Best Workforce Grants in Colorado

BOK Charitable Contributions aims to enhance community life and economic wellbeing across several states, focusing on four key pillars: United Way, economic development, education, and basic needs. The foundation supports organizations that address poverty, education, and community health. Their strategic approach ensures impactful contributions, and they welcome grant applications year-round. BOK Financial's commitment is evident in its partnerships with local nonprofits, fostering sustainable growth and development in the regions they serve.

The Capacity-Building Mini-Grant Opportunity, offered by the Colorado Springs Health Foundation, focuses on enhancing organizational skills and effectiveness in health services. Grants up to $5,000 are available for discreet projects that align with their funding areas, including healthcare access and suicide prevention. This initiative aims to strengthen local organizations in El Paso and Teller Counties, promoting healthier communities through improved capacity and skill-building efforts.

The CSHF: Fostering Collaboration Grant Opportunity encourages innovative partnerships among diverse organizations to tackle complex community health challenges in El Paso and Teller Counties, Colorado. This grant prioritizes collaborative efforts that align with the Foundation's focus areas, including healthcare access and trauma prevention. Applicants must demonstrate commitment to evidence-based practices and transformative potential. Engaging with CSHF staff prior to application is essential for consideration.

The Colorado Springs Health Foundation offers a capacity-building grant aimed at enhancing organizational effectiveness in addressing community health needs. Focus areas include expanding healthcare access, addressing workforce shortages, preventing suicide, and fostering healthy environments. Eligible organizations must be tax-exempt and serve El Paso or Teller Counties. Grants support projects that build skills and systems, with a preference for proposals that demonstrate a strong alignment with the foundation's mission and potential for significant community impact.

The Daniels Fund Grants Program offers support to nonprofit organizations in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming, focusing on areas such as Aging, Amateur Sports, Disabilities, and Youth Development. With no specific deadlines, applications are accepted year-round, and the review process generally takes about 120 days. The fund prioritizes impactful programs that drive meaningful change and foster community growth, honoring the legacy of founder Bill Daniels through strategic philanthropic efforts.

The Vera and Joseph Dresner Foundation supports organizations in Southeast Michigan and Metropolitan Denver focused on improving lives through health, youth, and animal welfare initiatives. They offer grants for project development, capital expenses, and unique circumstances. The foundation prioritizes innovative solutions that address underserved community needs, ensuring sustainable impact and enhanced access to essential services. Applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations and demonstrate non-discriminatory practices in their operations.

The Weld Trust offers Cycle Grants to nonprofits, schools, and government entities serving Weld County residents. They accept Letters of Inquiry three times a year for various initiatives including access to resources, childhood literacy, and food security. Eligible organizations can receive up to two grants per cycle and six per year, with funding available for indirect costs up to 15%. This initiative aims to foster health and education within the community.

Nonprofits and other organizations developing Colorado’s preservation workforce can apply for US $5,001 - US $250,000 to support training, apprenticeships, internships, and certification programs. With a mission to strengthen preservation skills and leadership, History Colorado provides workforce-focused funding that prioritizes underrepresented communities, rural and underserved areas, and succession planning for legacy craftspeople.

The Strengthening Families and Communities Grant by Telligen Community Initiative focuses on enhancing the resilience of youth and families through community-based funding. This initiative is transitioning to two-year funding periods, with applications due in March and October for different states. The grant aims to address social determinants of health, providing targeted support based on extensive applicant feedback. The program emphasizes a narrowed applicant pool to ensure more consistent funding for impactful projects.

The Region 4 Professional Development Awards for 2025-2026 foster the growth of health information access and data science skills among network members. This funding supports diverse projects such as workshops, conferences, and educational activities aimed at enhancing the professional capacity of individuals affiliated with NNLM Region 4. By encouraging proposals that address the needs of underrepresented communities, the awards aim to improve health information services and access across the region.

