We have provided answers to frequently asked questions, arranged by topic.

About Our Grants Program 

1. What does the Colorado Health Foundation fund?

To improve the health of Coloradans, we consider grant applications that align with our funding types within our 10 priority areas.

2. Review open funding opportunities.

3. How does the Foundation evaluate grantee work?

All grantees participate in our evaluation model, though engagement for a particular grantee may vary depending on the specific projects, funding or priority area. We aspire to be clear with grantees about expectations around evaluation at the beginning of their funding and throughout the life of their project. Some ways that grantees may be engaged in evaluation are:

• All grantees are expected to report monitoring data on our Measurable Reach and/or through regular reporting processes.
• Grantees may be asked to provide some additional data as part of their normal reporting process.
• Grantees may be asked to engage in an evaluation study across a body of work we are funding (cluster evaluation).
• Grantees may be asked to engage in an evaluation study specific to their grant (generally using a third party evaluator).
• Grantees may be asked to participate in other informal learning activities.

Grantees may be asked to participate in any combination of these activities. The Foundation’s evaluation team will then work with grantees to help them understand expectations, answer any questions and provide support throughout the evaluation process. We focus on ensuring that our evaluation practices do not create an undue burden on grantees.

We welcome your questions or feedback about the evaluation process. If you have specific questions about the evaluation model or the evaluation expectations, contact Phillip Chung, Interim Sr. Director for Learning and Evaluation at 303-953-3685.

3. What type of grant support does the Foundation provide?

Typically, we consider grants for project, general operating support and capacity building, but funding criteria will detail this type of information on the specific funding page. On occasion, we also consider requests for capital funding if the proposed efforts have a demonstrable link to our community outcomes. In each case, funding criteria guide specifically what will be funded and in general we define these areas as follows:

• Project: specific sets of activities carried out over a defined period of time.
• General operating support: support for an organization's day-to-day expenses to enable it to carry out its mission.
• Capacity building: strengthening an organization by enhancing financing, governance, planning and other business capabilities.
• Capital: improving an organization's facilities or infrastructure. 

4. What is the difference between a general operating grant and a project grant?

Project grants are for specific activities carried out over a defined time period; for example, a one-year project to enroll eligible children in CHP+.

General operating grants support an organization's day-to-day expenses to enable it to carry out its mission. We will make general operating grants only to organizations whose mission aligns with our mission and help us achieve one or more of our goals.

5. What is the difference between funding opportunities and rolling funding? 

• Our funding opportunities focus on specific needs aligned with a particular priority within our priority area. These vary for each funding deadline (Feb. 15, June 15 and Oct. 15). Applicants will be required to address detailed criteria specific to that funding opportunity. Grant funding is highly competitive within the pool of applicants for each individual funding opportunity. 
• For select priority areas, we accept applications on a rolling basis. Applicants are asked to address the detailed criteria for those rolling funding opportunities, including Advocacy Rapid Response and Building and Bridging Connections funding.

6. How much funding will the Foundation provide for my proposal?

The amount granted to an organization varies depending on many factors, such as funding opportunity criteria, scope and scale of the work proposed, organization budget and capacity, what other funding support is available to support the work proposed, and several other considerations. Proposals not solely dependent on funding from the Foundation, that include other funding streams, and that include proposed work continuing beyond the grant term are preferred.  Please check out each Funding Opportunity for specific criteria.

7. Does the Foundation make multiyear grants?

We welcome proposals for multiyear funding and encourage applicants to delineate clearly the need for additional years of funding.

8. How long does it take to receive grant funding?

Depending on the complexity of the request, the review process takes approximately four months.

9. How does the Foundation decide who receives a grant?

When we receive a proposal, we assign it to one of our program officers. The designated program officer will work with their team as appropriate to review the proposal thoroughly.

Many factors enter into a final grant recommendation, the most significant of which is the demonstrated capacity of the applicant to impact the goals of the funding type. In making that assessment, the program officers consider, among other things, the applicant's proposed strategy, organizational capacity to achieve the results and coordination with complementary efforts of other organizations. Program officers will speak with the applicants as needed and occasionally conduct a site visit.

Grant Eligibility

1. Who is eligible for a Colorado Health Foundation grant?

We prioritize funding for:

• Organizations based in Colorado and serving Coloradans
• Organizations classified as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3)
• Colorado public agencies, including state and local governments
• A tax-exempt organization acting as a fiscal sponsor may apply on behalf of, or in collaboration with, an organization that does not have 501(c)(3) status.
  • The fiscal sponsor’s board must approve of the project as furthering the sponsor’s charitable mission prior to applying for a grant to The Colorado Health Foundation. Please download the Foundation's fiscal sponsor policy and sample memorandum of understanding (MOU). If you have any questions about your organization's eligibility, please contact us at 303-953-3600 and ask to speak with our grantmaking department.

