Nonprofit Navigators operates with an Abundance Mindset. We believe there is enough funding available to support every Nonprofit, it’s just a matter of connecting the right organizations to the right funders. To this end, Nonprofit Navigators works diligently to investigate potential funders and facilitate relationship building between the nonprofit organizations we serve and funding partners. Our staff recently took a deep-dive into the Caring for Denver Foundation, a community-centered funder that is intentional about keeping community impact at the heart of both their selection process and their funding priorities.

Nonprofit Navigators interviewed the Executive Director of the Caring for Denver Foundation to get an in-depth look at their application process and what makes a successful candidate.

The Caring for Denver Foundation’s Executive Director, Lorez Meinhold, was recently named a finalist for the KUSA- TV, 9NEWS Leader of the Year award. This prestigious recognition annually celebrates leaders in the community who have significantly contributed to the well-being and development in Colorado. Nonprofit Navigators chatted with Meinhold to gain more insight on the Foundation’s application review process, what reviewers are looking for in applicant, and how potential applicants can ensure they are a good fit.

What is your preferred method of communication with applicants? Do you like to hear from applicants regarding the application process (in advance of submission)? 

Email is the best mode of communication to start a conversation. I do like to hear from applicants during the open call and application process. Given that we are following a procurement process at this time, applicants cannot speak to program officers. However, though I cannot give programmatic advice, I can reaffirm or clarify what is in the call for the proposal and what was said in our Facebook live event. I can also connect you with our grants manager if there are questions about the application itself.

What are funding trends that you see in the nonprofit sector? 

Less about trends but what we look for - we try to fund projects that are led by the people they serve, including youth or at a minimum informed by the communities nonprofits are serving. We only fund grants for specific programs, not general operations. We do like to look at multiyear funding. We also work with grantees to help them measure their impact – what success looks like to the grantee so they can make better decisions related to the evolution of the program; is it having the intended results; and how to evolve the program as they learn more. This partnering reflects our grantmaking – the importance of meeting people where they’re at and recognizing there’s not a one size fits all approach to addressing mental health and substance misuse.

What types of issues will get an applicant/proposal automatically rejected? 

Applications that request general operating support. We are unable to provide general operating support due to City ordinances around the specific issues we fund. Additionally, we only provide funding for those serving city and county of Denver residents. We cannot support applications serving a broader geographic area.

We outline this in the general guidelines and resources (https://caring4denver.org/grants/resources/). We recommend all potential applicants look at those before filling out an application. Always reach out to us prior to submission if there are questions.

Do you prefer to receive applications from new or existing/previously funded applicants? 

Both! While we like to provide continued support to grantees having impact, we also want to support new organizations so that we reach as many people as possible. No one organization addresses all needs for all Denverites.

How much of your funding supports new applicants? 

At this time, about 20%. 

What types of program requests do you like to see? 

We are especially interested in programs addressing mental health, substance misuse, and trauma for our Denver communities.

 If an applicant is not funded, do you recommend that they reapply?

It depends. Always look at the call for proposal and really look at the guidelines to make sure you are a good fit for that opportunity. Reach out to us with any questions, so we can help you determine if you are a good fit. It’s important to know who you’re applying to and where you might be a better fit.

What recommendations can you can make to strengthen an application?

Join our Facebook live Q&A, reach out and ask questions, and really ensure you are a good fit. Even if you are a good fit, sometimes there are a number of grantees that are a better fit. We understand that nonprofits are all operating on limited resources and your time is valuable. We don’t want you to waste time applying if you are not a good fit.

What is the size of your review committee? Do they review all applications and supplemental attachments? 

We take a multi-prong approach to grant review. Initially, we review applications for fit and filter out the things that don’t align with our founding ordinance. Applications are then shared with community reviewers. Anywhere from 15 – 20 community reviewers give thoughts on how applications meet community need and offer questions. Applications are then assigned to program officers who also review for fit with ordinance and key considerations outlined in our call for proposals. Like many foundations, Caring for Denver has limited funds, and wants to distribute them in a way that creates maximum community impact. Funding priorities and decisions by the Board are based on that impact and alignment. The board consists of 13 people appointed by the mayor, City Council and District Attorney. You can view them here https://caring4denver.org/about/board/.

In addition to established reporting requirements (if any), do you like to see updates from grantees? 

There are established reporting requirements outlined in the grant contract and can also be found here - https://caring4denver.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Caring-for-Denver-Evaluation-Touchpoints.pdf.  Together we learn, what does impact look like for that awardee and their project, and how can we use what we learn as a tool to better implement future projects. 

What else would you like to tell potential grantees?

We really try to keep community at the center of everything we do and we always look for that in people’s proposals. We want to see how the community you serve informs your work, and how members from that community are co-creators, in whatever initiatives your organization is pursuing.

If you would like to learn more about the Caring for Denver Foundation and their current grant opportunities, please visit caring4denver.org