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Grant

Our Commitment to environmentally Focused Non-profits

The Populus Stewardship Grant supports people and projects working across forests, food systems, built environments, and communities.

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The Populus Stewardship Grant

Areas of Focus

The strength of a forest begins in the ground—in layers of organic matter, in fungal networks, in the slow work of decomposition and renewal. Agricultural soil, too, may gain structure over time, shaped by cycles of disturbance and repair. These are systems that do not respond well to control. What they require is stewardship: a form of long-term responsibility that preserves the conditions for life to build and rebuild itself. Communities are no different. When we foster these patterns—rather than override them—we make room for continuity: water held in soil, carbon stored in biomass, trust sustained across generations and communities. Stewardship doesn’t mean intervention. It means staying close, paying attention, and supporting  systems so they may strengthen themselves..

Forest Ecosystems

Food Systems

Place & Community

POPULUS STEWARDSHIP GRANT

Interested In Applying?

We welcome applications from individuals, small organizations, and informal groups based in our region. We’re especially interested in grounded, place-based work that supports ecological function and community life.

Applications are currently open. Finalists will be selected by the staff at Populus Denver through a team vote and will be notified. Applications close on May 30, 2026.

Please send any grant-specific questions to:
stewardshipgrant@populusdenver.com

Grant Timeline

  • March 1, 2026

    Applications Open

  • May 30, 2026

    Deadline to Apply

  • July 2026

    Funds Awarded
2024 Grant Recipient

Zero Foodprint

Zero Foodprint is a 501(c)(3) organization restoring the climate, one acre at a time and our foundational grantee and partner.

Program FAQS

Who can apply?

We welcome applications from individuals, small organizations, and informal groups based in our region. We’re especially interested in grounded, place-based work that supports ecological function and community life. You do not need to be a nonprofit. 

Can applicants re-apply each season?

Past applicants are welcome to apply again.

What should be submitted?

  1. *Project Overview (500–750 words)
     Describe your project, where it takes place, and what the funding would support.
  2. *Stewardship Narrative (up to 500 words)
     Reflect on how your work embodies long-term care—of land, systems, or relationships.
  3. *Budget Summary
     A simple breakdown of how you would use the funds. Labor, tools, and general support are all acceptable.
  4. *Community Reference
     A short note (250 words or less) from someone familiar with your work. No formal letter required.

 

*See application form

Please submit your applications by January 1st, 2026 to stewardshipgrant@populusdenver.com with the subject line “PSG Fall 2025 – Your Project Name”.

What is the selection criteria?

Projects will be chosen based on strength in one or more of the following:

  1. Stewardship of Forest Ecosystems
    Silviculture, forest restoration, and woodland care—work that supports long-term forest structure, biodiversity, and ecological function.
  2. Stewardship of the Food System
    Soil regeneration, agroecology, and sustainable food practices that reduce extraction and support resilience.
  3. Stewardship of Place and Community
    Efforts that reconnect ecological thinking with the built environment or strengthen community ties to land, water, and place.
  4. Personal Story
    Who are you? Why do you do what you do? What is your inspiration? What is your greatest failure and how have you overcome it?

After I apply, what are next steps?

Grantees will be invited to present their project to the Populus team. Presentations may be held in person or virtually. Finalists will be selected by the staff at Populus Denver through a team vote and grantees will be selected the same day. Funds will be disbursed within two weeks.

What is the ongoing relationship?

If you receive a grant, we’ll stay in touch. We’ll check in a few times over the year for a progress check in—not with formal reports, but through short updates, photos, or reflections on how things are going. We see this as a continuing relationship and want to help the work grow in ways that make sense to you. We do request permission to document and share your story publicly if selected.

What is the timeline?

March 1, 2026: Applications Open

May 30, 2026: Deadline to Apply

July 2026: Funds Awarded

Additional Stewardship Efforts

One Night, One Tree

At Populus, we have a deep reverence for nature. As stewards of the built environment, we believe we have a responsibility to offset our impact. That’s why, for every night you stay at our hotel, we’ll plant a tree.

Learn More