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Metro guide

Denver scholarships & local foundations

The Denver metro area covers Denver County, Arapahoe County, Jefferson County, Adams County and Douglas County in Colorado, with principal cities including Denver, Aurora, Lakewood, Centennial and Englewood. We haven’t confirmed a scholarship limited to this metro yet, so this guide leads with local foundations, statewide awards and state aid.

Updated

The IRS lists 3 community foundations with at least $1 million in assets based in the area’s principal cities; the largest is Denver Foundation in Denver ($1.3 billion in assets). Community foundations hold hundreds of small donor-funded scholarships, often limited to graduates of specific high schools or residents of one county, and many use a single shared application each winter.

Statewide, 2 more open awards are limited to Colorado residents, and state aid includes Colorado Student Grant. Federal Pell Grants stack on top for students who file the FAFSA.

Where local money hides: ask your school counselor for the local scholarship bulletin (many high schools keep one), check employer and union awards from your parents’ workplaces, and look at service clubs (Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions) and credit unions near you. These awards rarely appear on national sites, which is why their applicant pools are small.

Scholarships naming the Denver area (0)

None confirmed right now. See the foundations and statewide awards below.

Community foundations in the Denver area (3)

Denver Foundation
Denver, CO · $1.3 billion in assets (IRS)
Scholarships page ↗
Rose Community Foundation
Denver, CO · $400 million in assets (IRS)
Find its scholarships ↗
Denver Post Community Foundation
Denver, CO · $1.8 million in assets (IRS)
Find its scholarships ↗

State aid for Denver students

Colorado Student Grant
Colorado · Colorado Department of Higher Education

Varies by college

Official page ↗

Statewide awards open to Denver residents (2)

109 days left

MPE Trade School & Electric-Industry Scholarships

$2,500–$10,000 · Mountain Parks Electric (Colorado) · High school senior or continuing student

Students in Mountain Parks Electric's service area seeking trade-school training or a career in the electric industry (lineworker, electrician, engineering, GIS and more).

All MPE scholarship categories are due Feb 5, 2027.
123 days left

Call to Action Scholarship Program

Up to $25,000 per year for up to two years · Call to Action Foundation (Maverik / Big West Oil) · High school senior / community college

Students pursuing an associate degree at a nonprofit, regionally accredited public college in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Nevada or Utah who meet the financial-need and GPA criteria.

Applications accepted Jan 1 – Feb 19, 2027, 5 p.m. MST. FAFSA required.
AZCOIDIANVUT

Full Colorado guide → · All community foundations

Frequently asked questions

Are there local scholarships in Denver?

We haven’t confirmed one that’s open right now, but the IRS lists 3 community foundations in the area’s principal cities, and most run local scholarships.

How do community foundation scholarships work?

Donors set up funds with rules such as a specific high school, county, major or need. The foundation advertises them together, usually with one online application each winter or spring, and matches applicants to every fund they qualify for.

What state aid can Denver students get?

Colorado Student Grant. Most require the FAFSA.