2. Who is not eligible for a grant?

We do not award grants to organizations that willfully discriminate against a particular class of individuals. To be eligible for funding, organizations must abide by all applicable local, state and federal anti-discrimination laws in hiring, employment practices and when providing services.

Generally, the Foundation does not make grants to or for the following:

• Individuals
• Programs that require membership in a certain religion or advance a particular religious faith
  • faith-based organizations may be eligible for funding if they welcome and serve all members of the community regardless of religious faith, and provided that they do not require participation in activities that are specifically religious
• For-profit organizations or programs operated by, or for the benefit of, for-profit organizations (Unless otherwise stated within a particular Funding Opportunity)
• Debt retirement
• Fundraising events
  • 501(c)(3) organizations seeking funding for a charitable event may apply for funding through the Sponsorship program. To read more about eligibility criteria and funding considerations, please visit our Sponsorships page
• Endowments, except as part of an initiative designed to help nonprofits achieve financial sustainability

Please contact the senior director of Grantmaking Operations at 303-953-3665 or email if you have any questions regarding your organization's eligibility for funding.

3. Does the Foundation provide grants to agencies outside metro Denver?

Yes. We make grants for the benefit of Coloradans in all parts of the state.

4. Does the Foundation provide grants to agencies outside Colorado?

Generally, we do not fund organizations outside Colorado. When we do, it is because the project will provide a significant benefit to Coloradans.

How to Apply

1. How can my organization apply for a grant from the Colorado Health Foundation?

First, review our priority areas and open funding:

Read more about what to do before you apply. 

All grant applications are submitted electronically through the specific funding page on our website. Complete instructions for online submissions can be found here.

If you would like to view the application ahead of applying, see the sample standard application and advocacy rapid response application.

2. How do I apply online?

To apply online, read about the process for applying first and follow the instructions. Tip: We recommend that applicants type answers to the proposal questions into a word processing document, then copy and paste the entries into the appropriate section of the online application. This helps speed the process.

3. What should I do if I cannot submit an online application?

If you are unable to complete an online application, please contact our senior director of Grantmaking Operations for instructions about an alternative submission.

Senior Director of Grantmaking Operations
303-953-3665 
Toll-free: 877-225-0839 
Email

4. Are there deadlines for grant applications?

Yes. We have three annual deadlines: Feb. 15, June 15 and Oct. 15. When these dates fall on a holiday or weekend, the deadline will be the next business day. 

5. How should I write my proposal if I am applying for a general operating grant?

Organizations applying for a general operating grant should write a proposal about their organization as a whole, rather than about a specific project. Include information about your organization's projects, programs and services collectively so that we can learn about how your organization carries out its work to achieve its mission.

6. What is meant by "intermediate milestones"?

In the proposal narrative, you are asked to describe the final results that you hope to achieve through your work. For multiyear grants, we realize that results may not be achieved immediately. Therefore, we ask you to provide no more than five important milestones for each year of your program or project. Milestones might include "products" or "deliverables" that will help you achieve your final results. For example, during the course of a three-year project grant, you may plan to increase the number of parents educated on child development and nutrition. Your milestones might include the following:

Year 1 

• Develop and finalize an evidence-based curriculum for the program
• Develop a survey instrument to assess parent comprehension levels before and after the course

Year 2 

• Implement the course and summarize participant feedback
• Refine curriculum and survey instrument to reflect lessons learned from the first year

Year 3 (end of the grant) 

• The number of individuals reached by the effort
• The total number of parents sufficiently educated on child development and nutrition
• If there are plans to continue the program, you can report on the predicted results of sustained efforts and the potential scope of dissemination

Setting up a project plan with intermediate milestones and expected results will help ensure the grant activities are on track and identify when mid-course corrections are needed.

7. Do you request information in the application on how we will track results or measure impact?

We ask that you describe how many individuals (numerical) that you expect to serve or reach with your program or project. We also ask you to describe how you will know your program or project has led to the overall results you’ve set out to achieve. Additionally, we ask that you describe how your program or project has led to greater health equity for your target populations.

8. What type of financial information do you request in the application?

We ask that you describe how you will use the requested funding by providing a brief budget narrative. If you are applying for more than one year of funding, we ask that you include the total amount requested for each year. We also ask that you share with us other major sources of funding – financial or non-financial for the program or project.

9. What should I do if my organization does not have audited financial statements?

We request that you provide your most recent fiscal year's unaudited statements, including the profit and loss statement and balance sheet.

