There are three deadline dates each year for grant proposals: the first business day of February, June, and October. Proposals must be received in our office by 5:00 p.m. on the deadline date. In order to be fair to all applicants, the deadline dates and times are firm and non-negotiable. Late proposals will not be accepted, regardless of the reason for the delay.  These deadlines remain for 2012, though they may change for 2013.  Be sure to check the 2013 guidelines, available in late 2012, for more information.

We would love to know the answer to this question! We have been tracking this for several years, and there is no way to predict the number that will be received, nor is there a “low” or “high” deadline. The number of proposals received at any one deadline ranges from 160 to over 200. There is also great variation in the categories of proposals we get – one cycle we might have a very large number of proposals in the Arts & Culture area, the next cycle it might be lower than average in Arts & Culture. If you have applied previously, you may have to wait before you can apply again, so please check with the Grants Manager if you have any questions about timing.

Not necessarily. Proposals are declined for various reasons. We’re only able to fund about 40 - 50% of proposals that we receive, based on both the human and financial resources available to the Foundation.  Some proposals are declined early in the process -- usually because they don’t meet the “Key Factors We Consider” and the Foundation’s funding priorities, or they are not as strong as other proposals received in the same category. At another deadline, that proposal may be more competitive. Proposals that go through the entire review process, including a site visit, are declined for specific reasons and we strive to give the organization as much feedback as possible on this type of declination. If an organization successfully addresses the issues specified in the declination, it may have a successful proposal when eligible to reapply.  

If you have not received a grant from the Community Grants Program in the past, please call us before submitting a proposal in 2012.  To schedule a conversation with a program officer, call Alma Martinez at 303-300-1790 ext. 155.

We believe nonprofits benefit from a diverse funding base and we want to provide the opportunity for more organizations to receive grants. Therefore, The Denver Foundation has a three-year rule.  If an organization has been funded for three consecutive years, it must wait one full calendar year before re-applying.  For example, if an organization received its third consecutive year of funding for a proposal submitted in February 2010, the organization cannot reapply until February 2012. If you have a question about your eligibility to apply in relation to the “3-year rule” please check your previous Grant Rationale or contact the Grants Manager before you complete your grant proposal.   Please note that the three-year rule is still in effect for 2012.

This rule only applies to grants from the Community Grants Program. Grants from any other fund(s) of The Denver Foundation are not taken into account in calculating the three-year rule.