OUR IMPACT
2023 GRANT RECIPIENTS
We are proud to provide grants to nonprofit organizations that serve Riverfront Park and Downtown Denver. Over the years, we’ve supported numerous nonprofits, with an emphasis on organizations that support those who live and work in Riverfront Park and downtown Denver. These are the organizations the Foundation supported in 2023.
For more information on our grant application process, click here.
BIENNIAL OF THE AMERICAS
The Foundation awarded a grant to Biennial of the Americas for Toronto-based artists and educators Julia Jamrozik and Coryn Kempster to create Pipelines, a new installation. Together they create spaces and objects that interrupt everyday situations in critically engaging and playful ways. Learn more.
Book Trust:
The Foundation awarded a grant to Book Trust to support literacy programs at 12 schools within Denver Public Schools, serving 3,053 low-income students in grades Pre-Kindergarten (PreK)-3, which represents a 22% increase in students served, with 2 additional schools. Learn more.
CLYFFORD STILL MUSEUM:
The Foundation awarded a grant to Clyfford Still Museum to support their 2023 exhibitions and public programs. Residents of the Riverfront Park community also receive free admission to the museum throughout the year. Learn more.
COLORADO COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS:
The Foundation has been a valued partner of Colorado Coalition for the Homeless in helping to prevent and end homelessness, providing support of this integrated model, supporting housing development, healthcare, and supportive services — homes, health, and hope. Learn More.
DENVER CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS:
Centrally located in downtown Denver, Denver Center for the Performing Arts works with schools within a 5-mile radius of Riverfront Park by offering an Arts In Education program. Grants from the Foundation help sponsor classes in dramatic learning, free admission to student matinees and competitions in youth playwriting. Learn more.
DENVER KIDS:
The Foundation awarded a grant to Denver Kids to provide financial support for on-going educational counseling for students identified as at risk of not graduation from high school, to prevent students from dropping out of school through academic, social, and emotional support. Learn more.
THE Gathering Place:
The Foundation awarded a grant to The Gathering Place to support sustaining programs and services to over 5,000 people each year. Grant funds ensure continued operation of crisis response and basic needs programs, as well as a range of services designed to support recovery from homelessness, addiction and trauma and foster long-term stability for individuals and families. Learn more.
The GREENWAY FOUNDATION:
The Foundation awarded The Greenway Foundation a grant for the Kids Zone at their CROSSCURRENTS river festival in Confluence Park. The Kids Zone will feature activities for children of all ages that encourage physical activity, creativity, and positive engagement with the river and park.
The Foundation also awarded support for two large-scale volunteer stewardship days that occur annually as well as SPREE elementary school field trips that support student learning during the school day. Learn more.
HOPE CENTER:
Grants from the Foundation to Hope Center, through their Early Childhood Education program, serve downtown Denver and Riverfront neighborhoods. The Early Childhood Education program serves children who have developmental disabilities/delays, or who are at risk or even gifted. Many of these families have a household income at 200% or less of the federal poverty guidelines. Learn more.
MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART:
Located within the Riverfront community, the Museum of Contemporary Art, received a grant from the Foundation to support, sustain, and strengthen their teen programming, a core initiative of MCA Denver. A portion of the grant funds community outreach and membership development in the Riverfront Park neighborhood, including memberships to MCA Denver offered for community residents. Learn more.
PLATTE FORUM:
Since inception within the Riverfront Park community, the Foundation was involved in the capital startup of PlatteForum and continues to support this one-of-a-kind opportunity to bring together art, education and youth in a creative, fun and highly educational learning environment. In 2011, PlatteForum was recognized as one of the best youth arts programs in the United States when it received the National Arts and Humanities Youth. Learn more.
TEach for america colorado:
The Foundation awarded at grant to Teach for America to recruit, train, place, support, and retain excellent, equity-oriented teachers in high-need Denver schools, including downtown schools, in the 2022-23 school year while recruiting new teachers ahead of the 2023-24 school year. Learn more.
Urban Peak Denver:
The Foundation awarded a grant to support Urban Peak’s street outreach and drop-in center services. These two programs work in tandem meeting the basic needs of youth experiencing homelessness by providing food, water, clothing, harm-reduction supplies, and other basic needs items on the streets and at the agency’s downtown location. These services, combined with the trust built with caring staff, serve as a gateway for youth to exit the streets and help reduce the number of youth experiencing homelessness in the greater metro Denver area. Learn more.
WE DON'T WASTE:
The Foundation played a critical role in establishing We Don’t Waste during its startup period. We Don’t Waste picks up and distributes unused food from venues, events, caterers, restaurants and major food distributors and delivers the products to community-based non-profits in the downtown Denver community to address poverty and children. Learn more.