Community Shares of Colorado makes predominantly operating grants to Colorado-based social service, health, civil rights, and animal welfare organizations, favoring mission-driven nonprofits that deliver direct services across the state. Grants are typically modest-to-mid sized and frequently issued as repeat awards, indicating a preference for sustained core support to established local partners. Their portfolio blends human services (food, housing, health), advocacy (reproductive rights, immigrant and civil liberties), and animal/wildlife welfare, with some public media support to amplify community information. The foundation appears place-based (Colorado focus) and oriented toward organizations with measurable community impact rather than capital projects.
Community Shares of Colorado Inc. uses operating grants to support Colorado nonprofits working in health care, reproductive rights, civil liberties, food access, housing, animal welfare, and public information. The recent record shows a strong pattern of repeat support: CHC Creating Healthier Commun received two grants of $271,532 and $197,197, while Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains received $92,437 and $87,513. That same repeat-grant pattern appears across the portfolio, suggesting ongoing core support rather than one-off project funding. The foundation’s recent awards also show a mix of large statewide service providers and local community organizations. Dumb Friends League received two grants of $76,928 and $67,707, and Colorado Public Radio received $69,581 and $52,186. Other sizable operating grants went to Mile High United Way, Children’s Hospital Colorado, The Wild Animal Sanctuary, and the ACLU Foundation. Across the list, the funder favors organizations that deliver direct services or public-benefit advocacy in Colorado, with occasional support for groups outside the state when the mission aligns with its priorities.
Health and direct services are a major thread in the portfolio. Community Shares of Colorado Inc. gave $63,280 and $52,803 to Children’s Hospital Colorado for operating support, and $68,177 and $55,034 to Mile High United Way. Basic needs organizations also appear repeatedly. Food Bank of the Rockies received $23,879 and $18,802, while Project Angel Heart received $19,092 and $17,474, both as operating grants. The foundation also funds advocacy and public-interest work. The ACLU Foundation received $38,339 and $28,444, and Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains received $92,437 and $87,513. Animal welfare is another clear area, with support for Foothills Animal Shelter, Cat Care Society, and The Wild Animal Sanctuary.
Typical grant size is modest to mid-sized: the 25th percentile is $6,702, the median is $10,118, and the 75th percentile is $23,069. The recent grants list shows many repeat awards to the same organizations within 2023, which points to recurring support rather than isolated gifts. The foundation is a public charity, not a private family foundation or DAF, and it makes operating grants rather than program-related investments. The grant record is concentrated in Colorado and appears oriented toward sustained core funding for established nonprofits.
$2.2M
$2.1M
$2.2M
$2.3M
Most grants fall between $7K and $23K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$7K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$23K
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Concentrated, repeat operating grants to a diversified set of local nonprofits — generally moderate-sized awards, often issued twice per year or across years, indicating steady core support rather than one-off or large capital gifts.
Notable grantees: CHC Creating Healthier Communities, Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, Dumb Friends League, Food Bank of the Rockies, Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network
Giving is overwhelmingly local: 93% of grants go to recipients in Colorado, and the recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based. Denver appears frequently, with grants to Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, Colorado Public Radio, Mile High United Way, Habitat for Humanity of Metro, Food Bank of the Rockies, The Gathering Place, Project Angel Heart, Rocky Mountain PBS, and the ACLU Foundation. Other Colorado recipients include Aurora, Golden, Lakewood, Keenesburg, Centennial, and Alexandria, Virginia appears only for CHC Creating Healthier Commun.
The foundation backs Colorado nonprofits working in health care, reproductive rights, civil liberties, animal welfare, food access, housing, and public information. Recent grants include operating support for Children’s Hospital Colorado, Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, Food Bank of the Rockies, and The Wild Animal Sanctuary.
The recent grant list is entirely labeled operating grant. That pattern matches the broader summary, which describes predominantly operating support and core funding for established nonprofits.
The middle of the distribution is relatively modest: the 25th percentile is $6,702, the median is $10,118, and the 75th percentile is $23,069. Recent grants range from smaller awards in the teens of thousands to larger operating gifts above $100,000.
Its giving is strongly Colorado-centered, with 93% of grants going to recipients in the state. The recent list is all U.S.-based, and most named recipients are in Denver and other Colorado cities, though one large operating grant went to CHC Creating Healthier Commun in Alexandria, Virginia.
Yes. Several organizations appear multiple times in the recent grants list, including CHC Creating Healthier Commun, Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, Dumb Friends League, Colorado Public Radio, Mile High United Way, Children’s Hospital Colorado, The Wild Animal Sanctuary, the ACLU Foundation, Foothills Animal Shelter, Cat Care Society, Habitat for Humanity of Metro, Food Bank of the Rockies, and Project Angel Heart.
