Equity-Focused Leadership Grants
$10,000 to organizations that support the leadership development of BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and/or adults with disabilities aspiring to lead in the nonprofit sector.
The nonprofit sector has consistently struggled with a lack of diversity of staff – especially at the executive level. This persistent racial leadership gap negatively impacts the career trajectories and well-being of BIPOC professionals who face systemic barriers that prevent them, and others from historically marginalized communities, from pursuing pathways to executive leadership. To help address these disparities and build on our longstanding commitment to support leaders who affect change, Bonfils-Stanton Foundation seeks to support the pipeline of potential leaders through the Equity-Focused Leadership grants which provide up to $10,000 to six (6) organizations that support the leadership development of BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and/or adults with disabilities aspiring to lead in the nonprofit sector.
- Colorado-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit or fiscally sponsored organization
- Organization based and majority of programs occur in Denver, Adams, Arapahoe, or Jefferson counties
- Organization’s primary mission includes the leadership development of adults who identify as Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC), LGBTQ+ and/or people with disabilities
- Majority of organization’s senior leaders (staff and/or board) identify as BIPOC , LGBTQ+, and/or people with disabilities
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
To better help guide you in selecting the most appropriate grant program, please complete the Grant Eligibility Questionnaire and a team member will respond with next steps. If you feel you are well aligned with the eligibility criteria, you may also proceed with an application.
Applications are open Summer 2024. Eligible applicants may receive one grant in a 12-month period.
- Applications are open to any organization that meets the eligibility criteria.Â
- Grant awards will be determined by a panel of BSF staff and community members who will evaluate proposals based on the following criteria:
- Development and use of innovative, culturally relevant methods to supporting leaders
- Degree and depth of community involvement in both identifying and addressing the issue(s)/need(s) of aspiring leaders
- Centering BIPOC, LGBTQ+, disability and/or other underrepresented communities and their lived experiences in program design and implementation
- Potential for the program to cultivate leaders who champion systems change
- Organizational commitment to fair wages/stipends for program staff/collaborators
Selected grant partners will be invited to share reflections in writing or via Zoom meeting in the Summer of 2024.
With our funding we seek to
We work in partnership with grantees, other funders, community leaders and others engaged in the creative economy.
Make your Application online using the link to our portal below.
Applications close.
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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