50 + Grants, One Vibrant City

BSF Celebrates Loretto Heights Groundbreaking

On July 24, Denver Arts & Venues, City leadership, Councilperson Kevin Flynn, and dignitaries from across Denver's cultural community broke ground on the renovation of the Theatre at Loretto Heights, marking the start of the historic venue's transformation into a modern performance and community space.

As a key seed funder for this project, Bonfils-Stanton Foundation was honored to help set it in motion. Denver voters carried it forward, approving RISE Bond funding in 2021 for the $60 million renovation and an additional $4 million in Vibrant Bond funding in 2025 for a new parking structure. Our President and CEO James-Allan Holmes, Director of Grants Gina Ferrari, Director of Communications and Policy Anthony Grimes, and Trustee Louise Martorano were on site to celebrate the moment.

Completed in 1963, the theatre was once Denver's second-largest indoor venue. Its renovation preserves that legacy while opening the space to a new generation of artists and audiences in a part of the city long underserved by the arts.

The renovated theatre will feature:

• A restored, historically preserved theatre building
• Improved accessibility and full ADA compliance
• Upgraded technology, lighting, and AV systems
• A new adjacent parking structure
  

The renovation is expected to be completed in 2028 — a new chapter for a Denver landmark, and a milestone we're glad to have helped make possible.

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A Renewed Partnership with Colorado Enterprise Fund

Bonfils-Stanton Foundation has renewed its partnership with the Colorado Enterprise Fund (CEF), recommitting a $500,000 program-related investment (PRI) loan. This investment provides loan capital to creative economy businesses across Colorado, including:

• Visual arts and crafts
• Design
• Specialty foods
• Performing arts
• Literary arts and publishing
• Film and media
  

Creative economy businesses now make up 30% of CEF's current portfolio, supporting more than 330 businesses statewide.

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Read the Latest BSF Conversation

Our new BSF Conversation hosted by Lisa Kennedy debuts with Louise Martorano — longtime RedLine leader, 2017 Livingston Fellow, and BSF trustee — now leading CAST's first expansion beyond California to Colorado, where she's securing permanent, affordable space for artists. In this conversation, she explores the power of saying “yes” when opportunity knocks.

Read the full article here.

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Quarterly Grants Awarded

This quarter, our Board of Trustees approved more than 50 grants totaling over $1.8 million to organizations across metro Denver’s arts and culture community — from multi-year operating support and capital projects to technical assistance for emerging groups. Together, these grants reflect our belief that a vibrant city is one where creativity is resourced at every scale.  See more details of Awarded Grants here.

Continuing & Multi-Year General Operating Support

Art Students League of Denver

Colorado Photographic Arts Center

Community Arts Stabilization Trust

Denver Children’s Choir

Mexican Cultural Center

Museum of Contemporary Art Denver

RedLine Contemporary Art Center

Rocky Mountain Arts Association

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New Grant Awards

Art Students League of Denver – for the Diversity in the Arts program

ArtistiCO - Arts & Wellness Center capital campaign

CM Dance - General Operating

Colorado Afro - Latin Dance and Art Collective

Colorado Ballet - General Operating

Colorado Black Arts Festival - General Operating

Colorado New Style Foundation - General Operating

Colorado Youth Symphony Orchestras - for Mile High Outreach Music Program

D3 Arts -  for cultural center and campus expansion leasehold improvements

Downtown Aurora Visual Arts - for Arts & Technology program and creative social enterprise

Downtown Aurora Visual Arts - General Operating

Filipino-American Community of Colorado - for a HVAC system for their Cultural Center

Phamaly Theatre Company - for the Tramway Nonprofit Center Garage Renovation

Phamaly Theatre Company - General Operating

Presenting Denver - General Operating

ReCreative Denver - for the Classroom Activation Initiative

RedLine Contemporary Art Center Anniversary Campaign & general operating support

Swallow Hill Music Association - General Operating

The Denver Brass - General Operating

Youth on Record - General Operating

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Inclusive Communities Grants

Each of the following organizations received $10,000 in general operating support:

5th Element Center for Dance

Align With Purpose

Big Heart Art

Chicana/o/x Murals of Colorado Project

Color of Fashion

Colorado Nepalese Community

Colorado South Asian Artists Group

Colorado Youth Mariachi Program

Create ayA

Cuerdas y Canciones Mariachi (Centre for Mariachi Arts & Culture)

Filipino-American Community of Colorado

Grapefruit Lab

Guiding Mountain Dragon and Lion Dance Assn

Hmong American Assn of Colorado

Kerala Association of Colorado United

Mile High Freedom Bands

Opening Act

Slam Nuba

Two Cent Lion

Words to Power

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Technical Assistance Grants

Los Fantasmas Art Collective — organizational strategic planning, budget development, and collaborator stipends, $5,000

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Apply for Equity-Focused Leadership Grants

For organizations supporting representative & inclusive leadership

Apply by August 28, 2026

Eligible organizations are invited to apply for Bonfils-Stanton Foundation’s Equity-Focused Leadership grants by the August 28, 2026 application deadline. This funding opportunity is for Denver area organizations with an explicit focus on developing leaders, particularly organizations that are led, informed by, and serve adults over the age of 18 who identify as BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and/or people with disabilities. A community panel will identify organizations to receive up to $20,000 in unrestricted funding in October 2026. Visit the Foundation’s website for additional information and eligibility requirements

‍See More Information and Apply Online here.

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We’re Hiring!

Denver, Colorado · Hybrid

The Foundation is seeking a Chief Financial Officer to serve as our principal steward of financial resources. Reporting to the President & CEO, the CFO leads all financial management, accounting, reporting, and compliance, and partners with our Investment Committee to advance our commitment to values and mission-aligned investing — ensuring our assets are managed with integrity and a long-term perspective that supports the Foundation’s mission.

The salary range is $150,000–$200,000, commensurate with experience, with a robust benefits package. Applications are encouraged as soon as possible and will be reviewed as received, no later than August 27, 2026. To apply, email a single PDF including a cover letter and resume to monique@bonfils-stanton.org with “CFO Position” in the subject line.

See Job Description and Details here.