Before You Apply
To save time and effort, please review the following information before applying for a grant from the Colorado Health Foundation:
Who can apply?
Generally, the Colorado Health Foundation makes grants to the following types of organizations:
- Colorado organizations classified as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3)
- Colorado public agencies, including state and local governments
New or emerging organizations without 501(c)(3) status are permitted to apply through a tax-exempt organization acting as fiscal sponsor. Please 
download the Foundation's fiscal sponsor policy and sample memorandum of understanding (MOU). On occasion, we will also make grants to organizations with a 501(c)(4) status. If you have any questions about your organization's eligibility, please do not hesitate to contact us at 303.953.3600 and ask to speak with grants management.
Note: If a public support test requirement to retain public charity status applies to your organization, as a public charity grantee of the Colorado Health Foundation, it is essential that you ensure the grant your organization receives will not cause it to lose its status as a publicly supported charity.
Essential resources
Before applying, we recommend the following:
- Read the Grant Guidelines;
- Read the FAQ;
- Review our Funding Strategies and Measurable Results to see how your project aligns with the Foundation's grantmaking priorities;
- Contact a program officer if you want to discuss your project before beginning the online application process;
- Participate in a live webinar (or listen to a recorded one) to learn more about the application process and how to use the Colorado Health Foundation's online grant application;
- Review our Grantmaking Glossary to become familiar with terminology that appears throughout the application process.
Deadlines
Please refer to our grant application deadlines for current Funding Strategies within our community outcome areas of Healthy Living, Health Care and Health Coverage. Proposals must be received by 5 p.m. on the deadline date. When these dates fall on a holiday or weekend, the deadline will be the next business day.
Timelines
After your application has been submitted, the Colorado Health Foundation will screen it for completeness and eligibility. Your application will be assigned to the appropriate team for review, and you will receive notification from the Foundation regarding who will serve as your primary point of contact. This staff person may contact you to discuss your proposal and follow-up with any additional questions. Staff may occasionally schedule a site visit to meet you in person and further discuss proposed activities.
While we strive to be as responsive as possible, please note that review of your proposal may take up to four months. You will be notified as soon as we reach a decision. At any point during the process, please do not hesitate to contact your assigned staff person with questions or concerns.