BRIC Grants
The BRIC Grants Program directs resources to address systemic racism and its impact on Black communities throughout Colorado.
Mural Artist: IAmDetour
HOW TO APPLY
Funds are available to cover operational costs associated with maintaining the business, retaining employees, covering and for rent and utilities. Funds may also address new and emerging needs in service/program offerings outside normal operations due to emergency responses, including social distancing and Personal protective equipment (PPE) needs.
ONLINE GRANT PORTAL
The BRIC Grant cycle is closed.
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NOTE: Applications for BRIC Grants must be submitted online. Before applying, you will need to register through The Denver Foundation’s online grant application portal. For instructions on how to register, visit the website. You do not have to be ready to submit your application to register.
HOW BRIC GRANTS WORK
BRIC Grants direct resources to address systemic racism and its impact on Black communities across Colorado’s front range. BRIC Grants support nonprofits that are Black-led and serving Black communities to withstand current crises and build long-term sustainability.
Colorado, and the world, continues to navigate the “new normal” that includes the ongoing presence of COVID-19 and escalated racial injustice. The BRIC Fund recognizes the disproportionate and long-lasting effects on Black communities and will continue to support efforts to address community-identified issues.
Grant awards will typically range from $5,000 to $25,000.
Nonprofits interested in funding may apply once a year. Grants are made under the leadership of a community-led Black advisory committee dedicated to improving Colorado's Black communities.
Each applicant must meet the following criteria:
Be a viable 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization or have a fiscal sponsor.
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Be Black-led and Black-serving – The nonprofit executive director/leader is Black and has a 51% or more Black board membership. The BRIC Fund defines "Black" as encompassing people of African and Afro-Caribbean descent, including African immigrants and refugees.
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Serves the seven-county Metro Denver area.
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Has an annual budget of up to $1.5 million.
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Fits one or more of the identified priorities identified by the community-led advisory committee:
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Emerging Community Issues/Needs.
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Health – racial trauma, infant/mother mortality, underinsured, uninsured, Medicaid eligible and/or, COVID-related loss of benefits.
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Housing – renters and/or, people involuntarily displaced or experiencing homelessness, to provide access to housing/home ownership for low-income community members.
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Economic Opportunity – business or workforce development, access to living-wage jobs.
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Racial Justice – community organizing, advocacy, law, and/or policy reform.
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Youth – youth organizing, youth-led, and/or culturally responsive programs.
Fit one or more of the identified priorities identified by the community-led advisory committee:
Community
Emerging Community Issues/Needs.
Health
Racial trauma, infant/mother mortality, underinsured, uninsured, Medicaid eligible and/or, COVID-related loss of benefits.
Housing
Renters and/or, people involuntary displaced or experiencing homelessness to provide access to housing/home ownership for low-income community members.
Economic Opportunity Business or workforce development or access to living-wage jobs.
Racial Justice
Community organizing, advocacy, law, and/or policy reform.
Youth
Youth organizing, youth-led programs and/or, culturally responsive programs.
APPLICATION FREQUENCY
As the BRIC Fund seeks to stabilize, sustain. and grow its current programs, it requires BRIC to combine its responsive grant cycles from two cycles to one. As a result of this change, all 2022 grantees (both spring and fall recipients) are eligible to apply in the spring 2023 cycle (deadline April 15, 2023). Nonprofits who have not applied previously are welcome to also apply.
The Denver Foundation Application Questions
The questions near the end of the BRIC application are part of the Denver Foundation’s standard application. The responses you provide to the questions will not be used to make a funding decision on your BRIC grant application but can provide additional information about your nonprofit.
ALLOWABLE USE OF FUNDS
Funds can be used to cover operational costs associated with maintaining the business, retaining employees, covering and for rent and utilities. Funds may also address new and emerging needs in service/program offerings outside normal operations due to emergency responses.
