Denver’s annual Juneteenth Music Festival will this year shrink to a single day as organizers grapple with an $80,000 funding shortfall.

JMF Corporation, the nonprofit led by Five Points entrepreneur Norman Harris, is appealing to the public for support after “a sharp decline in corporate sponsorships,” according to a statement from Harris, leading to a significant funding gap.

Harris said the festival will return to the Five Points neighborhood — Denver’s historic seat of Black culture — on Sunday, June 15.

“The decision to scale back follows the loss of several long-time sponsors amid shifting corporate priorities and a changing philanthropic landscape,” according to festival publicist Sylvia Lambe of Lambe PR.

Juneteenth leaders declined to share the list of 2024 sponsors who are not returning for 2025, as in some cases, “no clear reasoning has been provided,” they said in response to a Denver Post inquiry. Last year’s festival budget was $325,000, Lamb said.

Coors Light, the largest corporate sponsor from 2024, did not respond to a Denver Post request for comment. Xcel Energy, another large corporate sponsor, said it was returning to support the festival for its 13th year, citing its commitment to “creating an inclusive work culture and healthy communities where everyone feels welcome, respected and supported,” said media relations representative Tyler Bryant. He declined to specify how much the company spent on Juneteenth last year — or what’s it’s planning to spend this year.

Denver’s Bonfils-Stanton Foundation, a major 2024 nonprofit sponsor, said it’s increasing its funding for 2025 to a total of $20,000, up $4,000 from last year.

“This contribution has helped make the 2025 festival possible, though we recognize that the financial challenges remain — both for this event and for many arts and cultural organizations across Denver,” said Anthony Grimes, director of communication and policy at Bonfils-Stanton, which has distributed more than $90 million in grants since 1981.

Juneteenth leaders declined to say “definitively” whether the pullback was related to a retreat from “diversity, equity and inclusion” (DEI) policies, funding and initiatives at businesses and foundations nationwide since Donald Trump became president.

“Only the organizations themselves can speak to their internal decisions,” Lambe PR wrote to The Denver Post.

Bonfils-Stanton, however, said it’s standing firm “in our mission to invest in inclusive, diverse, and equitable arts and culture organizations and social sector leaders to create a thriving and just Denver,” as Grimes wrote. “As part of that commitment, we are also allocating an additional $400,000 this year to support organizations facing significant funding disruptions. Details on how to access this support will be shared in the coming weeks.”

“Despite the financial setback, the mission remains strong,” Lambe said. “The festival will still feature live commissions, the historic Juneteenth Parade … and a showcase of Black-owned businesses bringing powerful moments of unity and celebration to the streets of Five Points.”

People can donate to the festival at juneteenthmusicfestival.com/donate.