Counties Served

El Paso County
Teller County 

FOundation Contact

Katy Rees

2022 HIGHLIGHTS

The 2022 funding cycle placed heightened attention on organizations directly serving the following sub-focus areas: 

• Behavioral Health and Wellness – organizations that focus on a holistic, trauma-informed approach to helping individuals heal and repair mentally and physically.
• Youth and Families - organizations that provide warp-around services that encourage youth and families to become sustainable, sufficient, and thriving.
• Early Childhood Education – organizations that provide a space, culture, and nurturing environment for all children (and their families) to grow in a developmentally appropriate way.
• Education Services – organizations that seek to provide an extension of support services to teachers, parents, and youth to better support youth in and outside of the classroom.
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eDUCATION 

hEALTH & hUMAN sERVICES

aRTS & cULTURE

eNVIRONMENT

Atlas Preparatory School - $10,000
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Early Connections Learning Centers - $10,000

Minds Matter Colorado  - $5,000

Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center - $10,000

Safe Passage - $10,000

Concrete Couch  - $10,000

Rocky Mountain Field Institute - $7,500

Mile High Youth Corps - $7,500

PROGRAM uPDATES

• We are moving to a new online, grant software platform. A link to the new platform will be provided January 1, 2023. All organizations (new or veteran), will need to apply through the new platform.
• Our budget for the 2023 funding cycle is $70,000.  We will award 5 x $10,000, 2 x $7,500 grants, and 1 x $5,000
• If your organization was awarded a Competitive Grant in 2022, you will need to wait to reapply for funding until January 2024.
• We encourage participation across our four primary focus areas of Education, Health and Human Services, Arts and Culture, and Environment. However, the 2023 funding cycle will also have a heightened focus on the below sub focus areas:
  • Behavioral and Mental Health Services
  • Basic Needs Services (rent, utilities, food security, etc.)
  • Job Training and Placement

2023 PROGRAM TIMELINE

October 1 - November 30, 2022
Pre-Application Meetings for new organizations
January 2023
Application Period (due by midnight on 1/31)
February 2023
Foundation Review 
Invitations and Declinations Distributed on February 24
 March 2023
Pitch Days 2023 - March 9 & 10
 9 Months Following Pitch Day
Site Visit Evaluations Conducted with Grantees

​​Contact Katy for more information and to set up a Pre-Application Meeting.​ Pre-Application Meetings may be scheduled up to November 30, 2022.

Application
Organizations must complete and submit an application to be considered for funding. If your organization is new to our Competitive Grants Program, at least one representative must attend a Pre-Application Meeting in order to be eligible to apply. Pre-Application Meetings may be scheduled at any time throughout the year, except for during the application periods (see above). Our Pre-Application Meetings provide an introduction space; aid in determining organizational fit; and allow for our Foundation Leadership to explain the program in further detail and answer any program-related questions.

Foundation Review
During this period, our Foundation Leadership will review applications and select twelve organizations to present at Pitch Day. We do not currently have specific funding priorities, so selections will be based on perceived merit and regional need, amongst other criteria. Dates for each region will be provided on our website prior to each application period, and a time slot scheduler and venue address will be provided in the Pitch Day invitation. 

Pitch Day
This is a day dedicated to your organization's pitch.  Each organization will be allowed 15 minutes to present to the Regional Review Committee (comprised of staff and board members).  The Regional Review Committee will then allow five minutes for Q&A.  Grant award notifications will be sent and checks will be distributed no later than one week after Pitch Day. 

Evaluation
Foundation Leadership for each region will conduct site visits with awarded organizations. Site visits will occur 9-12 months after grants have been awarded. Staff will contact you to schedule a visit. Site visits are intended for staff and board members to get a better understanding of the organizations funded and to determine if goals and expectations were met during the grant period.