BRIC does not fund:
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Capital campaigns
Building endowments or reserve funds
Operating funds for foundations, funds, or giving circles
Membership campaigns
Special events or sponsorships
Grants to individuals
Grants for re-granting purposes
Multi-year funding requests
Conferences, symposia, and related travel
Grants for medical, scientific, or academic research
Grants that further political doctrine or religious activities
Grants to parochial or religious schools​
Organizational Scholarships/scholarship programs
SHARING INFORMATION
The BRIC Fund is often asked to share information (list of our grant applicants – both approved and declined) with donors and peer philanthropic institutions. This can expand opportunities for funding. If you do not want BRIC to share the name of your nonprofit and/or application information, please indicate this on the online grant application.
OPTIONAL VIDEO SUBMISSION
The BRIC Fund recognizes that written responses can limit your ability to convey the "heart" of your nonprofit. Please feel free to upload a video testimonial that best tells us about your nonprofit - why you exist, what you do, who you serve, and your nonprofit’s impact. PLEASE NOTE: Your video may not exceed three (3) minutes. The BRIC Fund retains the right to use your video content for future BRIC Fund communications. Please submit your video via email to lsullivan@bricfund.org
SUBMITTING GRANT REPORTS
If you receive a grant through the BRIC Fund, you will be required to submit a Final Report on the work you did with the grant funds. This report is due at the end of your grant period and is required before your nonprofit can be considered for subsequent grants from the BRIC Fund. The grant contract that you receive contains important information on the reporting requirements, including due dates. This can be found in your grant contract under Section 8, Grant Reports. Please review your contract carefully before submitting a Final Report. If you received a grant in fall 2022, you received different instructions that included a link to an updated report form. This form must be completed to be considered for a new grant.
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Current Grantee - Interim Report Submission: If you received a grant in 2023 and plan to apply in the spring 2024 grant cycle, you must submit a one-page update that includes information on the impact of your programs, how you’re engaging with the community you serve, and any additional updates that provide insights.
BRIC Grants by the Numbers
$4 M+
Total Grants from BRIC programs, initiatives, and partnerships
BRIC Grants in ACTION
Since 2020, the BRIC Fund has distributed over $4 million to over 300 deserving Colorado Black-led nonprofits that positively impact communities. We are proud to support the following community organizations:
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated - Mu Omega Omega Chapter
BIPOC Economic Success Trust - Black Economic Success Trust
Caring and Sharing Community Resources and Transformation Center
Colorado African Cultural Center
Colorado Black Health Collaborative
Community Outreach Service Center Inc.
Creative Strategies for Change
Cyber Cat Labs
Determined Ambitious Women Networking - D.A.W.N
Denver Kappa Alpha Psi Scholarship Foundation
Elevate Athletic Performance Foundation
Ethiopian Community Television - KETO FM
Greater Denver CARES - Circle of the National CARES Mentoring Movement Inc.
Metropolitan Diversity and Economic Equity Partners - Metro DEEP
2023 Grant Cycle
Mile High Resilience and Wellness
Moyo Nguvu Cultural Arts Center Inc.
Park Hill Collective Impact Inc. - Denver Metro Community Impact
Park Hill Pirates Youth Sports Organization
SOAR - Seeing Our Adolescents Rise
Somali American Community Center of Colorado
STOP COVAD (Crime of Violence and Discrimination)
The Center for Trauma and Resilience
Therapist of Color Collaborative
Transformative Leadership for Change
Young Aspiring Americans for Social and Political Activism - YAASPA
Young Men of Alpha
Here are the recipients of the 2023 Grant Cycle. For more information on how to apply and application criteria.
“The BRIC grant funds have helped Thelma’s Dream invest in the long-term sustainability of our organization. We have used the funds to pay for insurance, rent, office supplies and website maintenance. Sustainability is important because we are a resource center that serves at-risk and underserved communities. Without the BRIC grant funds, we would not be able to keep our doors open or maintain our insurance, which is required for our programs. We have been able to use the BRIC grant funds to continue our programming for youth and to maintain consistent resources for our families.”
~ Doretta Tootle – Executive Director and Founder, Thelma’s Dream