King FDN: Fall 2025 Newletter

Fall 2025 Issue

As summer winds down and we look ahead to fall, we want to express our gratitude for the multitude of ways that organizations like yours are rising to meet the needs of communities across the state. Thank you for staying committed and engaged, and for sharing how recent federal funding changes are impacting your work and those you serve. During our monthly webinars, grant informational calls, grant report calls, and as we attend statewide nonprofit convenings, we continue to learn about the impacts of these changes. We are committed to keeping our Board apprised of what we are hearing and learning from you.

We have seen a sharp uptick in interest in our monthly webinars and grant informational calls, hearing from many prospective grantees, as well as long time partners throughout the state. For our September 1st fall application deadline, we extended a record-breaking 107 application invitations. Applications received are reviewed by multiple groups including foundation staff, peers in the local community (see more below if you are interested in participating in this process) and our Board of Directors. We are looking forward to reviewing all applications and learning more about your pressing needs.

Thank you for your continued commitment to serving those in need in Colorado; our state and our communities are better because you!

Interested in becoming a Peer Reviewer for our next Grant Cycle?

In order to increase the range of perspectives that inform our grantmaking, the Kenneth King Foundation relies on Colorado-based Peer Reviewers during each grant cycle. Each Peer Reviewer is assigned a small number of grant applications and asked to provide their written feedback, insights, questions, and recommendations—and this information is incorporated into the reviews and decisions made by the Foundation’s staff and Board. We hope that these opportunities surface new partnerships and allow for more community feedback across our Foundation’s processes.

For more information, and to submit an application, please visit:

Peer Reviewers — Kenneth King Foundation

2023 Impact Report

Click on the image below to open a pdf of our impact report for funds granted in 2023. Because we allow organizations 12-14 months to report on the results of the funds they received, we issue our impact report 15-18 months after the funding year.

Mark Your Calendars

Save the date for our next Grantmaking Webinar: Wednesday September 10

9-10am MT

Join us online as we discuss current funding priorities, and opportunities to partner with the Kenneth King Foundation. The presentation will include time for questions and engagement. Note that there will be no significant new information, if you have attended a recent webinar.

2026 Changes to our Arts/Culture/Science grants

For the past many years, we have issued a handful of grants to arts, culture, and science related organizations to support the arts and humanities. These grants have not required a connection to our focus areas of Employment and Entrepreneurship.

Beginning in 2026, these will be folded into our focus areas of Employment/Self Sufficiency, Entrepreneurship, and Removing Barriers to Employment. Applications will require mission alignment and will be folded into our normal grant cycle and eligibility requirements.

If you believe that this change impacts you, please schedule a grant informational call to discuss in further detail.

Our next grant cycle will be in the Spring, with invitations beginning in the January timeframe, and applications due March 1st.

Schedule a Grant Informational Call

Refer A Friend!

We value the strength of collaboration and realize our collective potential. Your unique ties to different organizations might reveal unexplored partnerships for us. If you know of any organization matching our Program Areas, please do refer them!

They can sign up for an informational call here
or join our newsletter mailing list here.

Organizational Spotlight

This issue, we want to highlight an organization new to the Kenneth King Foundation: Care-A-Van-Saint.

In 1983 two women in Fort Collins realized that many of their elderly friends and neighbors were dealing with transportation challenges as they aged in their homes. The women believed that other friends and neighbors would be willing to help if they knew to whom, how, and where to give that help. One start-up grant later, SAINT was established as part of the Fort Collins Office on Volunteerism.

Forty years after a SAINT volunteer gave the first ride, the fundamental concept of community volunteers driving their own cars to help their neighbors remains the hallmark of the SAINT program. In their FY2025, SAINT gave 20,890 rides to 512 individuals through the compassion of 109 volunteer drivers.

We are excited to partner with them with a $15,000 grant awarded in our recent spring grant cycle for their employment transportation program. There are many cases where transportation is the only barrier to employment, and the volunteer transportation that Saint provides enables many of their clients obtain and retain gainful employment.