The Colorado Springs Health Foundation (CSHF) invites applications for its Winter/Spring Grantmaking Program, focusing on healthcare access, suicide prevention, and trauma healing. Eligible organizations must consult with CSHF staff before applying. The foundation prioritizes proposals that align closely with its funding areas and demonstrate a significant need, evidence-based approaches, and potential for positive community impact. Specific grant types available include general operating, program/project, and capital funding.

Ameriprise Community Grants focus on supporting nonprofits that enhance community vitality and meet basic needs. With over 120 years of commitment to philanthropy, Ameriprise Financial engages employees in volunteerism and grantmaking. Key giving areas include hunger relief, housing stability, and community development. Priority is given to organizations with active volunteer engagement from Ameriprise advisors and employees, creating a meaningful impact on financial independence and community resilience.

The Boettcher Foundation's Rural Catalyst Grants empower Colorado's rural communities by providing funding of $1,000 to $10,000 for capacity-building initiatives. Eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofits and governmental entities can apply for support in areas like strategic planning, convening, and one-time operating costs. The foundation prioritizes organizations that enhance leadership and community collaboration, ensuring impactful projects that strengthen rural Colorado's future.

The Kenneth King Foundation's Job Creation & Entrepreneurship Grant focuses on enhancing Coloradoans' earning potential and quality of life by funding programs that create jobs with living wages and support entrepreneurship. With an average grant size between $5,000 and $20,000, the foundation prioritizes organizations that demonstrate a proven track record in job creation and skills development. Ideal applicants are 501(c)(3) organizations based in Colorado, targeting low-income individuals, women, and communities of color.

The Kenneth King Foundation's Removing Barriers to Employment Grant aims to enhance job creation and entrepreneurship in Colorado. With a focus on individuals facing economic challenges, this grant supports programs providing essential services like financial assistance and job training. Organizations must demonstrate a proven track record in fostering job placements with livable wages. Average grants range from $5,000 to $20,000, promoting sustainable growth and self-sufficiency within the community.

The Black Resilience in Colorado (BRIC) Fund Grant provides essential resources to combat systemic racism and support Black communities across Colorado. It aims to empower Black-led nonprofits to navigate crises and achieve long-term sustainability. Given the ongoing effects of COVID-19 and racial injustices, the BRIC Fund focuses on community-driven priorities, ensuring that grants address pressing issues such as health, housing, economic opportunities, and youth engagement. The initiative is guided by a community-led advisory committee.

Enterprise Community Partners

Enterprise Community Partners is a national nonprofit that exists to make a good home possible for the millions of families without one. Home is where life happens, where plans are made, and futures begin. It is the foundation for dignity, health, education, wealth, and community. Yet rents keep going up, paychecks don’t keep pace, and good homes in strong neighborhoods are increasingly out of reach.

The system doesn’t work. It must be changed, and it must be changed by us.

Enterprise has the breadth, scale, and expertise to do it. We support community development organizations on the ground. We aggregate and invest billions to improve housing and strengthen communities across the U.S. We advance housing policy at every level of government. We build and manage communities ourselves. Everything we do is informed by the residents we serve.

Together with our partners, we focus on the greatest need — the massive shortage of affordable rental homes — to achieve three goals:

• Increase the supply of affordable homes
• Advance racial equity after decades of systematic racism in housing
• Support residents and strengthen communities to be resilient to the unpredictable, and make upward mobility possible

Since 1982, we have invested $92.0 billion and created 1.1 million homes across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. We do all this to make home and community places of pride, power, and belonging.

National Housing Innovation Grant Competition

Home is foundational. It’s where we plant roots, raise and care for our families, and build community bonds. Yet in every corner of the country, millions of people of all ages and backgrounds need a home they can afford.

Wells Fargo is meeting this moment with a powerful grant opportunity. Together with Enterprise, Wells Fargo has launched the third iteration of the Housing Affordability Breakthrough Challenge. The 2026 cycle of the housing innovation competition will identify and propel proven, ready-to-scale solutions that transform current practices and increase housing choice and access.

