The Denver Kiwanis Foundation appears to act as a local philanthropic vehicle that makes large, centralized transfers to support community-wide fundraising infrastructure rather than funding programmatic nonprofit work directly. Its sole reported grant is a sizeable transfer to the Colorado Gives Foundation, indicating a preference for supporting statewide giving platforms that benefit Colorado nonprofits and donors.
Concentrated, large single transfer behavior — one substantial pass-through grant rather than multiple programmatic grants; functions as a funding vehicle to support broader community giving mechanisms.
The Denver Kiwanis Foundation’s recent giving is marked by one very large transfer: a $972,125 grant in 2025 to Colorado Gives Foundation for Colorado Gives. That single gift sits alongside a broader pattern of smaller general operating awards to Denver-area nonprofits, showing a mix of platform support and direct local philanthropy. The foundation’s recent recipients include Open Door Youth Gang Alternative, Sweet Dream in a Bag, and Second Wind Fund, all funded for general operating support. Those awards suggest attention to children, youth, and community service organizations rather than a narrow, project-specific strategy. The foundation’s grant list also shows repeated support for some groups over multiple years. Open Door Youth Gang Alternative received awards in 2023 and 2024, Sweet Dream in a Bag was funded in both years, and Second Wind Fund also appears more than once. Several other Denver organizations recur as well, including Friends of Paha, Griffith Centers for Children, Anchor Center for Blind Children, and Listen Foundation. Across the record, the foundation appears to use unrestricted grants as a practical way to sustain local nonprofits while also making an outsized transfer to a statewide giving platform.
Children and youth organizations appear throughout the grant list. The foundation gave $10,000 in 2023 and $9,000 in 2024 to Open Door Youth Gang Alternative for general operating support, and it also funded Griffith Centers for Children twice, at $5,000 in 2023 and $3,000 in 2024. Community support and basic needs are another visible thread. Sweet Dream in a Bag received $6,000 in 2023 and $4,500 in 2024, while Denver Santa Claus Shop was awarded $4,500 in 2023 and $2,000 in 2024. A Precious Child also appears in two years of giving, at $3,000 and $2,500. The foundation also backs education- and service-oriented groups. Scholars Unlimited received $2,000 in 2023 and $1,650 in 2024, and Boy Scouts of Denver was funded at $2,500 in both 2023 and 2024.
Typical grant size is modest: the 25th percentile is $2,000, the median is $2,750, and the 75th percentile is $3,375. That sits well below the foundation’s 2025 transfer to Colorado Gives Foundation, which is far outside the usual range. Most reported grants are general operating awards. The record also shows repeat support rather than one-off giving. Open Door Youth Gang Alternative, Sweet Dream in a Bag, Second Wind Fund, Friends of Paha, Griffith Centers for Children, Anchor Center for Blind Children, Listen Foundation, Mount Saint Vincent, Boy Scouts of Denver, Scholars Unlimited, and Limb Preservation Foundation all appear in more than one year. The foundation also runs an annual grant program, with applications opening every spring.
$0
$11K
$0
$24
Most grants fall between $2K and $3K, with a median of $3K.
25th Percentile
$2K
Median
$3K
75th Percentile
$3K
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Notable grantees: Colorado Gives Foundation
Giving is overwhelmingly local and centered on Colorado, with 94% of grants going to recipients in the foundation’s home state. The recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based. Denver is the most visible city in the grant list, with multiple awards to organizations there, including Open Door Youth Gang Alternative, Griffith Centers for Children, Denver Santa Claus Shop, Friends of Paha, and Listen Foundation. Other Colorado cities that appear include Arvada, Littleton, Lakewood, and Broomfield.
The grant list points to children, youth, community service, and local nonprofit support. Recent recipients include Open Door Youth Gang Alternative, Sweet Dream in a Bag, Second Wind Fund, Griffith Centers for Children, Denver Santa Claus Shop, and A Precious Child, mostly with general operating support.
Yes. Several grantees appear in multiple years, including Open Door Youth Gang Alternative, Sweet Dream in a Bag, Second Wind Fund, Friends of Paha, Griffith Centers for Children, Anchor Center for Blind Children, Listen Foundation, Boy Scouts of Denver, Scholars Unlimited, and Limb Preservation Foundation.
The grant-size distribution is centered on small awards: the 25th percentile is $2,000, the median is $2,750, and the 75th percentile is $3,375. Most listed grants are in that range, with one much larger transfer to Colorado Gives Foundation standing apart from the rest.
Yes. The Denver Kiwanis Foundation Annual Grant Program is listed as an annual grantmaking program for nonprofits in the Denver community, and the site says applications open every spring.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Denver Kiwanis Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Nonprofits serving the Denver community; the foundation indicates it awards grants to nonprofits in the Denver area.
