Best Grants for Community Centers in Colorado

The Herb Block Foundation's Defending Basic Freedoms Grant aims to uphold the essential freedoms outlined in the Bill of Rights. This initiative focuses on combating discrimination and prejudice while enhancing the lives of the underprivileged. It provides funding for charitable and educational programs that align with these values. Open to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations nationwide, the grant encourages accountability among government agencies and supports relevant contemporary societal issues.

About Panorama GlobalPanorama Global is a social impact nonprofit that empowers changemakers through radical collaboration. We help our partners navigate the winding path from vision to impact. 

What We Do

• Collaboratives - Hosting and supporting collaborative efforts to achieve common goals.
• Fiscal Sponsorship - Financial and administrative support providing lean operating models to jumpstart projects.
• Funds - Philanthropic vehicles to manage and distribute funds that fuel global initiatives.

About  Innovative Postsecondary Models Fund

The Innovative Postsecondary Models (IPM) Fund supports innovative postsecondary education models that are rethinking how education is designed, delivered, financed, and assessed for learners in the United States.

The Fund is interested in innovations that benefit all learners, but especially learners whom the data show encounter the greatest obstacles to opportunity. The goal of this Fund is not only to provide funding to innovative models, but also to learn from selected grantees on how to reduce barriers to postsecondary access and increase student success outcomes to help inform the role philanthropy can play in supporting higher education innovation.

What We're Funding

We are seeking innovative postsecondary education models that demonstrate, or have the potential to demonstrate, meaningful improvements in how learners access, experience, and benefit from postsecondary education. We seek approaches with the potential to scale, influence the field, and inform how postsecondary education evolves nationally.

To help illustrate the types of innovations we hope to support, we have organized this opportunity around four broad themes. These themes reflect key dimensions of postsecondary innovation that have the potential to improve learner outcomes and inform broader systems change.

All four themes are grounded in a shared principle: student-centeredness. Truly innovative postsecondary models must be designed around learner needs, especially the needs of learners whom the data show face the greatest barriers to access and success in traditional postsecondary education.

Applicants are not expected to address all four themes, but should demonstrate strong alignment with at least one of the following:

Reimagining Instructional Design, Delivery, Assessment, and Student Support

• What success might look like:
  • Innovative instructional models improve student persistence, completion, and post-completion success, particularly for historically underserved learners, while maintaining or reducing costs.
  • Learners benefit from personalized, adaptive instruction and competency-based assessments that enable them to demonstrate and document skills in ways that are recognized by employers and other educational institutions.

Advancing Affordability and Financial Sustainability

• What success might look like:
  • Learners spend less overall, face reduced financial risk, and access high-quality education pathways that lead to credentials supporting economic mobility.
  • Successful models demonstrate affordability not only through reducing costs for learners, but also by maintaining or reducing the cost of delivering high-quality education through sustainable, efficient approaches.

Career and Workforce Alignment

• What success might look like:
  • Work and learning are more demonstrably connected and flexible, with evidence that skills are more directly tied to credentials and real career opportunities.

Removing Barriers for Underserved Learners

• What success might look like:
  • More learners from backgrounds and communities who the data show have faced the greatest barriers to accessing postsecondary education are able to access, complete, and benefit from high-quality credentials.

The Saw Island Foundation provides Social Change, Faith-Based, and Special Grants to nonprofit organizations focused on community betterment. They support initiatives that enhance economic security and promote Christian education. While active engagement is primarily in the San Francisco Bay Area, they welcome extraordinary projects aligned with their mission. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations. The foundation does not fund individual grants, political activities, or lobbying efforts.

The HTR Foundation Grant supports the preservation of American Civil War sites and educational projects related to this heritage. Grants are available to tax-exempt organizations and government agencies, focusing on land acquisition and public engagement while excluding endowments, individual support, and local interest projects. This initiative promotes the historical, cultural, and environmental legacy of the United States, ensuring the continued education and awareness of the Civil War's significance.

About 

Epilepsy Wellness Advocates (EWA) is a privately funded, research-informed organization focused on improving the quality of life for people living with epilepsy through collaborative partnerships and wellness-centered initiatives.

