Search Through Grants for Capital Funding in Colorado in the U.S.

We care about the communities in which we live and work. Amcor Cares (formerly the Bemis Company Foundation) was founded as our principal tool in the United States to serve our Amcor Flexibles communities. From volunteer work to monetary donations and community support, Amcor Cares donates several million per year to charitable organizations.

Community Support Grants

Encourage

• Fighting Hunger & Homelessness
• Supporting Disaster Relief

Empower

• Expanding STEM Education
• Building Life Skills
• Improving Health & Wellness

Elevate

• Promoting Arts & Culture
• Funding Amcor Scholarships

Types of support:

• Non-profit Organization Programs
• Non-profit Organization Operating Support
• Capital Campaigns
• STEM Programs

Our Vision

Across Colorado each of us can say: “We have all we need to live healthy lives.”

Our Mission

Improve the health of Coloradans.

Our Cornerstones

It is essential that every step we take creates fair opportunities for people who health is furthest from reach. This is why our work, and that which we expect in the work of our partners, is rooted in three cornerstones:

• With the ultimate goal of improving the health of Coloradans, we do everything with the intent of creating health equity.
• We focus on those across the state who have less power, privilege, and income, and as a result, are less likely to be healthy. We prioritize people of color, who are disproportionately impacted by systemic and historic barriers that stand in the way of health and well-being.
• In partnership with the communities we serve, we support and fund community-informed solutions that drive health equity and racial justice.

Building and Bridging Connections Funding

Relationships and connections are critical components to an organization and/or community’s ability to work together in service of addressing shared goals. Our Building and Bridging Connections funding aims to strengthen social capital and community-building efforts aimed at addressing health challenges and advancing health equity.

This funding will support:

• Creating connections, building trust and reciprocity, and expanding dialogue on a community’s view of itself that positions them for future collective action
• Building community between people of color and/or groups working together within a community (e.g. connecting Indigenous women, Black people living with disabilities, Asian American and Pacific Islanders who identify as LGBTQ, etc.) who may not have historically worked together
• Amplifying voices who have historically had less power and/or privilege within community through prioritization and inclusion of cultural practices that represent and honor cultural heritage, history, stories and traditions about lived experience
• Connecting different parts of community to one another that traditionally have not interacted

Programs or projects must focus on a specific, defined community that aligns with the Foundation’s cornerstones and prioritizes groups that have historically been left out of community-building efforts, such as communities of color, immigrant and refugee communities, people living with disabilities, LGBTQ communities and others dependent on context.

Grants typically range from $25,000 to $90,000, and will support programs or projects 12 to 24 months in length.

Background

Colorado Springs Health Foundation understands that health outcomes (length of life and quality of life) are influenced by multiple factors. These factors include clinical care, health behaviors, social and economic determinants and the physical environment. This is termed a “population health framework” or “population health model.” To learn more about it and how our community stacks up against other Colorado counties, check out the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s County Health Rankings and Roadmaps.

Funding Focus Areas

Colorado Springs Health Foundation has identified six funding focus areas. These areas align with the Foundation’s mission, community need, community and stakeholder input, and the population health framework described above. 

• Healthcare access*
• Suicide prevention
• Trauma prevention or healing
• Food
• Physical activity
• Transitional or affordable housing

*Healthcare access includes care for physical, mental, oral and/or substance use disorder-related concerns, and initiatives to address the healthcare workforce shortage.

Capacity-Building Mini-Grant Opportunity

CSHF defines capacity-building work as discreet projects that help an organization acquire or strengthen organizational skills, strategies, systems and/or structures. They often involve the use of an outside expert consultant. 

Colorado Springs Health Foundation makes grants to target immediate health care needs and encourage healthy living in El Paso and Teller Counties, Colorado. The Foundation acknowledges that organizations addressing the health and well-being of our community need to invest in their own capacities, competencies and skills in order to do this important work well.

As such, Colorado Springs Health Foundation is offering an additional capacity-building funding opportunity – one that is smaller, more responsive (faster decisions) and lower barrier (shorter application).

As always, the request must fit one of our funding focus areas and serve the El Paso and/or Teller County region. 

We are interested in discreet projects that enhance staff/volunteer skills and competencies toward greater organizational effectiveness and impact.

