Volunteers from the community play a vital role in our work, so it is critical that we have a diverse, reliable, and experienced network of individuals to assist us in our grantmaking. We rely on our network of volunteers to read, review, and evaluate our grant applications to ensure that we select the strongest applicants who will positively impact our community.
Why Volunteer
Joining our network of volunteers provides you with the opportunity to shape our funding decisions now and into the future, and to engage on issues that are most important to you and your community. Volunteers collaborate with The Denver Foundation staff and leadership to advocate for projects that should be prioritized and funded and to discuss the most effective solutions and ideas to address a variety of needs.
If you are interested in getting more active in your community, engaging with organizations and individuals that are addressing the challenges in your neighborhoods, and using your experience and expertise to make a real impact in your own backyard, then apply today.
Volunteer Roles and Requirements
Volunteers will be asked to complete one, 90-minute training per year, which can be done in person or online. Volunteers are asked to commit for a three-year term, which ensures that everyone participating is informed about our goals and objectives, trained on our standards and principles, and engaged with the organizations and work happening in their community.
Ideally volunteers will have previous experience in reviewing grant applications, participating in grantmaking processes, or have experience working with a community organization or non-profit. It’s also beneficial to have volunteers who have experience with the issues that are addressed by the grantmaking opportunity, for example- arts education, climate change, behavioral health to name just a few. Scholarship panels benefit from having volunteers with education experiences connected to the scholarship opportunity including those who were first-generation, transfer students and individuals who attended graduate or law school. These are not required skills and we welcome working with individuals with other lived or professional experience.
Volunteer Opportunities
Reader
Readers will review grant applications in competitive processes and provide a score indicating a measure of quality. The Denver Foundation will use those scores when evaluating applications and making final funding decisions. Readers may be asked to review up to 50 applications, which are typically 5-7 pages long.
Approximately 15 – 30 hours per year typically between February and May
Evaluator
Evaluators read grant applications in competitive processes, provide a score indicating a measure of quality and also provide an overall funding recommendation. Evaluators will do all of the same things as Readers, but will also provide guidance on which organizations they feel should be funded.
Approximately 20 – 40 hours per year typically between February and May
How to Apply
If the work of The Denver Foundation and our commitment to making Denver a more racially equitable place to live, thrive, and prosper, resonates with you, please consider sharing your time and talent in our grant-making processes. Please complete the following application and a member of our team will connect with you to follow up with information on available opportunities. Please note that due to limited opportunities and the technical expertise that may be required to review some applications, we may not select all applicants to be volunteers.
If you have any questions, please contact Janet Lopez, jlopez@denverfoundation.org