Grants to Colorado nonprofit organizations, Tribal entities, faith-based organizations, and government entities, including schools, libraries, and museums, to promote youth mental health and well-being in eligible locations. Applicants must complete required registrations a minimum of two days prior to applying. Applicants must be located and/or offer services in Denver and to Denver residents.

The Foundation aims to fund youth informed/youth-led, trusted, innovative mental health, trauma, and/or substance misuse supports, which increase youth’s ability to manage life stresses and pressures; address mental health and substance misuse early; and/or provide supports for families and allies of youth to better support youth in their healing. Proposals need not address the entire age range.

The Foundation will prioritize funding for projects and programs that address Denver’s mental health and substance misuse challenges in at least one of the areas below:

• Inclusive Access: Help youth, pregnant people, and other family/caregivers access care and support in ways that make sense for them, in places that feel comfortable, and at times that fit their schedules, so they are better able to participate, learn, build skills, and address mental health and substance misuse issues.
• Attention to Fit: Ensure that when youth, families, and pregnant people seek care, they feel understood, connected, and respected by those providing care—primarily through culturally affirming care options.
  Also, ensure the mental health needs of those supporting youth, family, and pregnant people are supported so they can be at their best as they help others.
• Care Over Time: Improve care transitions, making them easier and more seamless for youth and pregnant people, families, and allies. The goal is to increase stability and minimize the starts and stops in mental health and substance misuse care.

Applicants must explain how their work will support at least one of the shared impact goals below, and, if possible, how they intend to measure their progress toward impact.

• Reduced substance misuse (including maintained healthy relationship with substances)
• Improved or maintained positive mental health (including reduced harm to self and others)
• Increased equity in mental health and substance misuse outcomes

Grant decisions will favor programs/projects that:

• Are youth-informed/youth-led and engage young people as partners in the work
• Utilize interventions that recognize family, caregivers and allies and the need for intergenerational supports
• Reach youth, family/caregivers, and pregnant people who have been impacted by trauma and inequitable access to resources and supports
• Incorporate culturally relevant practices when addressing mental health and substance misuse challenges
• Support those with severe and persistent mental illness
• Expand prevention, treatment (in residential, intensive outpatient, and inpatient settings), and/or recovery services for youth struggling with substance misuse and/or mental health challenges
• Provide services and supports after a mental health and/or substance misuse crisis