The Denver Children's Foundation
Denver, CO · EIN 74-2535078. Reported 224 grants totalling $5,017,500 to 97 organizations across tax years 2021-2024, on Form 990 Schedule I.
Does this grantmaker accept applications?
Its tax return does not say, and we will not guess. Private foundations file Form 990-PF, which asks outright whether they fund only organizations they select themselves -- 78% say yes, and that one answer is what lets the rest of this site tell you which foundations are worth approaching. Grantmaking charities like this one file a regular Form 990 instead, and the IRS never puts the question to them. Anyone claiming to know the answer from the filing is inventing it.
Three things in the filing do bear on it:
- What kind of organization it is. For The Denver Children's Foundation, the IRS classifies it under human services rather than as a grantmaker (NTEE P30) -- it is an operating charity that also makes grants.
- How spread out its giving is. 97 distinct organizations, with 26% of the dollars going to the largest single recipient. That is genuinely spread out -- the mark of a funder making many independent decisions rather than underwriting one institution.
- How much its list changes. 66% of one year's grantees are funded again the next, across 3 year-to-year transitions. That is about the 57% median for grantmaking charities -- noticeably lower than the 67% private foundations manage. Organizations like this one rotate more of their list each year, which is where an opening for a newcomer tends to be.
How big are its grants?
The median reported grant is $10,000. Half of what it reported fell between $10,000 and $15,000; the smallest was $8,000 and the largest $500,000. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong organization.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Recipients are grouped by the EIN the filer reported, not by name, so an organization that was typed differently in two years appears once rather than twice.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver Post Community Foundation | Denver, CO | $1,300,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| The Denver Post Community Foundation | Denver, CO | $800,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center | Breckenridge, CO | $95,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Minds Matter | Denver, CO | $95,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Illuminate Colorado Inc | Denver, CO | $80,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Listen Foundation Inc | Greenwood Vlg, CO | $75,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Shiloh Home Inc | Littleton, CO | $75,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Weecycle | Denver, CO | $70,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Child Advocates - Denver CASA | Denver, CO | $67,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Special Olympics Colorado | Aurora, CO | $65,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Third Way Center Inc | Denver, CO | $62,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Adoption Options | Denver, CO | $60,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Clothes to Kids of Denver | Denver, CO | $60,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Young Americans Center for Financial Education | Denver, CO | $60,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Maria Droste Services of Colorado | Denver, CO | $55,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Rocky Mountain Down Syndrome Association Inc | Aurora, CO | $55,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Safehouse Denver Inc | Denver, CO | $55,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Advocates for Children | Aurora, CO | $52,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| CASA of Adams & Broomfield Counties Inc | Westminster, CO | $52,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| CASA of the Pikes Peak Region Inc | Colorado Spgs, CO | $52,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Boys and Girls Club of the Pikes Peak Region | Colorado Spgs, CO | $50,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Kids Mobility Network Inc | Centennial, CO | $50,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| National Sports Center for the Disabled Inc | Golden, CO | $50,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Ralston House | Arvada, CO | $50,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Colorado Institute of Developmental Pediatrics Inc | Englewood, CO | $45,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Environmental Learning for Kids | Denver, CO | $45,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| The Colorado Center for the Blind | Littleton, CO | $42,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Childsafe Colorado Inc | Fort Collins, CO | $40,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Hope House of Colorado | Arvada, CO | $40,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Rise Against Suicide | Lafayette, CO | $40,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Sun Valley Youth Center Inc | Denver, CO | $37,500 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Book Trust | Denver, CO | $35,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Denver Childrens Home | Denver, CO | $35,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Focus Points Family Resource Center | Denver, CO | $35,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Kent Denver Country Day School | Englewood, CO | $35,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Rocky Mountain Children's Law Center | Denver, CO | $35,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| The Delta Gamma Anchor Center for Blind Children | Denver, CO | $35,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Thriving Families | Denver, CO | $35,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| CASA of Jefferson and Gilpin Counties | Golden, CO | $32,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| A Childs Song Inc | Thornton, CO | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Highview | Denver, CO | $30,000 | 3 | 2 | 2024 |
| Peak Education | Colorado Spgs, CO | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Platteforum | Denver, CO | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network | Westminster, CO | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Art From Ashes Incorporated | Denver, CO | $25,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Assistance League of Denver | Denver, CO | $25,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Colorado Uplift | Aurora, CO | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Family Learning Center Inc | Boulder, CO | $25,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Invest in Kids | Denver, CO | $25,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Reaching Hope | Thornton, CO | $25,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| A Precious Child Inc | Westminster, CO | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Child and Family Advocacy Program | Boulder, CO | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Colorado Academy | Denver, CO | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Colorado Association of Black Prof Engineers and Scientists | Denver, CO | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Colorado Association of Family and Childrens Agencies Inc | Evergreen, CO | $20,000 | 2 | 1 | 2024 |
