Overview
Denver Scholarship Foundation is a nonprofit that helps Denver Public Schools (DPS) students prepare for and complete college. It works inside DPS high schools and on college campuses, offering guidance, scholarships, and support to navigate admissions, pay for college, and stay on track to graduate. The program combines college access services, financial aid help, and persistent coaching to keep students enrolled through the end of their postsecondary education. It differentiates itself by closely integrating with DPS schools and partner campuses to serve DPS students directly from high school through college, rather than offering generic or one-off funding. The goal is to enable DPS students to reach a postsecondary education goal and finish their degree or certificate.
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What believers are saying
- DSF served 14,000 students in 2024-25 and over 2,500 scholars.
- KeyBank Foundation granted DSF $225,000 on September 17, 2026.
- Denver7 renewed support through 14 financial-aid call centers and the 20th gala.
What critics are saying
- DSF depends on sponsorships; Denver7, KeyBank, and partners fund core student services.
- If DPS budgets tighten, 19 high-school centers and career navigators face staffing cuts.
- A prolonged donor pullback would force DSF to shrink scholarships and close Future Centers.
What makes Denver Scholarship Foundation unique
- DSF embeds advisors in 19 DPS high schools and 15 Future Centers across Denver.
- Since 2006, DSF has paired scholarships with college-campus support at 30 Colorado institutions.
- DSF’s 2026 partners include CU Denver, DPS Career Navigators, Broncos Foundation, CBHC.
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