Free from pharmaceutical or institutional influence, we are committed to developing and supporting unbiased, evidence-based approaches to epilepsy management. Our efforts center on empowering individuals, families, and the organizations that serve them with practical tools, education, and support.

Epilepsy management extends far beyond clinical settings. Together with our partners, we’re building new ways to live well with epilepsy.

Epilepsy Wellness Advocates Research Grants

Epilepsy Wellness Advocates is dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with epilepsy by funding innovative research, and impactful programs with our long-term strategic partnerships for epilepsy management through alternatives to pharmacological or surgical avenues.

We collaborate with leading organizations, researchers, and wellness providers to understand and develop integrative and wellness health solutions that enhance the daily lives of those living with epilepsy. Our goal is to enable our partners and providers to impact as many people with epilepsy as possible and provide them with the tools and resources they need to reduce the impact of epilepsy on people’s lives.

Categories of Grant Funding:

• Epilepsy Integrative Wellness Programs
• Epilepsy Integrative Wellness Research Studies
• Epilepsy Education and Toolkit Programs
• Epilepsy Education Scholarships & Education Emergency Supports

Program Outcomes of Grants:

• Improve quality of life and functional outcomes for people with epilepsy (PWE) and their caregivers.
• Reduce seizure frequency, severity, and overall seizure burden through evidence-informed approaches.
• Advance personalized, whole-person epilepsy management that reduces reliance on trial-and-error care.
• Increase access to epilepsy wellness information, programs, and tools for PWE, caregivers, and providers.
• Empower caregivers as essential partners by strengthening their education, tools, and ability to navigate care systems.
• Translate research into practical, day-to-day resources that improve real-world epilepsy management and decision-making.
• Drive innovation in epilepsy wellness and integrative care, including the development and validation of scalable management models.
• Address comorbidities, side effects and other treatment burdens, and lifestyle factors that materially affect epilepsy outcomes and daily functioning.
• Strengthen the epilepsy workforce and future provider pipeline, ensuring providers understand and are trained to treat epilepsy as a whole-person condition.
• Reduce stigma and social isolation that negatively impact independence, dignity, and participation for PWE.

The Bowen Family Performing Arts Fund Grant, established in honor of Gwen Bowen, supports low-income children in Denver by providing opportunities to learn dance, acting, and singing. This initiative aims to promote the performing arts among underserved youth, ensuring they can experience the joy of artistic expression. The grant is focused on programs that align with its mission in the seven-county Metro Denver area, continuing Miss Bowen’s legacy of inspiring future generations.

About the Foundation

There is no health without mental health. The APA Foundation is working in your community to provide the support and resources we all need to prioritize mental wellbeing where you live, learn, work, worship, and play.

Our Mission

Promote the mental health and well-being of individuals and communities.

Our Vision

A mentally healthy nation for all – where we live, learn, work, worship, and play.

Psychiatric Research Fellowship

The Psychiatric Research Fellowship provides funding for an early research career psychiatrist to design and conduct a health services/policy-related research study using national data housed at the APA. The Fellow's research activities will be carried out under the supervision and guidance of a mentor at his/her institution in collaboration with his/her mentor(s) at the APA Division of Research. This vital program will enable the APA and APA Foundation to actively participate in sustaining and strengthening the clinical investigators workforce specifically in psychiatry.

Program Benefits

• Receive funding (up to $45,000 per year) towards a research study that will address a major research topic impacting psychiatric practice.
• Receive mentorship from established researchers in the field of psychiatry in the design and implementation of his/her research study.
• Access to secondary national data (e.g., CMS Claims data; APA Registry data) to carry out his/her research study.
• Present his/her research at one or more APA meetings.
• Opportunity to attend additional meetings that provide further mentorship in psychiatric research (e.g., Early Research Career Breakfast).
• Have access to a lifetime network of APA member experts working in the field of psychiatric research.
• Establish relationships and peer-mentorship with a diverse group of residents and fellows with similar career interests and goals.
• Participate on an assigned APA Council or APAF initiative where organizational decisions are made.
• Gain an understanding of APA Governance through service on an APA Council, Committee or APAF initiative.
• Appear in the APA Convocation of Distinguished Fellows Program Book listings.

