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FORT COLLINS, Colo., September 1, 2020 – A new music showcase and competition, Sonic Spotlight, is now accepting applications from Northern Colorado musicians ages 22-and-under. The program supports the regional all ages music community and provides semifinalists and finalists with professional development and mentorship from industry professionals.
Sonic Spotlight invites musicians that play any genre of original music to apply. Selected artists and bands will have opportunities to work with industry experts, connect with creative peers, receive radio airplay, create professional music videos, win prizes and level up their music. The application is free and available along with complete program information at sonicspotlight.org through the Sept. 30 application deadline. Musicians ages 22-and-under from Larimer and Weld counties are eligible to apply. Sonic Spotlight is designed as an annual showcase for the region’s up-and-coming musicians, and is supported by Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, 105.5 The Colorado Sound and Bohemian Foundation.
A panel of music industry veterans will determine which artists advance, and ultimately which finalist is named winner of Sonic Spotlight 2020. The program will include sessions with industry experts to prepare participants for two rounds of competition. The first round will culminate in a radio-ready song showcase Nov. 19 on 105.5 The Colorado Sound. The second round will culminate in a music video showcase Dec. 10 on Facebook Live. All Sonic Spotlight showcases, mentorship sessions and artist opportunities during the eight-week program will be held virtually.
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FORT COLLINS, Colo., Aug. 6, 2020 – Bohemian Foundation today announced that Pharos Fund is now accepting applications for the fall 2020 grant round. Pharos Fund is a responsive grantmaking initiative of Bohemian Foundation’s Community Programs. Bohemian Foundation is a private family foundation based in Fort Collins, Colorado. Pharos Fund and Bohemian Foundation’s other responsive grantmaking programs continue to operate along scheduled timelines amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Applicants must be a 501(c)(3) organization or a governmental unit serving a charitable purpose. Private foundations, type III non-functionally-integrated supporting organizations, and programs and projects under fiscal sponsorship are ineligible to apply to Pharos Fund. Applicants may apply for the following types of support: program support, general operating support or project support.
Applicants do not need to be headquartered in Fort Collins to receive funding. However, applicants must serve clients within the Poudre School District boundary or have a direct impact on individuals in the grantmaking area. To apply for a grant, visit bohemianfoundation.org/pharos-apply.
Bohemian Foundation will accept applications until 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 10. Pharos Fund grant applications are considered twice per year, once in the spring and once in the fall. Applicants may request any funding amount up to $30,000 per application. For more information about Pharos Fund grants, visit bohemianfoundation.org, call 970-221-2636 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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FORT COLLINS, Colo., July 6, 2020 – Bohemian Foundation today announced that it awarded $105,500 to 12 organizations working locally to strengthen community through music.
Muse provides grants to organizations that have popular contemporary music as their primary focus or that have a program that centers on popular contemporary music. Through Muse, Bohemian Foundation makes awards up to $20,000 to eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations serving Larimer and Weld Counties. Applications are accepted twice per year. Funding requests must align with at least one of Bohemian Foundation’s Music Programs goals: to provide youth with encouragement and opportunities to express themselves through music; to help musicians and music-related businesses grow and develop; and to increase performances of live contemporary music.
Click here to view the full list of Spring 2020 Muse recipients.
Bohemian Foundation will begin accepting applications for Muse grants again in fall 2020. Visit BohemianFoundation.org for more information.
Bohemian Foundation is a private family foundation established in 2001. Based in Fort Collins, Colorado, Bohemian Foundation works to empower citizens and impact communities through its responsive grant making programs and special initiatives.
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FORT COLLINS, Colo., June 2, 2020 – Despite an unexpected transition to online learning due to COVID-19, 21 middle and high schools in Poudre and Thompson School Districts capped off the school year by awarding more than $115,000 to 45 Larimer County nonprofits through the Give Next youth philanthropy program.
Give Next is a school-based youth philanthropy program designed to provide middle and high school students with experience in philanthropic giving. While schools transitioned to online learning amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, participating classes continued efforts to learn about and raise money for Larimer County nonprofits.
“We adapted to distance learning by meeting virtually every week using Google Meet,” said Krista Taylor, a Give Next teacher at Fort Collins High School, whose retirement at the end of this year concludes more than 30 years of teaching. “During this time, we met for twice as long as if we were still meeting face to face.”
Through the program, local businesses, foundations and individuals become classroom donors by providing each participating school with $5,000 to award to Larimer County nonprofits. Many of the students from participating schools also complete their own fundraisers to add to the $5,000 grant amount provided by donors. Throughout the year, students design and manage their own grantmaking programs. Students work together to identify community needs, choose a focus area, create their own mission statement, research nonprofits, volunteer, conduct site visits, review grant applications and make funding decisions. At the end of the school year, students award grants to selected nonprofits. Through the process, Give Next enables students to experience the power of teamwork, the impact they can have on their community and the rewards of giving time, talent and treasure.
“We see Give Next students lead and take responsibility for their community in new ways,” said Sara Maranowicz, Bohemian Foundation’s Community Programs director. “This spring, students demonstrated their commitment to the well-being of others and made sure grants were made to local nonprofits.”
Since the program’s inception in 2012, more than $570,000 has been awarded to Larimer County nonprofits – $495,000 of which was provided by classroom donors and nearly $80,000 of which was raised by Give Next students. Every donor dollar goes directly to student grantmaking. For more information about becoming a Give Next classroom donor or about participating in the program, contact Jodie Riesenberger at 970-221-2636 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Click here to view the full list of 2019-2020 Give Next grant recipients.
Bohemian Foundation is a private family foundation established in 2001. Based in Fort Collins, Colorado, Bohemian Foundation works to empower citizens and impact communities through its responsive grant making programs and special initiatives. Bohemian Foundation provides management support for Give Next.
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