Maximizing Impact:
Education.
We will work to improve school readiness, achievement, and graduation rates for students from selected low-income communities.
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See what impact we're having on the lives of Colorado's students.
Maximizing Impact:
Basic Human Needs.
We work to ensure shelter, basic medical care, access to nutritious food, and freedom from domestic violence for our most vulnerable residents.
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Read the details about the impact we're having.
Maximizing Impact:
Economic Opportunity.
We help low-income residents have the tools and opportunities necessary for jobs and careers that lead to economic self-sufficiency.
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Find out how the Denver Foundation is making a real difference.

Grants/Scholarships

Guidelines

The Colorado Nonprofit Loan Fund was created as a public/private partnership in 1981 to provide short-term bridge loans to Colorado-based, tax-exempt 501 (c) (3) organizations experiencing a cash flow problem of a timing nature only. On May 1, 1992, The Denver Foundation assumed management responsibilities of the Fund.

Qualifications:

1. The applicant must be Colorado-based, providing services primarily within the state, be incorporated and have current status under sections 501 (c) (3) and 509 (a) of the Internal Revenue Code and apply loan proceeds to section 170 (c) (2) (b) charitable activities. A parent organization may make application but will incur liability for the loan payment.

2. Services provided must be related to agency's tax-exempt purpose but be nonreligious in nature. (Please contact the Loan Manager if you have any questions.)

3. The organization's cash flow problem must be of a timing nature only.

4. The applicant must not have defaulted on a previous loan from CNLF.

5. The applicant must demonstrate that it has made an effort to identify other loan/funding sources.

6. The organization must not be a political action committee.


Other Factors We Consider:

In addition to evaluating each loan request on a financial basis, the Fund may also evaluate these factors for each loan request:

- Does the organization demonstrate sound fiscal management practices?

- Will the proposed loan strengthen the applicant’s ability to carry out its mission effectively or efficiently?

- Does the organization address the root causes of or help to prevent a community-wide problem or otherwise enhance the quality of community life?


Repayment Sources:

Most desirable confirmable sources include foundation/corporation grants, contracts and governmental funding.

The next acceptable are historically successful earned income projects and fundraising. The less definite and confirmable the repayment sources, the less likely the loan is to be approved.

Fees:

There is a $125 application fee, which must accompany the application, and a $200 loan origination fee which must be paid to the Colorado Nonprofit Loan Fund at the time of the loan closing.


CERTIFICATE OF GOOD STANDING

Please include a copy of a Certificate of Good Standing with the state of Colorado with your application packet. A certificate may be obtained from the website of the Colorado Secretary of State at www.sos.state.co.us.