Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado

Organizations seeking a grant from the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado meet basic eligibility requirements, fit clearly within one of our program areas, and demonstrate alignment with our strategic objectives to advance equality and respect for all Coloradans.  

Basic Eligibility Requirements

• Colorado based 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity organization
• Board-approved statement of equality and nondiscrimination stating explicitly and specifically that there will be no discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender expression in employment or service  provision  (Please visit Employment Nondiscrimination to learn more about Colorado’s employment nondiscrimination laws.)
• Provide a majority of services and programming within the state of Colorado

Program Areas

Advancing Equality through Arts & Culture

The Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado considers supporting exceptional organizations in the fine arts, performing arts, and cultural appreciation that:

1. Offer innovative programs designed to stimulate dialogue and challenge stereotypes;
2. Build bridges between diverse racial, ethnic, religious, sexual or cultural populations; and
3. Work to advance equality and respect in Colorado.

(For example: libraries, museums, heritage preservation organizations, etc.)

Advancing Equality through Healthy Families

The Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado considers supporting organizations that:

1. Provide for the mental, emotional, physical and spiritual health of Colorado families, and
2. Evidence highly-skilled cultural competency for families of nontraditional composition (single parent households, grandparents as primary caregivers, same-gender parent households, etc.). 

Cultural competency includes awareness, practice, attitude, knowledge, and skills needed to effectively meet the needs of diverse populations including standards of care appropriate to the field.

Advancing Equality through Civic Participation

The Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado supports organizations and programs that encourage civic participation and promote systemic change to secure civil rights and equal opportunity for all Coloradans. Social change strategies include:

• Civic Leadership: Legal advocacy, public awareness and education, research and policy development, public policy reform, etc.
• Community Engagement: Leadership development, community activism, coalition building, promotion of civic literacy, etc.

Funding Limitations 

• An organization may apply for funding only once in a calendar year whether a grant is awarded or declined. Further, an organization must complete the previous year’s challenge grant prior to submitting an additional application.  Receiving a grant award does not guarantee or imply future funding.
• The Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado may decline funding requests if an organization has received funding for three of the past five years.

What We Do Not Fund 

• 501(c)(3) organizations not based in Colorado
• Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender, or HIV/AIDS organizations. Colorado organizations seeking this type of assistance may visit the Gill Foundation.
• Housing developments
• Emergency requests
• Endowments
• Individuals
• Capital campaigns or projects
• Walks, runs, golf tournaments, chorus/chorale performances
• Non-fundraising events
• Film production or promotion

Awards and Reporting

Organizations receiving grants from the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado are required to use the fund’s full name when listing our support. 

           Our full name is Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado
           Please make sure to use the ampersand ( & ) not the word ‘and.’

Please do not recognize us as the Gill Foundation, G&L Fund, Gay & Lesbian Foundation, or any name other than Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado.

Organizations awarded a Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado grant will be notified by mail and are required to sign and return a grant contract that outlines the conditions of the grant award.  Funds will not be released until the grant contract is signed, returned, and confirmed as received. 

Organizations are required to submit an Event Sponsorship Final Report within 60 days after the end of the sponsored event. 

Failure to submit a Final Report will render the organization ineligible for future funding. 

If you have questions, please contact the grants department at 1-800-964-5643 or grantsmanager@gayandlesbianfund.org.