Funding

Mini-grant requests may not exceed $5,000. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis. Grant award decisions are expected within one month of the application’s submission.

Examples of Capacity-Building Initiatives

• Planning (strategic, operational, succession, funds development, communications etc.)
• Impact Assessment (e.g. program evaluation)
• One-time or infrequent volunteer or staff training, e.g. board governance training, leadership coaching, etc.)
• Merger, dissolution or other restructuring efforts
• Process improvement work (e.g. LEAN)
• One-time technology needs (e.g. computer hardware)

Our competitive process is the primary grant making vehicle for organizations to receive funding. We are a general purpose foundation, which means the Trustees approve grants across a wide spectrum of focus areas including:

• arts and culture,
• civic and community initiatives,
• education,
• health and
• human services.

Under our competitive process we accept applications for general operating, program and capital support. 

Please note, if funded through the competitive process applicants must wait three years (36 months) before submitting a new application. If declined applicants must wait one year (12 months) before submitting a new application.

Opportunity Description

CSHF defines collaboration as: Multiple organizations, perspectives and disciplines formed and working together in pursuit of a common goal that could not be achieved individually. Collaboration is bigger than partnerships; it is more than a memorandum of understanding.

Collaboration is best used to address complex problems through systems change. It is difficult, resource-intensive, and time-consuming. As such, it is an approach that should be pursued sparingly and thoughtfully, only when the challenge warrants this level of investment. Principles of collective impact, when applied, have been shown to improve a collaboration’s ability to achieve real and measurable progress.

Collaboration applicants with the following attributes are considered more competitive:

• The purpose behind the collaboration aligns tightly with one of CSHF’s funding focus areas
• The collaboration addresses a key community health challenge that requires the intentional and combined efforts of diverse organizations, perspectives and disciplines for its resolution
• The collaboration applies principles of the collective impact model, including backbone functions. See “Understanding the Value of Backbone Organizations in Collective Impact” by Turner et al, Stanford Social Innovation Review, July 2012 for more insight on backbone functions
• Participating organizations contribute resources (in-kind or cash) to the effort
• The work involves evidence-based practices, whenever possible
• The collaboration has transformative potential

Funding Focus Areas

Colorado Springs Health Foundation has identified six funding focus areas. These areas align with the Foundation’s mission, community need, community and stakeholder input, and the population health framework described above. Colorado Springs Health Foundation prioritizes high-need and underresourced populations.

• Healthcare access
• Suicide prevention
• Trauma prevention or healing
• Food
• Physical activity
• Transitional or affordable housing
• Healthcare access includes care for physical, mental, oral and/or substance use disorder-related concerns, and initiatives to address the healthcare workforce shortage.

Colorado Springs Health Foundation understands that health outcomes (length of life and quality of life) are influenced by multiple factors. These factors include clinical care, health behaviors, social and economic determinants and the physical environment. This is termed a “population health framework” or “population health model.” To learn more about it and how our community stacks up against other Colorado counties, check out the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s County Health Rankings and Roadmaps.

Funding Focus Areas

Colorado Springs Health Foundation has identified five funding focus areas. These areas align with the Foundation’s mission, community need, community and stakeholder input, and the population health framework described above.

• Expand access to healthcare for those in greatest need. This includes care for physical, mental, oral and/or substance use disorder-related concerns.
• Address the healthcare workforce shortage
• Prevent suicide
• Cultivate healthy environments in high-need or underserved communities. Healthy environments are those that encourage greater physical activity or those that increase access to healthy, affordable food.
• Prevent or heal trauma; Strengthen resilience

Grant Length

Multiyear grant requests are considered when an organization or collaboration needs support to initiate a new approach to addressing a community need or concern. CSHF will not entertain multiyear requests for general operating support or ongoing program operations.

Starting Jan. 1, 2022, a current funded partner may not request additional funding from CSHF until/unless it has spent down its current grant funds and submitted its final grant report. After these steps are completed, the organization is welcome to pursue funding again.

As has been CSHF’s ongoing practice, this time-out guideline does not apply to capacity-building/technical assistance requests. An organization may apply for and/or receive capacity-building/TA funding even if it is a current funded partner.

