In 2020, Rose Women’s Organization (RWO) will award grants to organizations in the Greater Denver region that promote sexual health, wellness and self-sufficiency. Specifically, grants will be made to groups working to prevent unintended teenage pregnancy in underserved populations, including but not limited to, communities of color, immigrant communities, low-income communities, people with physical or intellectual disabilities, and people who have experienced sexual victimization.

While teen pregnancy rates in Colorado have declined in recent years, notable disparities remain. Denver and Adams counties, the most racially and ethnically diverse and lowest income counties in the Greater Denver region, experienced significantly higher teen birth rates than their whiter, more affluent neighboring counties. Statewide, Hispanic teen girls give birth at a rate over three times higher than white teen girls.

“Rose Women’s Organization has long been committed to supporting the health of women, children and families in Greater Denver,” said RWO board president Erin Autrey. “This year’s cohort is excited to intentionally leverage its grantmaking dollars in support of historically underserved communities.”

Applicant organizations must be a nonprofit organization, a tax-supported institution such as a school or government agency or have a formal fiscal sponsorship arrangement with a tax-exempt organization. Like Rose Community Foundation, RWO’s funding scope is limited geographically to the seven-county Greater Denver region (Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas and Jefferson).

RWO traces its lineage to Rose Auxiliary at Rose Medical Center. From its roots as a service-based group for women, RWO has evolved into an organization that annually awards grants to improve the health, education and welfare of women, children and families in the Greater Denver community.

All applications must be submitted through Rose Community Foundation’s online grant portal by February 12, 2020. To access an existing account or create an account in the online grants portal and to view and complete the grant application, visit www.rcfdenver.org/grantsapply. Once logged in, click on the word “Apply” in the navigation bar at the top of the page. From the list, select the Rose Women’s Organization 2020 Grant Application.

The full open Request for Proposals can be viewed here. For questions about Rose Women’s Organization, contact Susan Lanzer, Philanthropic Services Assistant. For questions about the online grants portal, contact Kelli Rojas, Director of Data and Operations.