The site visit is an opportunity for The Denver Foundation to develop a deeper understanding of your organization and your proposal. The assigned program officer will get a chance to meet you face-to-face and discuss specific details about your organization’s programs, staffing, financial situation, board of directors, etc. It is also an opportunity for you to bring your organization “to life” in a way that just doesn’t happen by reading a proposal. While program officers necessarily ask a lot of questions, we strive to have the site visit be a two-way exchange of information. Site visits normally last about 1 ½ hours.

We were contacted to set up a conversation, not a site visit.  What does that mean?

During 2012, we will also be visiting nonprofits in our community to ask for their thoughts and insights as we move forward with our Strategic Plan.  These visits will not be formal site visits nor will they have an impact on any pending grant proposals; rather, they will be informal opportunities to gather your unique perspectives. 

At this discussion, you may wish to invite a key staff or board member who you think would also have helpful insights to offer.

2012 is a year of transition and planning for The Denver Foundation.  During this year, our Community Grants Program will remain much the same, with the same funding priorities and similar application procedures.

We will be asking the community for advice and thoughts during this year of planning, and will spend significant time out in the community, listening and learning.  You can find our new Strategic Plan, including updates about our progress, as well as information about our Listening Campaign at http://denverfoundation.org./listening.  There, you’ll also find ways to provide us with your thoughts and feedback.

About 5-10%. Many organizations, however, receive less than the amount they requested in their proposal.

The Community Grants Program is not presently encouraging such applications.  If you have never applied before, or have not received a grant from the Community Grants Program in the past four years, please call us before submitting a proposal.  To schedule a conversation with a program officer, call Alma Martinez at 303-300-1790 ext. 155.

Not really, since funding depends on many factors. Program officers think of themselves as being advocates for the organization they are reviewing. Assuming the site visit goes well, if an advisory committee member attends the site visit your organization will have two advocates, rather than one, at the meeting where funding is decided.

At this point, we do not yet know what our application processes will look like in 2013.  When that information is available, it will be posted on our website.  We anticipate posting new guidelines by late fall 2012.

Too many people can overwhelm a site visit and also extend the time by quite a bit. We definitely recommend against having a really big group – say, more than three or four people. Your program officer will make suggestions about who you might include. Someone else from The Denver Foundation may accompany the program officer. That may be another staff member, a member of the advisory committee that will be reviewing your proposal, or a donor. If this is the case, the Program Officer will let you know who else will be coming.