Eligible applicants will compete for five individual grants of $2 million to advance their innovation and drive meaningful, systems-level change in the housing and adjacent industries. Winners will gain access to mentorship and coaching from industry leaders and experts and join a powerful network of Breakthrough Challenge innovators.

Focus Areas

This third cycle of the Housing Affordability Breakthrough Challenge aims to meet the nation’s affordable housing challenges across all types of communities: Native, rural, suburban, tribal, and urban.

Proposals must encompass one or more of three focus areas:

• Design and Construction
• Finance
• Service Delivery and Programs

Applicants will be asked to show how their proof of concept or pilot program has achieved clear outcomes and success, and provide a clear pathway to expanding the innovation’s reach and impact

Round 1: Criteria and Scoring

Your innovation must meet the criteria below to advance to the official scoring stage.

Type of Community

Innovations can serve all types of communities:

• Rural
• Urban
• Suburban
• Tribal

Location

Priority scoring will be given to applications from entities that are based in – or whose innovations are designed for – one or more of these 28 states, plus D.C.:

• Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Washington D.C.

Affordability

Innovations must serve residents at these income levels:

• Rental: 80% AMI or below
• Homeownership: 120% AMI or below
• Workforce housing: 120% AMI or below

The Community Investment Fund by Freeport-McMoRan aims to enhance community resilience and well-being in various regions, including Climax (CO), Globe-Miami (AZ), and Henderson (CO). Prioritizing education, economic opportunity, and leadership capacity, this fund supports projects over $10,000 that directly benefit local communities. Eligible organizations must have 501c-3 status or equivalent. The initiative fosters transformative change through collaborative partnerships and strategic investments, addressing essential community needs and promoting sustainability.

The Community Priorities Fund Grant, established by the Grand County Board of County Commissioners, aims to enhance the quality of life in Grand County, Colorado, through targeted support for childcare, housing, and local tourism. Funded by lodging tax revenue, it allocates at least 30% for community needs and 50% for tourism marketing. The BOCC's commitment ensures that 20% of the new tax revenue will directly support community priorities, fostering a sustainable and vibrant local economy for residents and visitors alike.

The Choose When grant by Caring for Colorado aims to reduce financial barriers to contraception, ensuring affordable access to reproductive healthcare for all Coloradans, especially young people aged 9-25 and those in rural communities. Launched in 2017, it focuses on eliminating health disparities by funding local clinics to provide long-acting reversible contraception. The initiative emphasizes support for marginalized groups, addressing systemic barriers to care and promoting equitable health outcomes across Colorado.

Caring For Denver Grants focuses on community-centered solutions addressing mental health and substance misuse in Denver. The initiative prioritizes equitable access to culturally relevant care, emphasizing the importance of community-based organizations. By supporting peer specialists and care navigation, the foundation aims to improve access and outcomes for marginalized populations. Grant applicants must be nonprofit organizations or government entities serving Denver residents. This funding opportunity seeks to uplift voices affected by historical trauma and promote innovative approaches to mental health care.

The Economic Freedom: Workforce Development Grant Opportunity, offered by the Colorado Gives Foundation, aims to enhance job market adaptability for Jefferson County residents. This grant supports nonprofits that provide solutions leading to higher wages, promote educational transparency, and bridge skill gaps in education. Organizations eligible must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits or government entities focused on serving Jeffco, ensuring that their initiatives directly impact the community's workforce development.

The Delta Dental of Colorado Foundation Grant aims to promote oral health equity by addressing the unique needs of diverse communities. Through funding initiatives focused on prevention, access to care, and workforce development, the foundation seeks to eliminate health disparities linked to race, income, and geography. By supporting programs that target root causes of oral health issues, the foundation is committed to fostering long-term change and ensuring that everyone has access to a healthy mouth.