10. If I am using a fiscal sponsor, what additional materials do I need to provide?

• Fiscal sponsor's financials (most recent full 12 months, audited if available within that timeframe)
• Fiscal sponsor agreement (please refer to the Foundation's fiscal sponsor policy and sample MOU)

Online Applications

1. How do I begin the online application process?

You will begin your online application on a specific funding page on the website. Funding opportunities focus on specific needs aligned with a particular priority within our priority areas. These vary for each funding deadline (Feb. 15, June 15 and Oct. 15). Applicants will be required to address detailed criteria specific to that funding opportunity. Grant funding is highly competitive within the pool of applicants for each individual funding opportunity. Our rolling funding has no associated deadline. We accept applications on a rolling basis. Applicants will be required to address detailed criteria specific to the funding.

It is important that you fit the criteria as an applicant before applying. A link to the applicant portal is available within each funding page.

•  View open funding

2. What application type should I select?

The application type you will need to complete is based on the type of funding you are applying for:

Standard Application

• All funding opportunities
• Building and Bridging Connections Funding

Advocacy Rapid Response Application

• Advocacy Rapid Response Funding

Sabbatical Program Application

• Nonprofit Sabbatical Program

3. If I am in the middle of writing my application, can I save it and continue working on it later?

Yes. In the bottom-right corner, please click “Save” if you would like to save your application and continue working or “Save and Close” if you would like to save your work to return at another time or submit. Once you’ve clicked either saving option, you will see your application under the “In Progress” section in the toolbar found on the left side of the application portal. You can continue to work on the application by accessing it through the toolbar under “In Progress” or by clicking on the “Edit” button found in the upper-right corner of the application.

Note that the grant portal does not auto save. We encourage you to frequently click on "Save" when drafting your application so as not to lose any work. You must save the application prior to submitting your application.

4. I saved my application in a previous session. How do I get back to it?

Once logged into the portal, on the left hand side of the screen, select “Requests” and “In Progress”. Then select “Edit” in the top right corner of your screen next to the print icon to continue editing the proposal.

5. I clicked on "Save" and now I can't get back to my application. What should I do?

Once logged into the portal, on the left hand side of the screen, select “Requests” and “In Progress”. Then select “Edit” in the top right corner of your screen next to the print icon to continue editing the proposal.

6. How do I submit attachments if I'm using the online system?

Applicants should upload required documents to the online application system. To upload attachments, you select the blue (+) button to the right of the specific document you’re wanting to upload, add the file, and click “Upload.” Repeat this step for each required document. If you would like to add an additional, optional document, please locate and select the (+) button on the “Application Documents” section to add.

7. How can I tell if my application has gone through?

When you click “Submit,” you will receive an email confirmation that we received your application. This is why it is very important to enter your email address accurately on your application. If you do not receive an email confirmation, please call our Grantmaking Operations team at 303-953-3600.

You will also find the application under “Submitted” within your grantee portal.

8. What happens if my system crashes while I'm submitting my application online?

Although the online grant application system has been designed to minimize loss of information, we recommend saving frequently. You can easily resume your application by logging into the grants portal or by clicking on your application under “In Progress” if signed into the application portal.

As an additional way to avoid loss of your data, we recommend typing your answers to the proposal questions into a word-processing document first. You can then copy and paste your answers into the appropriate sections of the online application form.

At any time during the online application process, you can use the "Printer Friendly Version" button to print out your proposal.

9. I submitted my application, but there's a mistake in it. Can I submit another one?

If you discover a mistake in your application or have any technical difficulties, please call our Grantmaking Operations team at 303-953-3600.

10. I've submitted my application. What should I expect now?

Once your application has been submitted, you will receive an email confirming receipt. As needed, a Foundation staff member may be in touch with you to discuss your proposal and to follow up with any additional questions. Sometimes, our program staff will schedule a site visit so they can meet you in person and further discuss proposed activities. Please note that the decision-making process may take up to four months. Once a decision has been made, you will be notified promptly.

At any point during the process, please do not hesitate to contact our grantmaking staff with questions or concerns.

11. What are the system requirements for the online grant application process?

While there are no special system requirements for completing an online grant application, you must use a Google Chrome browser to ensure functionality of the portal. Similarly, high-speed Internet access will make the process much faster, though it is not required.

12. Is my organization's information kept private when I apply online?

The Foundation takes your privacy seriously. We do not rent, sell or share personal information about you or your grant application with other people or with nonaffiliated companies or organizations.

