Denver Immigrant Group Secures Grants After Tense Standoff

Juntos Community regains funding from Denver Foundation after public dispute over language restrictions.

Feb. 5, 2026 at 6:47pm

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Juntos Community, an immigrant services provider and advocacy nonprofit in Denver, has secured $80,000 in grants from the Denver Foundation after a public dispute over the foundation's request to remove the word "undocumented" from the group's public-facing materials. The Denver Foundation initially withheld the grants, citing "due diligence" requirements, but has since released the funds and issued an apology after Juntos Community went public with the issue.

Why it matters

This case highlights the challenges immigrant-serving organizations face in securing funding, especially under administrations that have taken a hardline stance on immigration. It also underscores the importance of philanthropic groups supporting the missions and language of the communities they aim to serve, rather than imposing restrictions that could undermine those efforts.

The details

Juntos Community, which specializes in assisting immigrants who rely on DACA and advocating for state laws that benefit immigrants, was told by the Denver Foundation last February that the $80,000 in grants awarded in May 2025 would not be released unless the group removed the word "undocumented" from its mission statement and training materials. Juntos Community refused, seeing the requirements as "coercion." After Juntos Community went public with the issue, the Denver Foundation has now met all of the group's demands, including issuing an apology and promising to "convene our communities for feedback loops and preparation for increased immigration enforcement in Denver."

  • In May 2025, the Denver Foundation awarded Juntos Community $80,000 in grants.
  • In February 2026, the Denver Foundation told Juntos Community the grants would be withheld unless the group removed the word "undocumented" from its materials.
  • On January 20, 2026, Juntos Community accused the Denver Foundation of withholding the grants and making the language request.
  • On January 30, 2026, the Denver Foundation released the $80,000 in grants to Juntos Community.
  • On February 4, 2026, the Denver Foundation and Juntos Community issued a joint statement about the incident.

The players

Juntos Community

An immigrant services provider and advocacy nonprofit in Denver that specializes in assisting immigrants who rely on DACA and advocating for state laws that benefit immigrants.

The Denver Foundation

A 100-year-old philanthropic organization that distributes more than $1.6 billion in grants and funding from donors.

Luis Antezana

The CEO of Juntos Community, who is a DACA recipient from Bolivia.

Javier Alberto Soto

The CEO of the Denver Foundation.

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What’s next

Juntos Community and the Denver Foundation have pledged to work together to "convene our communities for feedback loops and preparation for increased immigration enforcement in Denver."

The takeaway

This incident highlights the challenges immigrant-serving organizations face in securing funding, especially from philanthropic groups that may impose restrictions that undermine their mission. It underscores the importance of funders empowering and supporting the work of these organizations, rather than trying to dictate the language they use to describe their communities.