Deadline: Applications open every spring; next round not specified.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Gives Foundation | Arvada, CO | $972,125 | 2025 | Transfer to Colorado Gives |
| OPEN DOOR YOUTH GANG ALTERNATIVE | DENVER, CO | $9,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SWEET DREAM IN A BAG | LITTLETON, CO | $4,500 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SECOND WIND FUND | LAKEWOOD, CO | $3,500 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| FRIENDS OF PAHA | DENVER, CO | $3,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| GRIFFITH CENTERS FOR CHILDREN | DENVER, CO | $3,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| A PRECIOUS CHILD | BROOMFIELD, CO | $2,500 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| DENVER EAST HIGH RUGBY | DENVER, CO | $2,500 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| LISTEN FOUNDATION | DENVER, CO | $2,500 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| ANCHOR CENTER FOR BLIND CHILDREN | DENVER, CO | $2,500 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| BOY SCOUTS OF DENVER | LAKEWOOD, CO | $2,500 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| LIMB PRESERVATION FOUNDATION | LITTLETON, CO | $2,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| DENVER SANTA CLAUS SHOP | DENVER, CO | $2,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| MOUNT SAINT VINCENT | DENVER, CO | $2,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SCHOLARS UNLIMITED | DENVER, CO | $1,650 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| ROCKY MT DISTRICT FOUNDATION | WHEATLAND, WY | $1,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| A TRUE CHANGE | DENVER, CO | $1,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| KIWANIS CLUB OF DENVER | DENVER, CO | $600 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| OPEN DOOR YOUTH GANG ALTERNATIVE | DENVER, CO | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SWEET DREAM IN A BAG | LITTLETON, CO | $6,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SECOND WIND FUND | LAKEWOOD, CO | $5,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| GRIFFITH CENTERS FOR CHILDREN | DENVER, CO | $5,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| DENVER SANTA CLAUS SHOP | DENVER, CO | $4,500 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| LISTEN FOUNDATION | DENVER, CO | $3,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| FRIENDS OF PAHA | DENVER, CO | $3,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| THERE WITH CARE | DENVER, CO | $3,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| A PRECIOUS CHILD | BROOMFIELD, CO | $3,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| MOUNT SAINT VINCENT | DENVER, CO | $3,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| ANCHOR CENTER FOR BLIND CHILDREN | DENVER, CO | $3,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| BULLYING RECOVERY RESOURCE CENTER | DENVER, CO | $2,500 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| BOY SCOUTS OF DENVER | LAKEWOOD, CO | $2,500 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SCHOLARS UNLIMITED | DENVER, CO | $2,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| LIMB PRESERVATION FOUNDATION | LITTLETON, CO | $1,500 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| ROCKY MT DISTRICT FOUNDATION | WHEATLAND, WY | $1,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING |
OPEN DOOR YOUTH GANG ALTERNATIVE
$9,000GENERAL OPERATING
SWEET DREAM IN A BAG
$4,500GENERAL OPERATING
FRIENDS OF PAHA
$3,000GENERAL OPERATING
GRIFFITH CENTERS FOR CHILDREN
$3,000GENERAL OPERATING
DENVER EAST HIGH RUGBY
$2,500GENERAL OPERATING
ANCHOR CENTER FOR BLIND CHILDREN
$2,500GENERAL OPERATING
BOY SCOUTS OF DENVER
$2,500GENERAL OPERATING
LIMB PRESERVATION FOUNDATION
$2,000GENERAL OPERATING
DENVER SANTA CLAUS SHOP
$2,000GENERAL OPERATING
MOUNT SAINT VINCENT
$2,000GENERAL OPERATING
SCHOLARS UNLIMITED
$1,650GENERAL OPERATING
ROCKY MT DISTRICT FOUNDATION
$1,000GENERAL OPERATING
A TRUE CHANGE
$1,000GENERAL OPERATING
KIWANIS CLUB OF DENVER
$600GENERAL OPERATING
OPEN DOOR YOUTH GANG ALTERNATIVE
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING
SWEET DREAM IN A BAG
$6,000GENERAL OPERATING
GRIFFITH CENTERS FOR CHILDREN
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING
DENVER SANTA CLAUS SHOP
$4,500GENERAL OPERATING
FRIENDS OF PAHA
$3,000GENERAL OPERATING
THERE WITH CARE
$3,000GENERAL OPERATING
BULLYING RECOVERY RESOURCE CENTER
$2,500GENERAL OPERATING
BOY SCOUTS OF DENVER
$2,500GENERAL OPERATING
LIMB PRESERVATION FOUNDATION
$1,500GENERAL OPERATING
ROCKY MT DISTRICT FOUNDATION
$1,000GENERAL OPERATING
