Amount
$10,000 – $25,000 (2024 average ~$21K across 70+ charities).
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Denver Children’s Foundation Grant
Deadlines
LOI due July 31 2025 (portal open May–July).
Full proposal due late September if invited; awards announced November.
Cycle
Annual LOI-driven process with funds distributed early the following year.
Effort & Priority
Effort: 5 | Priority: Must Pursue
Expected success: Medium.
Why It Matters
Denver Active 20-30’s grant introduces SungateKids to 150+ emerging philanthropists while supplying flexible dollars for trauma therapy and prevention programs. Performing well opens the door to annual renewals and deeper donor relationships.
Eligibility Snapshot
- 501(c)(3) serving Colorado youth: SungateKids fits squarely in DCF’s child-focused charter.
- Seven-county metro reach: Our 18th Judicial District coverage includes Arapahoe and Douglas counties.
- Program themes: Child abuse intervention, prevention, and mental health align with DCF’s focus on at-risk youth.
- Client mix: Primarily children under 18—well above DCF’s informal 75% youth expectation.
Application Requirements
- Online LOI outlining mission, program case, and youth reach (≈5 hours to tailor).
- Full Common-Grant-style proposal if invited: 5–6 narrative sections, program & org budgets, staff/board rosters, financials.
- Prepare for volunteer site visit or interview; have survivor-friendly storytelling ready.
- Total effort: 25–30 hours including prep for possible presentation.
Strategic Fit
Mission resonance: Helping traumatized children heal is a compelling match for a funder devoted to “children in need.”
Comparable grantees: Shield616, Rocky Mountain Children’s Law Center, and Sunshine CASA have all received recent grants—demonstrating appetite for child abuse response agencies.
Funder priorities: DCF celebrates “exceptional programs” with tangible impact. Pair data on successful prosecutions and therapy outcomes with high-impact stories.
Competition: 100+ LOIs vie for ~70 funding slots. The LOI must stand out with emotion, clarity, and proof of unique impact.
Relationships: Warm introductions help. Invite DCF members to tour the center; make site visits immersive (e.g., SafeKids puppet demo).
Success Factors
- Tell a hopeful, child-centered story showing voices reclaimed and futures restored.
- Show dual impact: immediate response plus prevention education through SafeKids.
- Quantify need gaps (e.g., core services not covered by federal grants) so DCF sees the leverage point.
- Demonstrate fiscal health and diversified revenue to reassure a volunteer-led review committee.
Risks & Mitigation
- Volunteer reviewers: Present material in accessible, uplifting language to avoid overwhelming new philanthropists.
- High LOI attrition: Invest time in a polished, story-driven LOI; without it we never reach the invitation stage.
- Competing causes: Position SungateKids as addressing a foundational community safety issue, not just another program.
ROI & Stewardship
~30 hours for a $20K grant (~$667/hour) plus access to a vibrant donor network. If funded, schedule mid-year impact touchpoints and reapply annually to build a long-term partnership.