| Colorado Childrens Chorale | Denver, CO | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Court Appointed Special Advocate Inc | Fort Collins, CO | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Denver Area Youth Services | Lakewood, CO | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Denver Kids Inc | Denver, CO | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Finally Home | Windsor, CO | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Food for Hope | Eastlake, CO | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Griffith Centers Inc | Northglenn, CO | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Heart and Hand Center | Denver, CO | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Reach Out and Read Colorado | Denver, CO | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Roots Family Center | Denver, CO | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| The Boys & Girls Clubs of Weld County Inc | Greeley, CO | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| The Buddy Program Inc | Aspen, CO | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Summer Scholars | Denver, CO | $18,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Colorado Technology Community Foundation | Englewood, CO | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| La Clinica Tepeyac Inc | Denver, CO | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Pcs for People | Saint Paul, MN | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Azteca Boxing Club | Greeley, CO | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Adam's Camp | Englewood, CO | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Boys and Girls Club of Weld County | Greeley, CO | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Careers in Construction Colorado | Colorado Spgs, CO | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Colorado Friendship | Longmont, CO | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Clothes to Kids of Denver | Denver, CO | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Education Through Music Inc | Stockton, CA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Educational Access Group | Golden, CO | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Family Voices | Concord, MA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Harvest Mountain Ministries | Lakewood, CO | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Hope Center Inc | Denver, CO | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| I Have a Dream Foundation of Boulder County | Boulder, CO | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Mile High 360 | Denver, CO | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Night Lights Incorporated | Parker, CO | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Outdoor Lab Foundation | Golden, CO | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Porchlight a Family Justice Center | Lakewood, CO | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Raise the Future | Denver, CO | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Rocky Mountain Childrens Health Foundation | Arvada, CO | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Safe Families for Children Alliance | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Secor | Parker, CO | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Greenway Foundation Inc | Denver, CO | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Therapies for Hope Inc | Aurora, CO | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Vail Valley Foundation Inc | Avon, CO | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Wapiyapi | Denver, CO | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Warren Village Inc | Denver, CO | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Westminster Public Schools Foundation | Westminster, CO | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
64 of 97 (66%) received money in more than one year over the 4 years we hold. Remember the $5,000 floor: an organization funded every year at $3,000 shows up here as never funded at all.
What the money was for
Taken verbatim from the purpose column of its filings, largest first. This is the closest thing to a statement of what it funds, in its own words.
- Denver Post Community Foundation
PROGRAM OPERATION - RESTRICTED
What kind of organizations it funds
By each recipient's own IRS classification, for the 80 of 97 recipients we could match to a registered organization. These are assigned categories, not our guesses -- Schedule I reports the recipient's EIN, so this is a lookup rather than a name match.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants reported | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 58 | $1,320,500 | $11,250 |
| 2022 | 53 | $1,217,500 | $10,000 |
| 2023 | 51 | $1,167,500 | $10,000 |
| 2024 | 62 | $1,312,000 | $10,000 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- Form 990 arrives about a year after the year it covers, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a grantmaker winding down.
Where its money goes
99% of its giving went to organizations in Colorado. Community foundations and federated funds are usually the most geographically bounded funders there are -- being outside the footprint is normally disqualifying in a way that a weak programme fit is not.
Down to the city
Find more funders like The Denver Children's Foundation
We read newly filed IRS returns and email you the grantmakers whose giving matches your state and cause, as they are published. Free.
No spam, unsubscribe in one click. We never sell or share your address.
Funders that support the same organizations
These grantmakers and private foundations gave to organizations this one also funded. Shared grantees are the strongest signal available that two funders have overlapping priorities -- and a funder already backing your peers is a far warmer prospect than one that merely lists your cause.
How to approach this grantmaker
- Look for a published programme first. Unlike most private foundations, organizations of this kind often do run open, deadlined grant cycles with written guidelines. Its own website is the authority on that; this page is the authority on who it has actually paid.
- Check you are its size. The median reported grant is $10,000 -- and because grants under $5,000 need not be reported, it very likely writes smaller cheques than this page can see.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving concentrates in Colorado.
- Read the recipient list for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer and a cheap one to get.
Related guides
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from The Denver Children's Foundation's own Form 990 Schedule I filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 4 returns (tax years 2021-2024). Nothing here is scraped, inferred or estimated.
On its most recent return it told the IRS it made grants to 62 section 501(c)(3) organizations and 0 other organizations. That is the filer's own count for one year; the totals above cover every year we hold.
Address of record on the latest return: 84 Spruce Street No 504, Denver, CO, 80230.
EIN 74-2535078 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
Is something here wrong about your organization? Email [email protected] and we will correct it.