The New York Health Foundation is offering sponsorship for nonprofits and community organizations to participate in conferences that support healthy communities, consumer empowerment, and veterans' health. This initiative aims to enhance the visibility of innovative work being done in New York, particularly for those historically marginalized. By facilitating attendance at local, state, and national events, the Foundation seeks to empower organizations to showcase their impactful programs and connect with key stakeholders.

The Lillian and Larry Goodman Foundation Grant focuses on enhancing Jewish life in the U.S. and Israel, addressing drug abuse, and combating hunger. Established in 1994, the foundation supports various charitable organizations, prioritizing the preservation of Jewish culture and child welfare. It funds programs in Israel, particularly in Be'er Sheva, and aims to strengthen communities in Chicago and beyond. The foundation emphasizes mental health, substance abuse prevention, and food security initiatives.

Society of Hospital Medicine (SHM)

The Society of Hospital Medicine (SHM) is dedicated to promoting high-value care and achieving optimal outcomes for acutely ill patients. As part of this mission, SHM seeks to address inequities in acute patient care and contribute to a greater dialogue on this important issue. As the home for hospitalists, SHM activates and engages our community to

• Advocate for our specialty, our members, and the diverse patients we serve.
• Promote high-value care and optimal outcomes for acutely ill patients.
• Meet the evolving educational needs of a dynamic specialty.
• Cultivate an inclusive community for hospitalists and support career growth and wellbeing.
• Advance the research and innovation of healthcare delivery, quality, safety, and experience across the care continuum.

Society of Hospital Medicine Equipment Grant

The SHM Global and Rural Health Foundation brings our mission directly to patients in rural and underserved regions of the United States and abroad by offering small travel and equipment grants to hospital-based clinicians and practice administrators involved in this work. The Foundation also aims to amplify the stories of inequitable patient care and celebrate hospital medicine professionals enhancing outcomes.

Equipment grants will be awarded to recipients working in a not-for-profit hospital setting. A letter from hospital or health system leadership, confirming institutional support for the purchase, is required. The equipment purchase date must be in the future (i.e., after the application submission). Award amounts will vary based on need.

About the Emporia Community Foundation

Our Mission

To connect caring people with causes that build stronger communities within the Emporia area which includes Chase, Coffey, Greenwood, Lyon, Morris, Osage and Wabaunsee counties.

Choose How You Respond Fund (in memory of Dr. Bryan Douglas) 

The purpose of the Choose How You Respond Fund is to provide funds to qualified individuals to cover expenses related to the treatment of cancer.

About the Emporia Community Foundation

Our Mission

To connect caring people with causes that build stronger communities within the Emporia area which includes Chase, Coffey, Greenwood, Lyon, Morris, Osage and Wabaunsee counties.

Reese Naylor Joy Fund

The purpose of the Reese Naylor Joy Fund is to provide funds to qualified individuals with a chronic or terminal illness to cover expenses of an event or experience that will bring joy and happiness to the child and their family. Grant requests will be considered for children up to the age of 21.

The Bauer Trust Fund Grant supports charitable organizations benefiting blind or handicapped persons. Established by Anthony F. Bauer, it aims to provide lasting support for those in need. To be eligible, organizations must be 501(c)(3) exempt and primarily operate in Connecticut. The fund does not support general operating costs, endowments, individuals, or political activities. This initiative reflects Mr. Bauer's legacy of generosity and commitment to aiding vulnerable communities.

Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation

The Foundation was established in September 1977 by Dr. Arnold O. and Mrs. Mabel Beckman to give back to the scientific community.

“The mission of the Foundation is to support leading edge research, in the fields of chemistry and life sciences, broadly interpreted, and particularly to foster the invention of methods, instruments, and materials that open up new avenues of research and application in these sciences and related disciplines. My preference is to favor young investigators, new ideas, and a variety of projects rather than fund large, established ones of long duration.”

