What Denver Public Schools Foundation does

Denver Public Schools Foundation is an independent 501(c)(3) public charity founded in 1992 that operates as the sole dedicated fundraising and community-partnership vehicle for Denver Public Schools, serving 90,000+ students across 205+ traditional, magnet, charter, and pathways schools. The foundation mobilizes individual donations, corporate sponsorships, planned/legacy gifts, Colorado Child Care Contribution Tax Credit contributions, and event fundraising (notably the annual Achieve Gala, which raised more than $1M in 2026) to direct supplemental resources into a portfolio of roughly a dozen programs organized around three pillars: student support (Afterschool Programs, My Spark Scholarship, Career and College Success, Exceptional Student Services, Food Security Fund, Student Grantmaking, Iovine & Young Centers for Innovation), educator support (A to Z Fund classroom grants, Educators Take Flight travel stipends, Educator Housing Initiative), and family support (six Community Hubs, New Arrivals Student & Family Fund). It does not operate proprietary technology platforms — donation processing runs through Classy.org, grants through GrantInterface, and communications through Constant Contact and a Salesforce-class donor database maintained by an in-house Database Manager.

The foundation's business model is a classic diversified nonprofit revenue stack with no fee-for-service pricing. Cash inflows come from individual giving channels (online portal, payroll deductions via the Team DPS GIVES campaign, stock donations), corporate partnerships spanning event sponsorship (Chevron presenting, United Airlines reception, Ent Credit Union Head of Class), matching gift programs, a structured CLASS Partners tier, and operational peer-foundation grants (The Denver Foundation, Rose Community Foundation, The Campbell Foundation). The foundation disburses funds to schools and families through grant programs (e.g., $331K directed to classrooms in 2023-2024, $11.2M+ cumulative to afterschool), direct service delivery (Community Hubs, Food Security Fund grocery cards, My Spark $1,000-per-student restricted cards), and infrastructure investments (Educator Housing with Grand Peaks, AvalonBay, and Delwest). Programs are evaluated against quantifiable outcomes such as 30% higher graduation likelihood in career-program participants and 100% teacher-reported fluency gains in Power Lunch tutoring.

Name

Denver Public Schools Foundation

Legal name

Denver Public Schools Foundation

Website

https://dpsfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Denver Public Schools Foundation is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit that raises and deploys charitable funds to support 90,000+ students, 4,700+ teachers, and families across Denver Public Schools' 205+ schools through afterschool programs, classroom grants, housing assistance, food security, and signature events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Nonprofit Foundation

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB), After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits (BPAGADAC), College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits (BPAGADAE)

Keywords

• Education nonprofit foundation
• Public school fundraising
• Student grantmaking programs
• Educator support services
• Community education philanthropy

Headquarters

HQ city

Denver

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Cash donations from individuals through online portal, payroll deductions via Team DPS GIVES employee giving campaign, and stock donations
2. Corporate Sponsorships & Matching Gifts: Company matching gift programs, corporate sponsorships for events (Achieve Gala, Back to Class Bash), and special offers partnerships with local businesses
3. Planned Giving & Legacy Gifts: Bequests, beneficiary designations from IRAs/DAFs/life insurance, gifts of real estate
4. Tax Credit Donations: Colorado Child Care Contribution Tax Credit (50% credit for donations $250+ supporting afterschool programs)
5. Event Fundraising: Achieve Gala raising $1M+ annually, ticket sales, live auction proceeds, sponsor contributions

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Denver Public Schools Foundation is a nonprofit foundation that raises charitable funds and mobilizes community investment to support Denver Public Schools (DPS). It operates multiple programs across three pillars: Student Support (afterschool programs, My Spark Scholarship, Career and College Success, Student Grantmaking, Exceptional Student Services, Food Security Fund, Iovine and Young Centers), Educator Support (A to Z Fund, Educators Take Flight, Educator Housing Initiative), and Family Support (Community Hubs, New Arrivals Fund). The foundation also runs signature fundraising events including the Achieve Gala.

Product overview

Denver Public Schools Foundation is a nonprofit organization that serves as the trusted partner for Denver Public Schools, galvanizing and mobilizing community investment in public education. The foundation operates multiple interconnected programs across three core pillars: Student Support (Afterschool Programs, My Spark Scholarship, Student Grantmaking, Career and College Success, Exceptional Student Services, Food Security Fund), Educator Support (A to Z Fund, Educators Take Flight, Educator Housing Initiative), and Family Support (Community Hubs, New Arrivals Fund). The organization also runs signature events including the Achieve Gala and Back to Class Bash. These programs work together to remove barriers, provide wrap-around services, and create opportunities for over 90,000 DPS students across more than 205 schools.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• My Spark Scholarship: Scholarship program that gives eligible families $1,000 per student on a restricted card to choose afterschool and enrichment activities for middle school youth.
• Career and College Success (CCS)
• Afterschool Programs