Other

The Colorado Springs Health Foundation will consider emergency funding requests in exceptional and uncommon circumstances. Please contact CSHF staff for additional information.

In rare occasions, the Colorado Springs Health Foundation may choose to consider requests that are within its mission yet outside the funding focus areas and offer both high potential for impact and strong alignment with CSHF values.

Building Organizational Capacity

CSHF defines capacity-building work as discreet projects that help an organization acquire or strengthen organizational skills, strategies, systems and/or structures. They often involve the use of an outside expert consultant. For CSHF, capacity-building funding may not be used for ongoing operating expenses or capital projects. CSHF offers other grant opportunities designed for general operating, program or capital needs and you can learn more about them here.

The purpose is to help organizations function more effectively.

Examples of capacity-building or technical assistance projects include but are not limited to:

• Planning (strategic, operational, succession, funds development, communications etc.)
• Impact Assessment (e.g. program evaluation)
• One-time or infrequent volunteer or staff training, e.g. board governance training, leadership coaching, etc.)
• Merger, dissolution or other restructuring efforts
• Process improvement work (e.g. LEAN)
• One-time technology needs (e.g. computer hardware)

Overview

The Daniels Fund provides grants to support highly effective nonprofit organizations in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming through the Daniels Fund Grants Program.

Bill Daniels helped a tremendous number of people during his lifetime, and continues to do so in extraordinary ways through the foundation he established. The Daniels Fund honors Bill’s direction and carries forward his legacy of generosity. We strive to be compassionate, approachable, and responsive. 

The Daniels Fund focuses on supporting highly effective and ethical nonprofit organizations that achieve significant results in the community. The geographic regions we serve, as well as our grant funding areas, were personally defined by our founder, and they do not change.

Funding Areas

These funding areas were established by our founder and they do not change:

Aging

Bill helped to fulfill his mother's wish to remain in her own home and maintain her independence as she aged. In his later years, Bill gained additional insight from his own personal experiences.

• Older adults achieve maximum independence and quality of life.

• In-Home Services:
• Seniors receive the services they need to live independently in their own homes for as long as possible. Respite care and navigator services are readily available to support family members caring for their elderly loved ones.
• Community Engagement:
• Seniors enjoy the benefits of remaining physically and mentally active, and participate in meaningful activities that contribute to their sense of purpose.
• End-of-Life/Palliative Care
• Seniors nearing the end of their lives have access to high quality, compassionate hospice and palliative care.

Amateur Sports

Bill loved sports and knew from personal experience that participation in sports and the influence of quality coaches could change the direction of a young person's life for the better.

Youth experience the benefits of participating in sports programs. Elite amateur athletes have the opportunity to participate in national and international competition.

• Youth Sports
• Affordable, community-based, multi-sport activities are available for youth, led by coaches trained to build a positive youth sports culture that promotes confidence, discipline, teamwork, and sportsmanship.
• Competition
• National and international amateur sports competitions take place in the community. The costs of participation in national or international competitions — such as training and travel expenses — are offset for elite athletes.

Disabilities

One of Bill's sisters was born with developmental disabilities. Bill observed how his parents' choice to provide compassionate care at home enhanced his sister's health and happiness. Later in life, he suffered from his own disability — severe hearing loss.

People with disabilities achieve dignity through maximum independence and quality of life.

Drug & Alcohol Addiction

Bill suffered from alcoholism and embraced sobriety after seeking treatment. He talked openly about his ongoing recovery as a way to educate and provide hope to others. Bill personally helped countless friends and business associates seek treatment and regain control of their lives.

Adults and youth with drug and alcohol addiction challenges achieve and maintain stability.

• Prevention (Emphasis on Youth)
• The risks and repercussions associated with drug and alcohol addiction are effectively conveyed to young people, resulting in positive behavioral and perceptional changes.
• Treatment & After-Care Services (Recovery)
• Individuals maintain long-term sobriety by having access to high quality treatment programs and supportive after-care services.

Early Childhood Education

Bill saw the need for healthy, safe, and nurturing early childhood experiences in the home and beyond. He wanted to ensure early childhood education started children on a path to success.

Kindergarten readiness is ensured through an improved early childhood system.