Current Foundation Initiatives

Today, the Foundation continues according to the vision laid out by Dr. and Mrs. Beckman:

• Supporting Young Scientists: through our annual grant programs, focused on the most promising young scientists
• Community Support activities: that promote science education and excellence in our local community
• Streamlined operations: so that we don't "spend money to give money away"

"Beckman Family" Awardee Community Support Grants

The Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation’s "Beckman Family" Awardee Community Support Grants are open to all current and former Foundation grant awardees and Executive Committee members, specifically from the Beckman Scholars Program, Arnold O. Beckman Postdoctoral Fellowship, Beckman Young Investigator, and Instrument Grants programs.

As a current or former Beckman awardee or Executive Committee member, if you are actively engaged as a volunteer or Board member in a youth STEM or STEAM organization in your local area, you may apply to this program for funding for a particular project with that organization.

Funding Priorities

Projects should be aligned with the Foundation’s aim of “supporting young scientists today for tomorrow’s breakthrough discoveries” and oriented toward achieving positive outcomes in at least one of the Foundation’s current funding priorities:

• Engaging youth in hands-on science and math activities to encourage curiosity and student-driven exploration and learning.
• Using technology to engage youth in STEM/STEAM.
• Promoting the Beckmans’ legacy of technology innovation and leadership amongst youth.

In addition, the following considerations should be addressed in a proposal for funding:

• Where possible, the Foundation’s contribution to a project or activity should help to build capacity within the nonprofit organization to continue the activity beyond the one-time grant.
• The Awardee/Executive Committee member should discuss how the program will increase access to STEM/STEAM opportunities for the target audience.
• The costs associated with the request should relate to a stand-alone STEM/STEAM project, event, or activity and not part of a broader program, event, or target audience outside the Awardee’s or Executive Committee member's local area.
• Youth registration to participate in the STEM/STEAM project, event, or activity should be open to all in the local area, when possible.

Process & Timeline

Grant funds are directly issued to the organization by the Foundation and include for acknowledgement an indication that the gift was made because their volunteer or Board member is a Beckman Awardee or Executive Committee member.

Requests must be submitted by the Beckman Awardee on behalf of a U.S. nonprofit 501(c)(3), or equivalent, organization exclusively serving youth in their local community. As a matter of policy, the Foundation does not provide grants to non-U.S. organizations or institutions. This program defines the terms “youth” and “youths” as individual(s) 17 years of age or younger.

The Women's Development Initiatives Grant Program, funded by Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Foundation, focuses on enhancing education and economic opportunities for women in various communities. This initiative aims to empower women through skills training, small business development, and leadership programs, ultimately fostering their participation in economic growth. Eligible organizations must directly serve women and girls in specified locations, demonstrating measurable impacts and sustainability beyond funding.

The NIOSH K01 grant offers vital support for early-career researchers in occupational health, providing 'protected time' for mentorship and professional development. This funding aims to bridge the gap from postdoctoral training to independent research, fostering the next generation of investigators. By emphasizing skill enhancement and independence, the program plays a crucial role in advancing safety and health research. Applicants must articulate their mentorship needs and demonstrate the potential for increased autonomy in their research careers.

The Studebaker National Foundation Scholarship supports students pursuing careers in automotive studies. With over $20,000 awarded for technical and trade education in auto restoration, this scholarship encourages applicants to maintain the legacy of Studebaker. Eligible candidates include those studying automotive fields or those engaged with Studebaker as hobbyists. A minimum GPA of 2.5 is required, and preference is given to members of Studebaker clubs or their relatives. Reapplications from previous recipients are allowed.

The McCarthey Dressman Education Foundation offers Academic Enrichment Grants to support innovative educational programs that enhance student learning for low-income children. These grants, up to $10,000 per year for two years, aim to foster creativity and critical thinking in K-12 education. Applications are accepted from educators at nonprofit organizations who engage with students directly. The initiative emphasizes collaboration and seeks projects that enrich academic experiences and inspire student curiosity.

The Established Clinician Investigator Award to Support Mentoring (KS1) is designed to provide established clinician investigators with dedicated time for mentoring early-career clinician research scientists. This initiative by the US Dept. of Health & Human Services: National Institutes of Health (NIH) aims to enhance the quality of mentorship, fostering the development of future leaders in clinical research. It supports a sustained commitment to training and guidance, ensuring a robust pipeline of skilled professionals.

