Denver, CO

Denver Urban Gardens

EIN 74-2374848

Housing, Food & Basic Needs Food Security & Nutrition Children & youth Low-income

Mission

To increase the access, skills, and resources needed to grow food in community and regenerate urban green spaces.

IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) public charity Contributions are tax-deductible

About Denver Urban Gardens

Denver Urban Gardens (DUG) is an independent nonprofit network that stewards community gardens and food forests across the Denver metro area, building local food systems, community connections, and climate resilience. DUG supports roughly 200 gardens and food forests and provides training, seeds, seedlings, and other resources so neighbors can grow healthy food together.

DUG runs hands-on education, youth programs, community seed programs, plant sales, volunteer mobilization, and targeted food-access work. Recent organizational highlights include DUG’s 40th anniversary in 2025 and a robust 2025 impact year in which the organization supported hundreds of gardens, engaged tens of thousands of people, and sustained large-scale food production and distribution despite financial challenges.

Notable achievements

Network Scale & Production

Operates one of the region’s largest community-garden networks (about 200+ gardens/food forests) and reports producing hundreds of thousands of pounds of food annually (impact reporting lists ~627,926 pounds grown annually and 62,500+ pounds distributed).

2025 Milestones & Resilience

Marked its 40th anniversary in 2025 and, despite losing significant federal funding early in 2025, sustained core programs: the 2025 impact report documents support for 186 community gardens, stewardship of 27 food forests, 40,000+ people engaged, and activation of nearly 4,000 volunteers.

Evidence-based Health Impact

Partnered in the multi-university CAPS randomized trial (2018–2020) conducted in DUG gardens; the study found increased dietary fiber, more physical activity, and reduced stress and anxiety among new gardeners, supporting DUG’s health and wellbeing outcomes.

At a glance

Total assets: $2.1M
Annual revenue: $4.4M
Tax status: 501(c)(3)Public charity
EIN: 74-2374848
Location: Denver, CO
Website: dug.org
On Mahalo since: September 2026

Financial figures from the IRS Business Master File, the IRS’s registry of tax-exempt organizations.

Recognition

Charity Navigator four-star profile (reported score ~91%), reflecting strong accountability and financial practices.

Member/Environmental Partner of 1% for the Planet, aligning DUG with business partners supporting environmental giving.

Participant in an American Cancer Society–funded randomized trial (CAPS study) with university partners documenting health benefits of community gardening.

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