Apply for a Community Grant
As of January 1, 2023, our Community Grants Program has over $75,000 available for community-led initiatives. Find out if your idea qualifies for funding!
About the Community Grant Program
We award up to $5,000 for community-led, small-scale, high-impact park improvement projects. We also assist in navigating Denver Parks and Recreation, fundraising, and building project-specific collateral and more.
Eligibility
We are looking to support neighborhood groups and residents that have a vision for a park improvement project in their community. We prioritize groups of three or more individuals who are diverse, inclusive, and represent the neighborhood surrounding the park. A defined budget and some established financial support is a plus.
All projects must meet our Project Selection Criteria and the map below provides guidance as to the neighborhoods we focus on. While we recognize the essential need for park programming and education, the Community Grant Program does not currently fund programming or events.
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Application & Grant Selection Process:
Step One: Introduce Your Project
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Step Two: Submit Grant Application
If your project is in line with the Denver Park Trust’s project selection criteria, please submit a one to two page letter of interest that includes:
- A brief summary of your project.
- The location of the park or park project.
- Any steps you’ve taken to date toward completing your project.
- A budget, if applicable, and the amount of funding you are requesting.
Step Three: Review Process
All grants requests will be submitted to the Denver Park Trust Board of Directors for approval. This process can take 8-10 weeks.
Step Four: Funds Awarded
If your grant is approved, the awarded amount will be kept in a fund that is maintained and managed by the Denver Park Trust. Payments can be made from your account to city-approved vendors, Denver Parks and Recreation, or for other associated costs as long as they are approved by the grantee and Denver Park Trust. Grantees are allowed to add additional funds to their Denver Park Trust account beyond what was granted to them for a 3% administration fee. If there are excess funds at the completion of your project, they can be re-allocated to an approved project, transferred to a city-run maintenance fund, or donated to the Denver Park Trust.