Belmar Estate 1969
Charles Edwin Stanton established the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation in 1962 following the death of his wife May, the daughter of Denver Post founder Frederick Bonfils. Funds for the Foundation came from the sale of Belmar Farms in Lakewood, the current site of the Belmar Library and the new Belmar “downtown neighborhood.”
The Foundation Trustees carry on Mr. Stanton’s legacy through grants to Colorado nonprofit organizations, continuing his commitment to excellence in Arts and Culture, Community Service, and Science and Medicine. In 1984, the Foundation established the Annual Awards Program to honor distinguished Coloradans making unique and significant contributions in these fields.
More recently, the Foundation developed several initiatives to strengthen the capacity of nonprofit organizations. Established in 2003, the Catalyst Partnership Program invests in leading organizations committed to achieving sustainable increases in performance and effectiveness. The Livingston Fellowship Program, launched in 2005, provides advanced learning and professional development opportunities for promising nonprofit leaders.
The Bonfils-Stanton Foundation has distributed over $44 million in charitable contributions. National Philanthropy Day honored the Foundation as the 2007 Foundation of the Year in Colorado.