Kenneth King Foundation: Summer 2025 Newsletter

Summer 2025 Issue

As we continue to learn about potential federal funding impacts to nonprofit organizations, we want you to know that we are closely following developments, connecting with statewide and national philanthropy organizations and peers, and monitoring needs that may arise in our Colorado communities.

We understand these developments may cause concern and uncertainty and could impact Colorado’s nonprofit sector. Our priority remains the well-being and sustainability of the organizations we support. We want to hear from you, how these changes are impacting your organization, and how we, as a foundation, can assist. As always, we are here to learn about issues you face. Our board has asked us to keep them apprised of ways we can help with funding gaps during these times, so we appreciate you keeping communication lines open.

We thank you for your continued good work, and dedication. Our communities are better because you are working to do good!

2024 Annual Report

Click on the image above to view our 2024 Annual Report

2025 Spring Grant Cycle

We have just closed out our Spring Grant cycle, and are excited to report the below summary.

Grant Report Reminder

If your organization received a grant from the King Foundation in Spring 2024, please remember to submit your grant report on or before June 30th and schedule a follow-up call with a King Foundation staff member. Please check your email for a reminder and/or log into the King Foundation grant portal and check your dashboard for more information.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact us: grants@kennethkingfoundation.org

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

Mark Your Calendars

Coffee with Niki, Director of Programs

Stop by Prodigy Coffeehouse's newest location to connect with Niki Camarena, Director of Programs, to chat about our grantmaking program, application process or upcoming grant cycle.

Monday, July 14, 2025 10:00 am-12:00 pm MT

Wednesday, July 30, 2025 2:00-4:00 pm MT

Location: Prodigy Coffeehouse,
1640 N Sherman Street, Denver, CO 80203

Save the date for our next Grantmaking Webinar: Wednesday July 9

10 - 11am 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.

Join Community Resource Center’s Regional Convenings to connect with nonprofit leaders, funders, and organizations in your region. These gatherings provide regional connection, valuable networking opportunities, and open discussions to address the unique challenges facing your communities. Click the image above for more information, and registration details.

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 one of our new grant recipients: Colorado West Performing Arts Company.

Serving Mesa County since 2022, Colorado West Performing Arts Company (CWPAC) is the first professional ballet company on the Western Slope. With 12 professional dancers, CWPAC’s Paths to Professional Placement Training and Apprenticeship Program is a pathway program for local dancers to gain the experience they need to be successful in a dance career via a trainee to apprentice to professional track. Youth that train in classical ballet in rural communities aspiring to become performing professionals have less opportunities compared to dancers within commuting distance to metro areas. Typically, to secure a paid position in a company requires the ability to travel to auditions. This is not financially feasible for most dancers on the Western Slope.

Having experience as a trainee or apprentice for a professional company is a marked advantage as compared to a dancer with local studio classroom experience alone. In the three years since CWPAC was established, trainees have been promoted to apprentice positions and at the close of this season, one of those apprentices is eligible for promotion to a company position.

We are excited to partner with CO West Performing Arts Company with a $20,000 grant awarded in our recent spring grant cycle.