The Zonta Club of Denver has been fortunate to be the recipient of bequests from several members, two of which were of significant size. These gifts enabled the endowment of a 501(c)(3) organization founded by the club, now known as the Zonta Club of Denver Foundation (ZCDF).
ZCDF supports international service projects of Zonta International and local projects of the club, all of which are focused on the empowerment of women. The club has historically donated a third of ZCDF income, together with proceeds of club fundraising, to the Zonta International Foundation to support women worldwide. The remaining two-thirds are used primarily to support charitable organizations in the Denver metro area that provide services to position local women and girls for self-sufficiency and better lives for them and their family members.
Applying for a Grant
501(c)(3) organizations can apply for grants from ZCDF to fund a new or ongoing project within the Denver metro area that is focused directly on improving the status and quality of life of Denver at-risk women. The Grant Funding Application is here.
In 2024, Zonta Club of Denver Foundation distributed a total of $46,000. Of that amount, $30,000 in grants were awarded to local community organizations as noted below.
Zonta Club of Denver Awards $30,000 in Local Grants
Funds Will Help Disadvantaged Women and Children
On behalf of the Zonta Club of Denver, President Mary Benoit presented checks totaling $30,000 to representatives of Open Door Ministries, Denver Young Artists Orchestra, Beautiful Feet Wellness, and Gateway Domestic Violence Center, at the club’s dinner meeting Feb. 8.
Open Door Ministries’ Te Veo House Project Development Director Sheronda Williams, from left, and Strategic Assessment Coordinator Millie Lacy; Zonta Club of Denver Service Chair Janelle Poullier and President Mary Benoit; Beautiful Feet Wellness Founder Jenny Footle; Gateway Domestic Violence Services Development Director Marnie Kamensky; and Denver Young Artists Orchestra Executive Director Kelly Waltrip gather for a grant presentation in February 2024.
The recipient organizations will use the funds for specific projects that align with the Zonta Club of Denver’s mission: “Building a Better World for Women and Girls.”
The Gateway Domestic Violence Center will use its $10,000 grant toward funding an additional bilingual trainer for its SMARTMOVES program. Using innovative mental health therapies, SMARTMOVES assists victims of domestic violence and their children who have experienced complex trauma.
Beautiful Feet Wellness will apply its $10,000 grant to defray costs of a 4-day retreat in May for 15-20 human trafficking survivors. This retreat creates community support, and provides attendees with emotional competencies and tangible resources to heal.
Open Door Ministries will allocate its $5,000 grant to adapt and furnish accommodations for two new residents. Its 2-year program helps women transition out of homelessness move toward self-sufficiency.
At Denver Young Artists Orchestra, aspiring young musicians learn how to read music and play the violin, building a foundation of multi-dimensional lifelong skills through music. The $5,000 grant will help ensure that no child is turned away by funding lessons, instruments, and concert attire.
The Zonta Club of Denver was chartered in 1927 and, as a chapter of Zonta International, is united with more than 30,000 executives and professional leaders in over 1,100 clubs in 63 countries to enrich the quality of life for women and children worldwide.
Over the club’s 97-year history, it has granted more than $2.5million and thousands of hands-on service hours, to projects in Denver that help disadvantaged women gain self-sufficiency following domestic violence, drug addiction, incarceration, and other adversities.
Zonta International partners with the UN on projects that strive to end early childhood marriages, educate to prevent gender violence, eradicate AIDS, and more. ZI also gives scholarships to young women studying aerospace, business, and Public Affairs.
For information about community awards in prior years, click here.