Products and services

• A to Z Fund

Quantifiable outcome

• Research shows students engaged in career programs have up to 30% greater likelihood of graduating high school
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DelwestcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Developer partner providing free housing for one year at Park Hill 4000 apartments for up to two DPS educators.
• AvalonBaycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2024Real estate developer providing 5 DPS teachers with one year of free housing at Governor's Park complex.
• United AirlinescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial airline sponsor of Educators Take Flight program, providing flight vouchers for Denver Public Schools educators to travel for professional development and learning opportunities. DPS Foundation's official airline partner enabling educator enrichment.
• The Denver FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided $50,000 matching grant for New Arrivals, Student & Family Fund to support refugee and migrant families entering the Denver community through DPS schools.
• Rose Community FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided $50,000 matching grant for New Arrivals, Student & Family Fund alongside The Denver Foundation.
• Grand PeakscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReal estate developer partner providing 10 educators with one year of rent-free housing to address housing affordability challenges for DPS teachers. Expanded to 10 discounted units for teachers and paraprofessionals.
• Renewable Energy Systems (RES)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate volunteer partner that helped revitalize school library at Cheltenham Elementary School through School Partners Program.
• Kaiser PermanenteminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHealthcare partner volunteer day at Hamilton Middle School, helping spruce up shared spaces and prepare materials.
• Vantage Data CentersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate volunteer partner that painted the blacktop at UPrep Arapahoe to create a brighter playground.
• Delta Dental of ColoradominorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate volunteer partner that painted blacktop, spread mulch, refreshed playground at Samuels Elementary School.
• United AirlinescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReception Sponsor for Achieve Gala 2026. Major corporate partner supporting education initiatives.
• ChevroncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresenting Event Sponsor for Achieve Gala 2026. Major energy sector partner supporting DPS Foundation events.
• TIAAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCLASS Partner logo displayed on website partner section.
• RevGenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCLASS Partner logo displayed on website partner section.
• PNC BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCLASS Partner logo displayed on website partner section.
• Liberty GlobalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCLASS Partner logo displayed on website partner section.
• Janus HendersonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCLASS Partner logo displayed on website partner section.
• DaVitaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCLASS Partner logo displayed on website partner section. CEO Dan Galemba serves as Foundation Treasurer.
• BKVminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCLASS Partner logo displayed on website partner section.
• Jimmy Iovine and Andre 'Dr. Dre' YoungcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMusic and business icons partnering to launch Iovine and Young Centers for Innovation within Denver Public Schools, bringing a proven education model developed at USC to DPS students.
• University of Southern CaliforniacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloped the IYC education model that integrates Design & Technology, Business & Entrepreneurship, and Digital Communications with Arts & Design.
• Denver HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMobile Health Units supporting well-care checks, vaccines, and health support for new arrival students at Community Hubs on a weekly basis.
• Sage HospitalityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated travel experience for Achieve Gala 2026 live auction (Home & Away Package with Limelight Denver Hotel).
• Kroenke Sports & EntertainmentminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated Ultimate Denver Sports Experience package for Achieve Gala 2026 live auction.
• Colorado Rockies Baseball ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated ticket packages and on-field batting practice passes for Achieve Gala 2026 live auction.
• Ent Credit UnionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHead of Class Sponsor for Achieve Gala 2026.

Scale indicators31 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• EdFund (Boston): Boston Public Schools' nonprofit partner raising supplemental funds for district students and teachers. Direct peer in terms of being a single-district foundation running signature events, classroom grants, and corporate engagement.
• Dallas Education Foundation: An independent 501(c)(3) raising private funds to support Dallas Independent School District students and educators. Directly comparable as a district-affiliated education foundation using galas, corporate sponsorships, and classroom grants.
• Philadelphia School Partnership: A nonprofit that drives private investment into Philadelphia public schools through grants, partnerships, and innovation programs. Operates at similar scale and uses comparable revenue streams.
• San Francisco Education Fund: A nonprofit that mobilizes community investment in San Francisco Unified School District through classroom grants, volunteer engagement, and student enrichment programs. Structurally the closest comparable to DPS Foundation's mission and delivery.
• Pittsburgh Public Schools Foundation: Fundraising arm for Pittsburgh Public Schools that directs community donations to district students, educators, and families. Operates a near-identical model of classroom grants, signature events, and corporate partnerships.
• Los Angeles Education Partnership: A nonprofit supporting Los Angeles Unified School District through community schools, educator support, and afterschool programs. Comparable partner-facing model for a large urban district.
• Fund for Public Schools (NYC): The official nonprofit partner of New York City Public Schools, raising private funds for the largest U.S. school district. Comparable model of individual giving, corporate sponsorships, and signature galas to support a single urban district.
• Chicago Public Education Fund: Independent nonprofit dedicated to accelerating achievement for Chicago Public Schools students by directing private capital into district schools. A larger peer with the same grantmaking-plus-advocacy-plus-partnership model.

Emerging players

• DonorsChoose: A national crowdfunding platform that funnels individual donations directly to public school teacher projects. Comparable as a public-education fundraising platform, but national and tech-led rather than single-district.

Broad incumbents

• National School Foundation Association: The membership body for district education foundations nationwide. Broader-thematic peer providing best-practice benchmarking across all district foundations including Denver's.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/dps_foundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/DPSFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/denver-public-schools-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/dpsfoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Denver Public Schools Foundation