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Denver’s Bonfils-Stanton Foundation’s generous and hands on approach to arts philanthropy is building up its influence in the city.

Change comes slowly in the world of private foundations, and there's a kind of comfort in that. Foundations are the bedrock funders of important institutions, like hospitals, universities and museums, and their dedicated giving is crucial to cities that count on their cash.

But three years ago, Denver's Bonfils-Stanton Foundation took a chance on change. Long a contributor to causes across the board, from homeless shelters to opera companies, the organization began steering all of its funding toward the arts. Culture needed the money, the thinking went, and by targeting one area, the foundation could set itself apart from its peers and become a real player in the community.

In 2015, the switch is complete and, indeed, the game has changed. Bonfils-Stanton has emerged as perhaps the most important voice in the local art scene, finding ways to leverage its role beyond the money it gives away.

Of course, money helps if influence is your goal. By donating a greater share of its annual $3 million in gifts to the region's major orchestras, dance troupes and art galleries, Bonfils naturally gets more sway over the paintings, choreography and theater Denver audiences see... Keep reading on The Denver Post