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Please use the Colorado Common Grant Application when submitting a request to the Foundation and use the Colorado Common Grant Report Format to report on a grant received from the Foundation. Both formats and accompanying User’s Guide are available at www.coloradocommongrantforms.org. Please use the CGA checkoff list to make sure you have all the correct attachments required for the grant application. |
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GUIDELINES
Areas of Interest
The Foundation’s mission is purposely broad, allowing it to support the work of many nonprofits that focus on improving the quality of life for individuals and communities. The bulk of the Foundation’s grants are made in categories most directly related to the stated goals of the Foundation: improving the lives of individuals; promoting self-sufficiency; and community development.
Types of Funding
Recognizing that organizational infrastructure is a necessity, the Foundation welcomes requests for general operating support and efforts designed to promote increased organizational capacity. The Foundation also accepts requests for specific program initiatives or enhancements.
Geographic Focus
The Foundation aims for an even distribution of grants between organizations serving in Colorado’s rural and urban communities.
Grant Size
Grants range in size from $2,500 to $10,000.
Restrictions
Generally, the foundation does not support:
== Grants to individuals
== Programs outside of Colorado
== Graduate and post-graduate research
== Religious organizations for religious purposes
== Special events, promotions or conferences
== Candidates for political office
== Endowments
== Debt reduction
== Multi-year grants
== Capital campaigns (On rare occasions the Foundation funds capital campaigns for organizations in rural Colorado with missions that closely align with the Foundation’s interests. Applicants are strongly advised to first submit a one-page letter of inquiry to gauge the Foundation’s interest in reviewing a capital campaign request.)
== Type III Supporting Organizations under IRS Section 509(a)(3). If this applies to you please contact us for further instructions.
What We Look For When Reviewing Proposals
1. Alignment with the mission and interests of the Foundation.
2. Clearly presented organization mission, goals, plans and financials.
3. A solid financial sustainability plan. The Foundation is willing to take "risks" with young, developing organizations, however, we promote diversified funding streams and believe our funding should be no more than 10% of an organization’s annual budget.
4. A committed board of directors with 100% making a financial contribution to the organization. This requirement is not designed to promote wealth as criteria for board membership. We are more interested in full participation, rather than dollar amount.
5. Strong volunteer participation.
6. Community buy-in (evident through donations, volunteer engagement, existing partnerships and collaborative efforts).
7. Solid effort to engage the community and/or participants in program development.
8. On-going efforts to evaluate organizational and program effectiveness and commitment to making adjustments as needed.
9. Effective and inspired leadership.
10. An eye on the future that reflects recognition of potential impacts on and opportunities for the organization.
11. Geographic location and area of focus. For each proposal review cycle, the Foundation is interested in supporting both rural and urban communities and in covering a breadth of focus areas.
Hard and Fast Facts and Rules
== Deadlines: January 15 and August 1
==Faxes and emails are not acceptable for transmitting a proposal to the Foundation.
==The Foundation will review only one proposal per year per organization.
==In order to be fair, the Foundation instituted a "two-year rule" requiring that an organization which receives funding for two successive years take one year off before reapplying.
==Applicants must be recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) organization or be operating under the umbrella of another 501(c)(3) organization.
==Please send only one copy of your proposal to:
Ms. Sue Anschutz-Rodgers, President
OR
Jeff Pryor, Ed.D., Executive Director
Anschutz Family Foundation
555 17th Street, Suite 2400
Denver, CO 80202
== No proposal from an organization previously receiving funds of $5,000 or more will be considered if we have not received a completed Common Grant Report covering the time period of the previous grant.
Funding Cycles
Proposal deadlines: January 15 and August 1.
Due to the large volume of requests that we receive, it is helpful to receive proposals prior to the specific deadlines. However, complete proposals must be received in our office by the close of business on the deadline dates listed above to be considered in that review cycle. Proposals received after these specific deadlines will be delayed until the next cycle. If the deadline date falls on a weekend, proposals are due the preceding Friday.
Proposal review schedule: The Foundation’s trustees make decisions on proposals in the spring and fall of each year. Proposals received after August 1 and by January 15 are reviewed in the spring. Decisions are generally mailed to all applicants in early May. Proposals received after January 15 and by August 1 are reviewed in the fall and decisions are generally mailed to applicants in late November.
The Foundation acknowledges receipt of all proposals, typically within four weeks of their arrival in our office. If you do not receive an acknowledgment, feel free to contact us as this may indicate that we did not receive your proposal.
REPORTING
Grant Reporting Requirements
All grantees receiving a grant of at least $5,000 are expected to submit the Colorado Common Grant Report Format (CGRF) one year after receipt of a grant or with a new proposal for the subsequent year, whichever date comes first. A copy of the CGRF is sent at the time of a grant award. In the meantime, you can view the CGRF at the Colorado Common Grant Forms website. The CGRF asks grantees to report on results/outcomes, lessons learned, future plans and financials. If a grantee has evaluation materials that document outcomes, those materials may be substituted for some of the questions.