Nonprofit Capacity Building Fund from The City and County of Denver

Working with Denver to offer capacity building for nonprofits

The Denver Foundation is pleased to invite qualified nonprofits to apply for funding for the City and County of Denver Nonprofit Capacity Building Fund, funded by Denver Economic Development & Opportunity’s (DEDO) Division of Neighborhood Equity and Stabilization (NEST). 

The City and County of Denver Capacity Building Fund is a program developed by The Denver Foundation in partnership with the DEDO to strengthen nonprofit organizations. The grants aims to build capacity in Denver’s neighborhoods and enhance collaboration and power building. The goals of the program are to strengthen nonprofit organizations that serve Denver’s NEST neighborhoods to increase community capacity and civic engagement.  

Grants will range from $2,000-$20,000 and the program plans to award 5-15 grants in 2025. 

Grantees must fully implement and complete and all projects – including all activities, deliverables, and use of funds – by Friday, Nov. 28, 2025. We encourage applicants to carefully consider whether their project can be completed within this timeframe before applying. Extensions will not be available. 

Note: This is different from Capacity Building Fund at The Denver Foundation. You can visit that web page for more information. 

ELIGIBILITY

• Your organization must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization or have a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor.
• Your organization must be located in or provide services or organize, in priority neighborhoods as identified by DEDO’s division of Neighborhood Equity and Stabilization (NEST): Athmar Park, Barnum, Barnum West, Clayton, College View, East Colfax, Elyria Swansea, Globeville, Kennedy, Lincoln Park, Mar Lee, Montbello, Ruby Hill, Sun Valley, Valverde, Villa Park, Westwood and Windsor. Please look up your neighborhood if you’re unsure about your project’s eligibility:  Denver Maps – Neighborhoods (denvergov.org)
• Organizations must upload a scope of work prepared with their consultant as part of the application.

Grant awards given in previous years are no guarantee of future grant awards.

Not eligible for funding: 

• Organizations with fund balance deficits as indicated on the balance sheet for their most recently completed fiscal year (e.g., an organization cannot have a negative balance in any of the net asset line items on their balance sheet)
• Funding to an organization or program that discriminates on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, except to serve historically disadvantaged groups
• Activities, projects, or programs that will have been completed before funding becomes available (no retroactive funding)
• Endowments or other reserve funds
• Membership or affiliation campaigns, dinners, or special events
• Food cost and related travel
• Grants that further political doctrine or religious activities
• Grants to individuals
• Scholarships or sponsorships, including special events or fundraisers
• Grants to parochial or religious schools

Additional information

For the application, organizations must upload a scope of work prepared with their consultant as part of the application process.

Examples of eligible projects include, but are not limited to:

• Communications and Information Management
• Evaluation Tool Development
• Fund Development
• Governance and Board Development
• Policy and Advocacy Work
• Resident Engagement and Community Organizing
• Scenario Planning (NEW)
• Strategic Planning and Operational Planning