Colorado Commission on Higher Education

The Colorado Commission on Higher Education (CCHE) was established in 1965 by the legislature. In January, 2008, Senate Bill 08-018 made the Department of Higher Education (DHE) separate from CCHE in order to clarify the individual roles of the DHE and CCHE. The Commission is a policy and coordinating board—in contrast to a governing board—and its powers and duties are outlined in Title 23 of Colorado Revised Statutes. Mission: We support students, advocate and develop policies to maximize higher education opportunities for all. Vision: All Coloradans will have an education beyond high school to pursue their dreams and improve our communities.

The Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative works to reduce barriers to postsecondary education by providing funding across the state for student programming. COSI programs offer student scholarships and support services. Programs include Matching Student Scholarships, Community Partner Program, Back to Work, Finish What You Started, Fund My Future, and Second Chance Scholarship.

Career Launch Grant

The Career Launch grant is designed to provide tuition support to students via matching funds for community scholarships so that tuition costs are not a barrier to entry, to reduce the currently unmanageable amount of student loan debt, and to create a workforce that has the skills, knowledge, adaptability, and diversity to continue to drive Colorado’s economic growth. Scholarship organizations are required to match COSI funding 1:1 with community scholarship dollars and provide students with a connection to career services/opportunities.

For fiscal year 2026-2027, the Career Launch grant will leverage $1.5 million in state funds to generate $3 million in new scholarship funds to support Colorado students in postsecondary education and degree attainment. These funds can potentially impact up to 1,000 students over the next few years as they pursue a credential. Program Goals:

• Provide financial support to reduce student loan debt.
• Ensure each Career Launch student is connected with career opportunities that provide gainful employment and a livable wage.
• Support credential completion in high-demand pathways that support Colorado’s Top Jobs.

The Women's Development Initiatives Grant Program, funded by Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Foundation, focuses on enhancing education and economic opportunities for women in various communities. This initiative aims to empower women through skills training, small business development, and leadership programs, ultimately fostering their participation in economic growth. Eligible organizations must directly serve women and girls in specified locations, demonstrating measurable impacts and sustainability beyond funding.

Colorado workforce and job-readiness nonprofits and schools can seek funding to run hands-on manufacturing workforce pipeline programs, with awards ranging from US $25,000 - US $100,000. Focused on technical training in design, data analytics, AI, automation, and manufacturing roles, American Honda Motor prioritizes initiatives that prepare individuals for current and future industry needs.

Colorado Strategic Wildfire Action Program

COSWAP funds can be spent on all land ownership types.

The Colorado Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Executive Director’s Office is the primary manager of the Colorado Strategic Wildfire Action Program. Per statute, the Colorado State Forest Service, Division of Fire Prevention and Control and DNR work collaboratively on program design.

The Colorado Strategic Wildfire Action Program (COSWAP) is designed to support wildfire risk reduction efforts in Colorado to protect life, property, and infrastructure. COSWAP was created after the devastating 2020 fire season by the Colorado legislature through the bi-partisan supported SB21-258. After a successful grant cycle, the program was permanently funded in the 2023 legislative session. While housed within the Department of Natural Resources, COSWAP was collaboratively designed by representatives from the Colorado State Forest Service and the Division of Fire Prevention and Control. This partnership helps ensure the program aligns with other state work and priorities.

Focus

All projects must be focused on reducing wildfire risk to life, property and critical infrastructure. SWIFT and conservation corps projects must be appropriate for hand crew work. This includes, but is not limited to, forest thinning, fuelbreaks, chipping, biomass removal, and pile or broadcast burning. Funding includes Awards of conservation corps or State Wildland Inmate Fire Teams crew time to complete on the ground fire mitigation work, as well as a cash grant for project management expenses. Cash awards for fire mitigation workforce development training. No defensible space projects. 

The Strategic Focus Areas include Boulder, Douglas, El Paso, Jefferson, Larimer, La Plata and Teller counties plus Rocky Mountain Restoration Initiative focal areas.

Funding

We typically fund 6 to 25 weeks of crew work or up to $100,000. A 25% match is required for cash awards, with the exception of tribal entities.