$ave Green Be Green Conference

Join $GBG 2025 and participate in the following: 

• Workshops & Panels: Listen to workshops and panels on grants and programs available from government entities, energy-saving tips, conservation efforts, and environmental management. 
• Pitch Competition: Win up to $10,000 for energy efficiency upgrades, allowing participating nonprofits to invest the money they saved into programming. A total of $19,000 will be granted to participating nonprofits.
• Exhibit Hall: Talk to government entities, local businesses, and nonprofits to learn more about energy efficiency opportunities.
• Networking Reception: Connect to $GBG expert presenters, energy sector professionals, and other Denver nonprofits.

About

HRCP Energy Efficiency is presenting its sixth annual $ave Green Be Green Conference. The conference aims to give attendees insights and resources on saving money and smarter facility management.

The Pitch Competition’s purposes are to motivate participants to attend, to provide real world examples of nonprofit energy efficiency projects and to fund a small number of nonprofits’ energy efficiency projects.

How It Works

1. Nonprofits start by reading through the requirements.
2. After reviewing the requirements, if organizations have questions, they can email their questions to the HRCP Team. Answers to these questions will be posted to the website.
3. To ensure that projects are in the appropriate range of scope and allotted funds, participants are given a list of example upgrades below. For example, with the $2,500 prize, depending on the facility, small projects like lighting, weather-stripping, or a water heater replacement could be done. A portion of space in the building could also be upgraded.
4. If nonprofits are interested in participating, they should complete the application.

Schedule of Events

• Friday, May 16: Applications for the Pitch Competition are due
• Thursday, May 22: Finalists are notified
• Wednesday, May 28: Confirmation of participation due from finalists
• Thursday, June 5: Finalists will pitch to a panel of judges. Awards will be given at the Networking Reception, and winners must be there to receive the awards

Eligible Organizations

This competition is aimed at nonprofits and faith-based organizations that own or manage the facilities they operate out of. Furthermore, your organization:

• Must be in Good Standing with the Colorado Secretary of State
• Must be a registered 501(c)3 organization with the Internal Revenue Service or have a legal fiscal agent
• Must be Denver-based and/or serving Denver residents
• Must be serving a majority of clients that are Denver-based (60% or more)

Eligible Proposals

• A completed application must be submitted
• Proposals that address the following will be considered eligible:
  • Energy efficiency upgrades
  • Descriptions of how the upgrades will help their organization
  • Examples of proposal activities include, but are not limited to, the following:
    • Lighting (switching all light bulbs in facility)
    • Weatherization
    • New boilers
    • HVAC systems

• Demonstrates and explains how funding for energy efficiency upgrades will help save money that can be re-allocated to other organizational needs. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
  • By saving money on utility bills, we will be able to…
    • Have after-school programming in our meeting rooms because we can afford to keep lighting on and building operations going later in the evening. This after school programming could include…
    • Have more congregational gatherings such as monthly bible study meetings and quarterly potlucks. These social events are crucial to our church’s success because…
    • Use those saved dollars for marketing so our church/organization can improve its fundraising amounts. Fundraising has been a struggle for us in the past and by directing more dollars into marketing we can…

If rewarded Pitch Competition funds, HRCP reserves the right to check in with the nonprofit to see if the project has been completed, and that the funds were disbursed according to the pitch presented.

Grants Awards

There will be four grants awarded in total.*

• First Place: $10,000
• Second Place: $5,000
• Third Place: $2,500
• Fan Favorite: $1,500

*Additional grants can be awarded for outstanding projects.

Award Selection Process

All proposals will be reviewed by a panel consisting of government personnel and energy experts.

This panel will review proposals and will decide on the proposals to advance to the proposal presentation phase at the conference. Notice of advancement will be sent to finalists. Organizations must confirm their participation before the conference.

At the conference, the proposals that advanced will be presented to the panel during lunch. Each proposal presentation will be 10 minutes and the panel will have five minutes to ask questions, totaling 15 minutes per proposal.

The panel will convene after all presentations have been given to determine the final award amounts. Winners will be announced at the conference’s Networking Reception, and the winners must be present to accept the award.

Award Selection Criteria

All applications should address the following:

• Project Proposal
  • Strong explanation of what they intend to use the funds for (project proposals)
  • Strong budget table and narrative
• Organization
  • Thoughtful and clear explanation of how the proposed energy upgrades will help their organization
• Community Impact
  • How these funds will ultimately help the communities they serve

Preference will be given to those organizations that best demonstrate how their building upgrades will further energy equity in the City and County of Denver, specifically for the communities they work with. 

Submittal Process

In order to submit an application, proposers must answer all of the questions.

Exhibit Hall Information

• The Exhibit Hall will be from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm.
• Set up starts at 9 am, and breakdown starts at 2:30 pm.
• Exhibitors will be at tables throughout the two floors of First Universalist Church of Denver. 
• Exhibit Hall applications will be closed Wednesday, May 21, at 5 PM.

Exhibit Hall Requirements

• Exhibitor is a government agency, business, or nonprofit within the energy sector.
• Exhibitora must complete the Exhibit Hall application, and presence at the Exhibit Hall is dependent on event organizers' approval.
• Exhibitor is able to stay for the duration of the Exhibit Hall's hours. If exhibitors decide to leave early, please share your plans with the organizers.
• Exhibitor agrees that booth location is determined by event organizers.
  Exhibitors are required to leave the space clean at the end of the day. Exhibitors must remove all residue or waste products, as well as signs, and decor, at the end of the exhibit.

The exhibit space will consist of one table and two chairs. Any additional requests should be made to the event organizers. 

• Who is hosting this event?
  •  Denver Human Rights & Community Partnerships (HRCP) is offering this day-long conference with support from our partners. 
• Will parking be available? 
  •  Yes, First Universalist has a parking lot that will be available for free parking. We also encourage participants to use other forms of transportation, like public transit, and carpool if available. 
• Is there accessible parking?
  • Yes, First Universalist has accessible parking spots that comply with the ADA in the front of the building. There are also ramps and other accommodations inside the building for those who need assistance. For specific concerns and inquiries, let us know when you register.
• How much do tickets cost? 
  • This event is of no-cost to you! However, we do require registration.