fit emphasizes culturally designed and matched care options, ensuring individuals feel understood and respected, and also supports the mental health of care providers. Care Over Time aims to improve care transitions, minimize disruptions, and increase stability, especially during critical periods like re-entry into the community from the criminal legal system. These focus areas reflect the Foundation's theory of change, which posits that by improving access, cultural relevance, and continuity of care, individuals will experience better outcomes and reduced entanglement with the criminal legal system. The total funding available for this grant area is $14.4 million, with a minimum of $4.8 million allocated to City and County of Denver agencies. Applicants, including 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations (or those fiscally sponsored by one), Indian or Native American entities, and government-supported entities, are encouraged to consider the total available amount when making their requests. The Foundation will evaluate grant budgets for reasonableness and consider prior grant history in allocation decisions. By strategically distributing these funds to eligible organizations and agencies, the Caring for Denver Foundation expects to see a significant positive impact on mental health and substance misuse challenges within the Denver community, contributing to a more equitable and supportive environment for all residents.

This grant provides matching funds to nonprofit and locally-owned newsrooms in Colorado to support their year-end fundraising campaigns, helping them raise awareness and financial support for public service journalism in their communities.

This program provides funding to individuals, businesses, nonprofits, and government entities in Telluride for projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainability within the community.

This grant provides $100,000 to nonprofit organizations in the Denver area to support transformative projects that enhance economic opportunity, health, or social services for local residents.

This program provides funding to commercial property owners and managers in Boulder to create affordable spaces for small businesses, particularly those owned by women and minorities, helping them thrive in the community.

This grant provides financial support to fire districts and departments in rural and mountain areas of Boulder County for equipment, infrastructure, and training improvements to enhance emergency services.

The Disability Inclusion Fund (DIF) at Borealis Philanthropy is actively seeking applications from organizations dedicated to advancing disability inclusion, rights, and justice. This grant program is deeply aligned with Borealis Philanthropy's broader mission to foster a more vibrant, just, and joyful world for people with disabilities. The fund's strategic priorities are rooted in intersectional cross-movements and collaborative efforts, supporting initiatives ranging from arts and culture to policy and advocacy that dismantle ableism and promote authentic representation of disabled people. The primary beneficiaries of DIF grants are organizations whose work is driven by and accountable to the disability justice movement, with a particular emphasis on those most impacted by injustice and exclusion. This includes disabled people with multiple and intersecting social and political identities, such as race, gender identity, class, and sexual orientation. The fund prioritizes organizations led by disabled people, specifically Black, Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC), queer, gender non-conforming, and women with disabilities, where over 50% of the leadership (management staff, advisory committees, or governing boards) identify as disabled. DIF's core focuses include promoting radical inclusion by removing barriers and ensuring access, valuing lived experience, and emphasizing the leadership of those most impacted. The program also fosters cross-movement solidarity, encouraging collaboration and bridge-building among disability justice activists and across various social movements like Black lives, climate change, immigration rights, labor rights, racial justice, and queer and trans liberation. This approach reflects a theory of change that believes systemic change occurs through interconnected movements and the empowerment of marginalized communities. Expected outcomes include strengthening grassroots disabled-led organizations, expanding their operational capacities for ongoing movement building, and driving narrative change that dismantles ableism in policy, society, and culture. Measurable results will stem from work that moves practices of disability inclusion and justice forward through community organizing, mutual aid, advocacy, and policy work, as well as strategies that celebrate and elevate the authentic representation of disabled people in arts, media, and literature. This two-year grant opportunity provides $75,000 per year, totaling $150,000, for eligible U.S.-based or U.S. territory-based 501(c)3 organizations or fiscally sponsored entities with an annual budget under $1 million.

This funding opportunity supports projects that improve habitats and migration routes for big game species in the western U.S., targeting conservation organizations, state and tribal agencies, and community groups involved in wildlife management.

This grant provides funding to Colorado nonprofits and schools to enhance access to arts education for historically marginalized youth through collaborative projects with professional artists.

The City of Boulder's Human Relations Fund (HRF) offers grants between $10,000 to $100,000 to nonprofit organizations and individual organizers for community-led projects that promote civil rights, human rights, or equity issues, foster diversity and inclusivity, and provide free, public events within Boulder, particularly benefiting marginalized communities.

This grant provides financial support to Colorado-based nonprofit organizations focused on addressing the historical and ongoing impacts of slavery and segregation on African American communities, promoting economic strength, cultural preservation, and systemic change.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for community-based programs that help individuals facing mental health and substance use challenges, particularly those from marginalized backgrounds, access culturally relevant recovery services.

The Rose Community Foundation is offering a grant opportunity focused on supporting nonprofit organizations engaged in equity-focused policy and advocacy work within the Greater Denver region. This initiative aligns with the foundation's broader mission to foster equity, justice, inclusion, and engagement in local communities, particularly those furthest from opportunity. The foundation seeks to fund a diverse array of organizations working at both state and local levels, pursuing various short- or long-term policy objectives across a broad spectrum of issues. This grant cycle specifically aims to strengthen the dynamic ecosystem of organizations that leverage policy and advocacy to create equitable conditions for local communities. The primary beneficiaries of this grant are nonprofit organizations—both 501(c)(3)s and 501(c)(4)s—or fiscally sponsored projects serving the seven-county Greater Denver region (Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, and Jefferson counties), or those advancing statewide policy efforts that directly benefit this catchment area. The impact goals are centered on supporting policy efforts that address systemic inequities, representing a wide range of approaches, perspectives, and populations served. The foundation's strategic priority is to empower organizations that actively work to create conditions for equity, justice, inclusion, and engagement for communities facing significant barriers. The program prioritizes organizations whose work directly involves policy and advocacy. While general operating support will be the most common form of funding to provide maximum flexibility, program or project support is available for organizations whose primary focus isn't policy and advocacy but are pursuing policy-specific initiatives. Organizations conducting national or multi-state work must apply for program funding, ensuring grant dollars are exclusively allocated to local or statewide activities within the specified region. Additionally, organizations applying on behalf of a coalition or 501(c)(4) organizations must also apply for program funding to differentiate from partisan or candidate work. Expected outcomes include a strengthened and more effective network of organizations advocating for equitable policies in the Greater Denver area. The foundation anticipates supporting diverse policy efforts that lead to tangible improvements in conditions for communities furthest from opportunity. Measurable results will likely involve the number and type of policy initiatives supported, the reach and impact of advocacy efforts, and the ability of funded organizations to effectively engage in policy work. Organizations receiving program or project support will be required to report direct and grassroots lobbying expenses, as applicable, contributing to the measurable outcomes and accountability of the grant program.