Equity-Focused Leadership Grants
$10,000 in unrestricted funding to organizations that support inclusive and representative leadership development, including BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and/or adults with disabilities leading in the social sector.
Bonfils-Stanton Foundation’s mission is to invest in inclusive, diverse, and equitable arts and culture organizations and social sector leaders to create a thriving and justDenver. We believe leadership is key to realizing a diverse, vibrant community where arts and culture are essential, relevant, and accessible to all, and social sector leaders have the tools and support they need to lead with vision, creativity, compassion, and equity. Building on our longstanding commitment to support leaders who affect change, Bonfils-Stanton Foundation seeks to support community-rooted leaders through the Equity-Focused Leadership grants which provide upto $10,000 to ten (10) organizations that support leadership development, prioritizing programs that are led, informed by and serve BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and/or adults with disabilities aspiring to lead in the social sector.
Applications are open to any organization that meets the geographic and eligibility. There is no formal final report requirement – grantee partners will have the ability to schedule an optional virtual check-in 2026. Eligible applicants may receive one unrestricted operating or project grant in a 12-month period. Grant awards will be determined by a community panel who will evaluate proposals.
- Colorado-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit or fiscally sponsored organization with an operating budget of under $2 million.
- Organization’s leadership programming recognizes the lived experiences and incorporates the perspectives of historically marginalized communities.
- Organization is based and majority of programs occur in Denver, Adams, Arapahoe, or Jefferson counties.
The following programs are not eligible:
- College or university-supported programs
- Youth development programs (under the age of 18)
- Programs that have a religious affiliation or purpose
- Scholarships for individuals
View a PDF of the application here. Questions and accessibility requests can be directed to Chrissy Deal at admin@bonfils-stanton.org or 303.825.3774. Monique Loseke is also available to assist with grant application questions.
If you are planning to use a fiscal sponsor to receive grants, we encourage you to review these guidelines and template for a fiscal sponsor agreement.
With our funding we seek to
We work in partnership with grantees, other funders, community leaders and others engaged in the creative economy.
Grants Awarded
A panel will review your application and a decision will be made.
Program director, Chrissy Deal, welcomes your questions at chrissy@bonfils-stanton.org or 303.825.3774.
Individuals can nominate up to three candidates.
At the close of the nomination period, the Foundation will notify eligible candidates of their nomination and share a copy of each nomination and endorsement received on their behalf. Nominees, outside of self-nominations, will be able to provide additional information they feel may be relevant to their candidacy. Responses will be entirely optional and not required in order to advance in the selection process. For this reason, nominators may wish to notify the candidate in advance of recommending them for the fellowship.
The fellowship is quite competitive, so it is not unusual for individuals to be nominated several times over the years.
Yes
Eligible candidates must be leading a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, or Jefferson county. Bonfils-Stanton Foundation’s leadership decided to focus solely on arts and culture and leadership for deeper impact in 2012. In recent years, the Foundation has taken steps to gradually align the Livingston Fellowship Program’s geographic area more closely with that of our grantmaking portfolio which focuses on the city of Denver.
Nominees will be updated of their status in the selection process via email by early November 2022. The Board of Trustees of the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation will approve the 2023 class of Livingston Fellows in early 2023.
Visit our website for additional information about the history of the Livingston Fellowship program, stories from fellows and their fellowship activities.
Absolutely! If you can’t find what you’re looking for on our website, please reach out to Chrissy for more information.
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