Guidelines for Funding Consideration
Season To Share is a campaign of Denver Post Charities (DPC), a McCormick Foundation Fund. As part of the foundation’s transition towards new and focused grantmaking strategies, DPC supports eligible organizations and programs that help low-income children, youth and families overcome obstacles impeding progress out of poverty and towards stabilization and self-sufficiency.

Priority funding consideration is given to programs that meet criteria in one of five funding areas. Programs must demonstrate evidence of impact through measurable client outcomes.  Please click here for the foundation’s Program Evaluation Guide.

Grant Application Process   
Instructions for the 2014 grant application process are as follows:

• If your agency received a grant in 2013, a 2014 grant application will be automatically transmitted in mid-December, 2013 (unless otherwise notified).
• If your agency received a transition grant in 2013 (or earlier), the agency’s program is most likely ineligible for future funding consideration. If you think your program is eligible, please see next step.
• The E-LOI (Electronic Letter of Inquiry) process for 2014 will open on 10/01/2013 and close on 10/23/2013. Agency programs that meet overall eligibility criteria should check this website on 10/01/13 for instructions.  
• The 2013 grant application process is closed. Grant announcements will be made in late June, 2013.

General Application Requirements

Eligible organizations/programs will:

• have 501(c)3 federal tax-exempt status
• demonstrate one full year of program services and outcomes
• demonstrate a strong financial position
• serve residents of the Denver metropolitan area  (restricted to Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, and Jefferson Counties)
• report strong measurable outcomes and meet grantmaking criteria in one funding area

Ineligible funding requests:

• Capital campaigns or endowments or other reserve funds
• Public or private schools
• Government agencies
• Programs that do not fit funding guidelines or grantmaking strategies

Grantmaking Strategies 
For additional information, please review “Related Issues” on the left pane.

Child/Youth Education: This giving area helps children and youth in grades K-12 achieve academic success, complete high school, and enter and persist in post-secondary education/vocational programs. Priority is given to programs that address one of three key transition points: (1) third grade reading proficiency; (2) successful transition from 8th-9th grade OR (3) successful transition from high school to post-secondary opportunities. Programs addressing non-cognitive barriers that impede students’ successful school engagement and progress will also be considered.

Health and Wellness: Eligible programs provide access to healthcare in low income areas and promote healthy living practices for low income individuals. Priority programs include: (1) community health access  (2) school-based health access (3) obesity awareness, prevention and treatment and/or (4) maternal and child health. 

Housing: Programs in this area implement prevention and/or long-term housing strategies with multiple wrap-around services for individuals and families. Eligible programs include: (1) homelessness prevention and (2) supportive and transitional housing (six months or more). Priority is given to programs that effectively demonstrate impact by moving clients into more permanent and/or stable housing.

Hunger: Priority consideration is given only to large-scale programs that implement and track the impact of hunger alleviation strategies targeting specific geographic areas where gaps for nutritional services exist, or that address the nutritional needs of specific groups (i.e. children, families, seniors, the infirmed). Required primary outcome data includes (1) increased access to healthy nutritious foods (2) reduced rates of hunger services for case-managed clients, and/or (3) increased participation in federal nutrition programs (SNAP, school breakfast, after school and summer nutrition).  Single hunger relief programs are ineligible for support.

Adult Literacy: Priority is given to one of three community-based programs serving the needs of low level learners: (1) beginning literacy (2) pre-bridge and (2) bridge programs. Adult Basic Education (ABE) and English as a Second Language (ESL) programs must demonstrate intent and appropriate development of a modified (workforce-enhanced) curriculum with a depth of academic supports, and career, social and transitional services that help low income learners raise their English proficiency and reading grade levels to meet eligibility requirements for and enrollment in more advanced literacy programs, certificate-bearing workforce training programs, high school equivalency GED classes, and/or credit-bearing post-secondary education programs.

David Pesqueira, Senior Program Officer, 312.445.5052 

If you have any administrative or process questions, please contact:
Jan Miller, Administrative Officer,  312.445.5040