2023
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2023.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHC CREATING HEALTHIER COMMUN | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $271,532 | 2023 | OPERATING GRANT |
| CHC CREATING HEALTHIER COMMUN | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $197,197 | 2023 | OPERATING GRANT |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF THE ROC | DENVER, CO | $92,437 | 2023 | OPERATING GRANT |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF THE ROC | DENVER, CO | $87,513 | 2023 | OPERATING GRANT |
| DUMB FRIENDS LEAGUE | DENVER, CO | $76,928 | 2023 | OPERATING GRANT |
| COLORADO PUBLIC RADIO | CENTENNIAL, CO | $69,581 | 2023 | OPERATING GRANT |
| MILE HIGH UNITED WAY | DENVER, CO | $68,177 | 2023 | OPERATING GRANT |
| DUMB FRIENDS LEAGUE | DENVER, CO | $67,707 | 2023 | OPERATING GRANT |
| CHILDRENS HOSPITAL COLORADO | AURORA, CO | $63,280 | 2023 | OPERATING GRANT |
| THE WILD ANIMAL SANCTUARY | KEENESBURG, CO | $60,537 | 2023 | OPERATING GRANT |
| THE WILD ANIMAL SANCTUARY | KEENESBURG, CO | $57,414 | 2023 | OPERATING GRANT |
| MILE HIGH UNITED WAY | DENVER, CO | $55,034 | 2023 | OPERATING GRANT |
| CHILDRENS HOSPITAL COLORADO | AURORA, CO | $52,803 | 2023 | OPERATING GRANT |
| COLORADO PUBLIC RADIO | CENTENNIAL, CO | $52,186 | 2023 | OPERATING GRANT |
| HOPE FOR THE WARRIORS | NASHVILLE, TN | $45,000 | 2023 | OPERATING GRANT |
| ACLU FOUNDATION | DENVER, CO | $38,339 | 2023 | OPERATING GRANT |
| FOOTHILLS ANIMAL SHELTER | GOLDEN, CO | $32,246 | 2023 | OPERATING GRANT |
| ACLU FOUNDATION | DENVER, CO | $28,444 | 2023 | OPERATING GRANT |
| FOOTHILLS ANIMAL SHELTER | GOLDEN, CO | $26,997 | 2023 | OPERATING GRANT |
| CAT CARE SOCIETY | LAKEWOOD, CO | $26,406 | 2023 | OPERATING GRANT |
| HOPE FOR THE WARRIORS | NASHVILLE, TN | $25,000 | 2023 | OPERATING GRANT |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF METRO | DENVER, CO | $24,524 | 2023 | OPERATING GRANT |
| FOOD BANK OF THE ROCKIES | DENVER, CO | $23,879 | 2023 | OPERATING GRANT |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF METRO | DENVER, CO | $20,638 | 2023 | OPERATING GRANT |
| THE GATHERING PLACE | DENVER, CO | $20,257 | 2023 | OPERATING GRANT |
| CAT CARE SOCIETY | LAKEWOOD, CO | $20,225 | 2023 | OPERATING GRANT |
| PROJECT ANGEL HEART | DENVER, CO | $19,092 | 2023 | OPERATING GRANT |
| FOOD BANK OF THE ROCKIES | DENVER, CO | $18,802 | 2023 | OPERATING GRANT |
| ROCKY MOUNTAIN PBS | DENVER, CO | $17,655 | 2023 | OPERATING GRANT |
| PROJECT ANGEL HEART | DENVER, CO | $17,474 | 2023 | OPERATING GRANT |
| ROCKY MOUNTAIN PBS | DENVER, CO | $17,413 | 2023 | OPERATING GRANT |
| THE GATHERING PLACE | DENVER, CO | $14,448 | 2023 | OPERATING GRANT |
| HUNGER FREE COLORADO | DENVER, CO | $14,400 | 2023 | OPERATING GRANT |
| ROCKY MOUNTAIN IMMIGRANT ADVC | WESTMINSTER, CO | $13,882 | 2023 | OPERATING GRANT |
| DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS | NEW YORK, NY | $13,577 | 2023 | OPERATING GRANT |
| INVEST IN KIDS | DENVER, CO | $13,210 | 2023 | OPERATING GRANT |
| INVEST IN KIDS | DENVER, CO | $13,198 | 2023 | OPERATING GRANT |
| BICYCLE COLORADO | DENVER, CO | $11,861 | 2023 | OPERATING GRANT |
| COLORADO OPEN LANDS | LAKEWOOD, CO | $11,747 | 2023 | OPERATING GRANT |
| THE DELORES PROJECT | DENVER, CO | $11,155 | 2023 | OPERATING GRANT |
| COLORADO OPEN LANDS | LAKEWOOD, CO | $10,865 | 2023 | OPERATING GRANT |
| COLORADO IMMIGRANT RIGHTS | DENVER, CO | $10,682 | 2023 | OPERATING GRANT |
| THE DELORES PROJECT | DENVER, CO | $10,655 | 2023 | OPERATING GRANT |
| DENVER CHILDRENS ADVOCACY | DENVER, CO | $10,269 | 2023 | OPERATING GRANT |
| HUMANE SOCIETY OF BOULDER VAL | BOULDER, CO | $10,236 | 2023 | OPERATING GRANT |
| COLORADO COMMUNITY CHURCH | AURORA, CO | $10,000 | 2023 | OPERATING GRANT |
| CENTER ON COLFAX FKA GLBT | DENVER, CO | $9,809 | 2023 | OPERATING GRANT |
| WOMENS BEAN PROJECT | DENVER, CO | $9,688 | 2023 | OPERATING GRANT |
| ECO-CYCLE | BOULDER, CO | $9,253 | 2023 | OPERATING GRANT |
| LONGMONT HUMANE SOCIETY | LONGMONT, CO | $9,217 | 2023 | OPERATING GRANT |
COLORADO PUBLIC RADIO
$69,581OPERATING GRANT
COLORADO PUBLIC RADIO
$52,186OPERATING GRANT
ROCKY MOUNTAIN PBS
$17,655OPERATING GRANT
ROCKY MOUNTAIN PBS
$17,413OPERATING GRANT
HUMANE SOCIETY OF BOULDER VAL
$10,236OPERATING GRANT
COLORADO COMMUNITY CHURCH
$10,000OPERATING GRANT
ECO-CYCLE
$9,253OPERATING GRANT