The Denver Foundation receives $200,000 grant from the Ford Foundation to Build Inclusiveness in Metro Denver Nonprofits

The Denver Foundation received a two-year $200,000 grant from the Ford Foundation, an international grantmaker based in New York City, for its Inclusiveness Project.  The grant will advance the Inclusiveness Project's mission to help Metro Denver nonprofit organizations become more inclusive of people of color.

The Ford Foundation's support will allow the Inclusiveness Project to:

1.     Assist nonprofit organizations in becoming more inclusive of people of color through grants and an inclusiveness conference to be held in November 2009.
2.     Support a pipeline of people of color in Metro Denver interested in becoming involved in the nonprofit sector through the Nonprofit Internship Program, Neighborhood Leadership Program, and Board Leadership Trainings.
3.     Hire researchers to measure the effectiveness of these programs and encourage their replication in other communities.

"Given current economic uncertainties, now more than ever nonprofits need the resources and encouragement to work directly with their communities to accomplish their missions," says Maria Guajardo, chair of the Inclusiveness Project Committee and a member of The Denver Foundation's Board of Trustees.  "While organizations express a commitment to this work, many lack the resources, tools, and relationships to connect with communities of color beyond providing services to clients."

Research conducted on the implementation of the Inclusiveness Project's strategies demonstrated that organizations report significant improvement in their operations and ability to achieve their mission as they become more inclusive.

For more information about the Inclusiveness Project visitwww.nonprofitinclusiveness.org.