Bohemian Foundation
OVERVIEW: The Bohemian Foundation promotes economic opportunity, civic engagement and government accountability in Colorado and beyond. It awards global development grants to groups working in public health, poverty alleviation and the environment, with programs that foster public health and economic stability. It also embraces music as a “powerful force in both the vibrancy of our community and the individual lives of our citizens” and support solutions developed within different communities to help solve issues regarding the environment, poverty, public health, and natural disasters.
IP TAKE: Look beyond the global interests and into the foundation’s community programs that are specific to Fort Collins and Colorado. Local music opportunities, in particular, are plentiful in the region. Dynamic global development outfits that favor collaborative work rather than solo operations also have a good chance of getting on Bohemian’s funding radar.
While this foundation funds nationally and globally, a great deal of its work remains in the greater Fort Collins, Colorado area. Bohemian’s global grantmaking is not as abundant as its local and music related giving in terms of the number of awards given. This funder prioritizes local and regional organizations, accepting proposals at the local level, but not the national or global levels. An accessible funder if you’re a small outfit based in Colorado.
PROFILE: Established in 2001, the Bohemian Foundation is the private foundation of Pat Stryker, and based in Fort Collins, Colorado. Pat Stryker is the granddaughter of Homer Stryker, who invented medical devices and founded the Stryker Corporation. The foundation supports “local, national, and global efforts to build strong communities.” It believes in “taking new and creative approaches to problems” and building “collaborative relationships that are flexible, responsive, and respectful.” Its current program areas are Community, Global, Civic and Music.
Grants for Global Development and Health
Bohemian’s Global Programs seeks to support “organizations and entrepreneurs around the world that are dedicated to making a significant impact and are on the path to a sustainable and scalable business model.” Main areas of grantmaking interest include public health, poverty alleviation, and environmental programs that foster public health and economic stability. In addition to funding global health and development organizations, the Bohemian foundation itself works “on the ground directly” with other NGOs. Bohemian is also interested in supporting the next generation of social entrepreneurs and change-makers keen on making a positive impact on the world. Unfortunately for smaller and grassroots groups, the foundation prioritizes large, international organizations such as One Acre Fund, Mercy Corps, and Mothers2Mothers.
In the field of public health, the foundation supports “health programs and technologies that promote access to health services and systems.” Bohemian’s global grantmaking primarily serves organizations operating in Africa. In particular, public health organizations who can position themselves at the “intersection of poverty alleviation, public health, and the environment” have the highest likelihood of being funded as the foundation believes this combination offers “some of the most impactful and promising solutions.” Past grantees include Global Health Corps, Wild4Life and Last Mile Health.
Grants for Environmental Conservation
The Bohemian Foundation’s Global grantmaking program includes an environmental component. While it is primarily concerned with poverty and public health, it also supports programs that “address public health and/or economic stability while employing technologies that encourage clean and sustainable energy practices, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and more sustainable livelihoods.” Bohemian’s global program primarily centers around Africa. Past grantees include Blue Ventures Conservation, Solar Sisters, and One Acre Fund.
Grants for Civic and Democracy
The Bohemian Foundation’s Civic Programs focuses only on the United States, and aims to “strengthen democracy in America by supporting organizations that work to create greater economic opportunities for all, to promote political inclusiveness and robust citizen participation, to assure government accountability and to ensure an independent and fair judiciary.” This program’s grantmaking strategies include:
Restoring, protecting and enhancing economic opportunity for all (i.e. investing in American manufacturing, early childhood education and childcare, close the income gap)
Promoting the political voice and civic engagement of all Americans (i.e. immigration reform, voting rights, fair and open elections)
Ensuring excellence, integrity and accountability in government (i.e. independent, depoliticized and fair judiciary; reducing money in politics, government accountability)
Past grantees include the American Constitution Society, Colorado Civic Engagement Roundtable and Media Matters for America.
Grants for Work and Opportunity
The Bohemian Foundation’s Civic Programs aims partially to “strengthen democracy in America by supporting organizations that work to create greater economic opportunities for all.” This includes supporting programs that work to “close the income and wealth gaps among all economic groups,” “develop a skilled workforce,” “promote a living wage for lowest income workers,” “prioritize investment in American manufacturing and production,” and “support comprehensive, integrated policy reform focused on jobs, healthcare, reduced debt and retirement security.” Past grantees include the Bell Policy Center, Center for American Progress, and ProgressNow.
Grants for Education and Youth Development
The Bohemian Foundation’s Community program area supports programs that “encourage and enable youth to thrive” and “empower individuals and families on the path toward economic stability.” Bohemian also supports art education through its Music program area. The Little Kids Rock project, which provides music education to disadvantaged public schools, is done in partnership with public school districts and provides interested teachers with two-day training workshops where they “meet other music and general education teachers from their district and learn how to teach music the Little Kids Rock way.” Teachers then receive a donation of curricula and resources, including “all of the instruments necessary to run a rockin’ music program right in their schools!” For a list of locations the program serves, click here and for more info on how to apply, click here. The foundation has also supported early childhood organizations in Fort Collins, Colorado, through a signature program, the Pharos Fund. Past grantees include Little Kids Rock, the Early Childhood Council of Larimer County, the United Day Care Center and the Colorado Children’s Campaign.
Grants for Music
The Bohemian Foundation’s Music program area offers both responsive grantmaking and several special initiatives. Grantseekers may apply for funding through its Music Event Fund, which supports nonprofit organizations in the Fort Collins area (defined by the boundaries of the Poudre School District) that produce events that promote “the development and performance of diverse music expression and/or supports events where music is the main focus.” Music must be a central component to the event, and the foundation “strongly advocate that all musicians/bands performing are paid market rate fees for their services.” It accepts Applications on a rolling basis, but they must be received 90 days prior to the event. The Muse program is another responsive grantmaking initiative that supports “music-related organizations and activities in Northern Colorado to strengthen community through music.” It awards grants of up to $20,000 to eligible organizations serving the Northern Colorado area (defined as Larimer and Weld Counties).
Special initiatives include Pianos About Town, which involves “local artists painting murals on pianos at the Art in Action Stage in Old Town Square where the public can watch the creative process and interact with the artists,” and the Bohemian Nights Festival. The Little Kids Rock project, which provides music education to disadvantaged public schools, is done in partnership with public school districts and provides interested teachers with two-day training workshops where they “meet other music and general education teachers from their district and learn how to teach music the Little Kids Rock way.” Teachers then receive a donation of curricula and resources, including “all of the instruments necessary to run a rockin’ music program right in their schools!” For a list of locations the program serves, click here and for more info on how to apply, click here.
Important Grant Details:
The Bohemian Foundation made about $24 million in grants in a recent year. National grants range between $5,000 and $100,000. The foundation’s global grants tend to be more substantial, often ranging from around $25,000 to $200,000. For additional information about recent grantmaking, see the foundation’s current recipients page.
While the Bohemian Foundation accepts grant applications for select programs operating in Fort Collins, Colorado through its online system, it does not generally accept unsolicited proposals for national and global programs.
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