Every volunteer makes a difference at Denver Urban Gardens (DUG).
Whether you’re helping build raised beds, planting trees, harvesting produce, supporting community events, or maintaining one of our gardens, your time helps cultivate healthier people, stronger neighborhoods, and a more resilient food system.
But did you know your volunteer hours could also generate additional funding for DUG?
Many employers offer volunteer grant programs—sometimes called Dollars for Doers—that donate money to nonprofits where their employees volunteer. It’s an easy way to multiply the impact of the time you’re already giving.
What Are Volunteer Grant Programs?
Volunteer grant programs are a form of corporate philanthropy that recognizes employees who give back to their communities.
Instead of matching financial donations, companies reward volunteer service by making a monetary contribution to the nonprofit where an employee volunteers.
For example, some employers:
- Donate a set amount after you complete a minimum number of volunteer hours
- Provide a dollar amount for every hour you volunteer
- Award annual grants once employees reach a certain volunteer milestone
These grants can range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars each year, at no cost to the volunteer.
Why Volunteer Grants Matter at DUG
Every volunteer hour already makes an impact. Volunteer grants help that impact go even further. Additional funding from employer volunteer grant programs helps DUG continue to:
- Support more than 200 community gardens and food forests across Metro Denver
- Grow fresh, culturally relevant food in neighborhoods across our network
- Expand educational workshops and community programs
- Maintain garden infrastructure and shared spaces
- Provide resources that help communities grow their own food
Your time is already valuable. A volunteer grant simply allows your employer to invest alongside you in the work you’re passionate about.
How Volunteer Grants Work
Most volunteer grant programs follow a simple process:
- Volunteer with DUG
- Search to see whether your employer offers a volunteer grant program
- Submit your employer’s volunteer grant request
- DUG verifies your volunteer service
- Your employer sends a grant directly to DUG
Many requests only take a few minutes to complete.
Already Volunteer with DUG?
Thank you.
Every seed planted, garden weeded, event supported, and community member welcomed helps strengthen our mission of providing equitable access to urban gardening, healthy food, and education.
By submitting a volunteer grant request through your employer, you can extend the impact of the hours you’ve already given—helping DUG continue creating vibrant community spaces where people and gardens thrive together.
Make Your Volunteer Hours Go Even Further
Volunteering is one of the most meaningful ways to support Denver Urban Gardens.
If your employer offers volunteer grants, your generosity doesn’t end when your volunteer shift does.
Take a few minutes to search for your employer, submit your volunteer grant request, and help turn your volunteer hours into even more opportunities for communities across Metro Denver to grow food, build connections, and cultivate belonging.
Ready to multiply your impact?
Visit DUG’s Volunteer Grants page to see if your employer participates and learn how to get started.