The Mentored Career Transition Award (KT1/R00) offers a biphasic funding opportunity for up to 5 years, supporting the transition of postdoctoral researchers to independent faculty positions. The first phase provides 1-2 years of mentored career development, while the second phase grants up to 3 years of independent research support, contingent upon satisfactory progress and faculty appointment. This grant aims to enhance the capacity of early-career researchers in achieving research-intensive roles.

The Mentored Clinician Research Scientist Career Development Award (KC1) from the NIH supports clinician research scientists for up to five years, providing dedicated time for intensive research career development. This award aims to guide candidates with clinical doctoral degrees towards achieving research independence by pairing them with experienced mentors who can help navigate their career paths.

The Mentored Research Scientist Career Development Award (KR1) offers crucial support for researchers aiming for independence. Funded by the US Dept. of Health & Human Services through the NIH, this award allows candidates to engage in intensive research training under a mentor's guidance for up to five years. It is designed for those with research doctoral degrees, facilitating their transition into independent research roles and enhancing their contributions to the scientific community.

The Rural Health Network Development Planning Program aims to enhance rural health care by fostering integrated health care networks. It focuses on collaboration among entities to bolster local capacity and improve care coordination in underserved areas. By achieving efficiencies and expanding access to essential services, the program seeks to strengthen the overall rural health system while promoting the use of health information technology and exploring innovative care delivery models.

The Rural Health Network Development Program aims to enhance health care access in rural areas by supporting integrated health care networks. It offers two funding tracts: the Network Advancement Tract for established networks to overcome operational barriers and the Network Development Tract for early-stage networks to plan and expand services. Both tracts focus on improving care coordination, health outcomes, and operational efficiency, thereby strengthening the rural health care system.

The McClure Family Foundation Grant honors the legacy of Charles and Dorothy McClure by supporting nonprofit organizations that strengthen families and communities. The foundation aims to promote the arts, historic preservation, education, faith-based initiatives, and the well-being of mankind. Eligible applicants include public charities, governmental units, and established churches. The foundation values personal connections with applicants and encourages endeavors that foster community responsibility and individual leadership.

The Bonfils-Stanton Foundation offers Quarterly Community Grants aimed at supporting 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts and culture organizations in Denver. These unrestricted operating grants foster stability and relationship-building while prioritizing organizations that engage diverse communities. With a focus on enhancing arts visibility and nurturing transformational leaders, the foundation has awarded over $90 million since its inception in 1981. Grants are capped at $60,000 and are available to established organizations with a clear commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Helen Frankenthaler Foundation Inc

The Helen Frankenthaler Foundation supports the artist’s legacy through a variety of initiatives, including exhibitions, loans of artworks, research and publications, conservation, grants, educational programs for the public and the scholarly community, and the publishing of a catalogue raisonné. It is dedicated to promoting greater public interest in and understanding of the visual arts.

Established and endowed by the artist during her lifetime (1928-2011), the Foundation became active in 2013, on the closing of Frankenthaler’s estate. As the principal beneficiary of Frankenthaler’s estate, the Foundation maintains an extensive collection of her work in a variety of mediums, as well as her collection of works by other artists and original papers and materials pertaining to her life and work.

Cultural Resilience Grant

The Helen Frankenthaler Foundation supports public engagement with the visual arts through philanthropic, educational, curatorial, and research initiatives. It has expanded its grantmaking to sustain museums and visual arts institutions, supporting exhibitions, scholarship, and education across the field. The Foundation’s grantmaking priorities are currently organized across three areas:

• Climate Action and Sustainability
• Visual Arts & Education
• Cultural Resilience
  • Unrestricted support to sustain institutional capacity and core programming across the visual arts field. 
  • The Foundation provides unrestricted support to organizations whose core work is centered in the visual arts. These grants are intended to sustain exhibitions, programs, and institutional activities; support staffing, operations, and organizational capacity; and to maintain continuity during periods of reduced public funding and broader pressures affecting the arts and culture sector.
    • Cultural Resilience support is not project-based and does not require a defined initiative.