Pictured above: Southwest Food Coalition
On October 31, 2025, Mayor Mike Johnston announced the launch of a “food assistance task force” to prepare for the surge in need as the federal government shutdown continued, delaying Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits that nearly 600,000 Coloradans rely on. The task force would help ensure every Denverite who needs resources could access them, and that everyone who wanted to help knew how to do so. In his announcement, he included The Denver Foundation as a resource for those who were able to donate money.
We had activated our Critical Needs Fund, our fastest and most flexible way to respond to crises in our community, to support nonprofit food banks and providers who were keeping people and families fed.
A rapid community response
Donations to our Critical Needs Fund immediately came in through the generosity of the public and our donors. As the dollars came in, our team worked quickly to get them out to the community, granting a total of
With both the public’s generosity and support from The Fund for Denver, our community’s endowment, more resources reached organizations providing groceries and hot meals to our neighbors.
See the full list of organizations below.
At the same time, we were hearing from fundholders reacting to the same concerns, asking what organizations needed immediate support. Within days, they directed more than $358,000 from their donor-advised funds to organizations supporting food security.
Through our Critical Needs Funds and donor-advised funds, we granted $458,000.
Fast grantmaking, guided by need
While we prioritized getting grant dollars out the door fast, we were intentional in reaching people across different communities. We listened to understand which districts and populations were seeing the highest need.
We sent grants to organizations with large distribution systems supplying pantries and food providers across the state, and to community-based organizations that were getting food out quickly in ways that matched their communities’ realities.
Our grants to large distributors, like Food Bank of the Rockies, supported their ability to increase their food supply, including protein, fresh produce, and other nutritious foods, and scale food distribution to their partners, especially in areas that saw increased need due to the SNAP pause (source). Neighbors also shared personal stories expressing their gratefulness for the food and support.
Our grants also went to places that aren’t always front and center in food security conversations, including college campuses.
Of the grants awarded through our Critical Needs Fund, $15,000 went to six universities and community colleges. While attending a student dinner at Colorado State University Pueblo for our Reisher Scholarship Program, one of the students spoke about his concern for his peers on campus and college students across the state who rely on SNAP. College students are often an overlooked group of SNAP recipients and experience food insecurity at higher rates.
Reyna M. Anaya, Ph.D., vice president of student success at the Community College of Aurora shared, “It’s our responsibility to show up for students and provide in different ways, and food security is one of those ways.”
In the early weeks of November 2025, during the SNAP delays, Community College of Aurora saw a 35% uptick in recipients of its free mobile market, Foxy’s Mobile Market.
“Our team did a good job in thinking ahead and being proactive, and always keeping the concept of sustainability in mind,” said Anaya, staying committed to providing food to those who need it, including students, staff, faculty, and their families.
What made this response possible, for the Community College of Aurora and the broader community, was the many ways you showed up.
What your support made possible
Your time, your connections, and your resources helped keep food on the tables for our neighbors throughout the state. Thanks to you, organizations across Colorado were able to provide more meals and quickly adapt to our community’s needs.
Nonprofits were there when we needed them most, just as they always have been. We’re deeply grateful for everything they do to keep our community strong, and for people like you who believe in their work and help sustain it.
The following organizations received grants through our Critical Needs Fund:
- Arapahoe Community College
- Community College of Denver
- Centro Cristiano Amistad de Denver
- Colorado Coalition for the Homeless
- Colorado Food Cluster
- Community College of Aurora – Foxy’s Mobile Market
- University of Colorado Denver – Milo’s Market
- Denver Downtown Islamic Center
- Denver Public School Foundation Food Security Fund
- Denver Public School Northwest Community Hub
- Fax Partnership
- Food Bank of Rockies
- Front Range Community College
- The GrowHaus
- Denver Inner City Parish
- Kaizen Food Rescue
- Metropolitan State University Denver – Rowdy’s Corner
- Project Access Inc.
- Southwest Food Coalition
- Southwest Improvement Council
- Sun Valley Community Kitchen
- There With Care
- ViVe Wellness
- WellPower
Ways to continue supporting emerging needs
If you’d like to support emerging issues in our community, our Critical Needs Fund is an efficient and effective way to support a variety of organizations. The Critical Needs Fund is our fastest and most flexible way to respond to rapidly changing landscapes and crises in our community.
If you are a fundholder at The Denver Foundation, you can support these efforts through your donor-advised fund. If you have any questions, please reach out to your relationship manager or our team at information@denverfoundation.org or 303.300.1790.