Demographic Data 

1. Why is the Foundation collecting demographic data?

As The Colorado Health Foundation continues to center equity in all we do, we recognize a need to be clear and transparent with applicants and grantees about what we expect of them, and what they can expect from us, when it comes to deepening the Foundation’s equity orientation and practices for both our operational and programmatic work.

As we work to advance health and health equity across Colorado, we are committed to doing the hard and necessary work of intentionally charting our path forward on our own organizational justice, equity, diversity and inclusion learning journey and practice. As such, we seek to engage with organizations who are at different points in their own learning journeys, including those who are miles ahead of us and those who are just starting this critically important work.

As part of this commitment to learning and evolving, the Foundation strives to understand how we and those with whom we work are advancing equity within our own institutions and the communities we exist to serve. Moving forward, we are requesting key demographic data from grant applicant organizations about themselves (their staff and board) and for the communities they serve.

Demographic data requested includes identification related to race and ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and disability. There is also an option to share additional demographic data that does not fall within the above-mentioned categories. The information collected will serve as one data point, among many, in our effort to understand how those with whom we engage are approaching the work of advancing equity. Applicants have the option to enter data in “do not track” or “prefer not to say” options as well as to provide feedback on these questions overall.

2. Is this a required part of the grant application?

Yes. We require demographic data information to be completed as a part of the application. We understand that your organization may not track all of this information, or may not be able to report on it for a variety of reasons. If that is the case, please only enter data in “do not track” or “prefer not to say” options. You’ll also be given an opportunity to provide additional context or explanations if necessary.

3. What if my organization doesn’t or cannot track the demographic information requested?

Please only enter data in “do not track” or “prefer not to say” options for the applicable demographic data and then provide detail in the narrative questions as to why your organization does not or cannot track the requested demographic data.

4. My organization is fiscally-sponsored. Whose board, executive leadership, and staff should I provide information for?

Please provide information for the applicant organization, which in this case is the fiscally-sponsored project.

5. I have more questions about this data collection, is there someone I can contact?

If you have questions or considerations about this data collection, please reach out to Ryan Severts at [email protected] or (303) 953-3600.

Application Review Process

1. May I apply for more than one grant at the same time, either in the same priority area or addressing different health issues?

It depends. Each application is reviewed on its own merits. If you are submitting a new proposal, you are welcome to submit an application within an aligned, open funding. For renewals of a current grant, we ask that you wait until four months before the grant period ends before submitting an application for renewal. When you apply for a new grant, or reapply, we encourage you to ensure that all reporting for the current grant is up to date. Please access the grants portal and refer to the grant reporting and maintenance or your program officer for further support in report completion.

2. I recently applied for a grant and was turned down. How can I find out why my request was declined so I can be more successful the next time?

Unfortunately, we must decline many more proposals than we are able to fund. If you have questions about the reasons for declination, please call our main number, 303-953-3600, and you will be put in touch with the appropriate program officer who can address your questions.

Communicating About Your Grant

1. Do you have any guidance on how to communicate with my network about the grant award?

Once a grant agreement is finalized, you may consider letting your audience know about it. Visit our “Communicating About Your Grant” webpage for information on how to reference The Colorado Health Foundation in your communications. This includes information on name usage, logo usage, organization description, press releases, quotes and social media. For additional questions, reach us via email or by phone at 303-953-3600.

Grant Reports

1. What are my grant reporting requirements, and how do I submit my reports?

Grant reporting requirements are outlined in all grant agreements. Please refer to your grant agreement for details. Approximately 35 days prior to your report being due, an email reminder will be sent from the Foundation providing a link to the grantee portal and instructions. The portal requires you to log in with your user name and password prior to completing the report or uploading the grant deliverable. Once in the portal, you will find your report located in the “Upcoming Reports” section. You can learn more about reporting requirements here.

For questions please contact:

Senior Director of Grantmaking Operations
303-953-3665 
Toll-free: 877-225-0839 
Email

About the Colorado Health Foundation

1. What is the history of The Colorado Health Foundation?

We began in 1995 as HealthONE Alliance, a nonprofit established when the HealthONE hospital system entered into a joint venture with HCA-HealthONE. Over the years, our structure, mission and name has changed to best serve Colorado’s health needs. Though our initial emphasis was in medical research and acute care, our vision is that across Colorado, each of us can say: "We have all we need to live healthy lives." Learn more about our history.

2. How can I contact a program officer?

At any time in the process of thinking about, developing or submitting a grant application, we encourage you to contact us with any question, big or small. Please use the Program Officer Finder or call our main number, 303-953-3600 or 877-225-0839 (toll free), and you will be directed to the most appropriate program officer.

Our mailing address is: 
The Colorado Health Foundation 
1780 Pennsylvania St
Denver, CO 80203