• Teacher/Leadership Quality
• Teachers, leaders, and caregivers receive the essential training and support that ensures children in their care are well-prepared for kindergarten.
• Program Quality
• System-level investments improve curriculum, materials, and resources across multiple learning sites.
• Parental Engagement
• Parents and other caregivers are empowered to become "first teachers" by gaining awareness of important developmental milestones and knowledge of effective strategies to ensure children reach them.

Homeless & Disadvantaged

Bill's great compassion for people struggling to meet basic human needs fueled his desire to help them get back on their feet. He wanted to offer disadvantaged individuals and families a hand-up and spark their motivation to reenter the workforce.

Homeless individuals and families achieve and maintain self-sufficiency without the need for public assistance.

• Transitional Housing & Supportive Services
• Individuals and families who are homeless or in danger of becoming homeless break the cycle of poverty and attain economic self-sufficiency by receiving access to transitional housing, comprehensive supportive services, and employment opportunities.
• Emergency Services*
• Individuals and families experiencing the initial stages of homelessness move from crisis toward economic self-sufficiency by receiving overnight shelter and food assistance in a structured manner that encourages both accountability and participation in case management.

* Our investment in this area is limited

K-12 Education Reform

Our Strategy: Support innovative efforts to reform the K-12 education system, resulting in a wider range of high quality school choices and increased student achievement.

Desired Outcomes:

• Reform/School Choice
• Achieve systemic education reform by supporting high-performing charter schools and tuition assistance programs (portable vouchers) that broaden quality educational options for families. Competition prompts challenges to the status quo.
• Teacher/Leadership Quality*
• Teachers and school leaders receive innovative training and support to maximize student achievement.
• Parental Engagement
• Parents are better educated in the areas of school quality and choice, and understand how to be effective advocates for their children.

* Emphasis is on charter schools

Youth Development

Bill supported character-building programs that help youth become confident, patriotic, and independent. He wanted kids to develop personal accountability and responsibility. He also wanted them to understand the value of money, the free enterprise system, and that success is earned through hard work.

Youth develop character and gain the necessary life skills to become successful adults.

• Career & Technical Education
• All youth — whether planning to earn a college degree or not — develop clear pathways to meaningful employment through opportunities for career exploration, job shadowing, internships, and apprenticeships.
• Civic Engagement
• Youth actively contribute to bettering their communities as engaged, informed citizens with strong American values.
• Financial Literacy & Free Enterprise
• Youth become active participants in the free enterprise system by developing a strong understanding of economics, business, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship.

We Would be Delighted to Visit with You

The Daniels Fund grants team spends time visiting the communities we serve to get to know area nonprofits, learn about effective programs and projects, and understand how needs vary from place to place.

We continually look for opportunities to support excellent programs that align with our funding priorities. We look forward to speaking with you.

Our State-Specific Grantmaking Approach

The Daniels Fund has tailored its grantmaking strategies and objectives for Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming to address specific needs in each state.

National Grant Funding

The Daniels Fund supports select programs with a nationwide focus by invitation only. We do not provide funding for regional, local, or community-based programs outside our four-state region.

Due to our focused strategy, we do not accept unsolicited national grant applications.

Program Overview 

The main objective of the foundation is to carry on the legacy of Joseph and Vera Dresner by supporting the work of organizations in our focus areas. It was the Dresner’s mission that the foundation would provide a channel to improve the lives of people and animals in their communities. 

The foundation’s approach empowers community members to benefit from the grant investments that we make. We partner with organizations that are committed to creating opportunities for the underserved in our communities. Those partners include a wide-range of entities, including hospitals, community centers, and other nonprofits. 

Our goal is to provide organizations with the necessary resources, so they can continue offering services to those most in need. We seek to test innovative approaches, determine lessons from current commendable activities, and promote the adoption of creative thinking on a broad scale through direct grant making and support for research and other ventures that advance community support. 

We Offer 3 Types of Support: 

• Project – Development of new programs, expansion of existing programs, or continuation of sustainable, recognized effective current programming. 
• Capital – Equipment purchase, acquisition, construction and/or renovation of facilities. 
• Funding for special circumstances, in support of existing grantee  programs, will be considered on a case by case basis. Please note the foundation will not accept unsolicited proposals for this type of support. 

Our Focus Areas Include: 

Health 

We fund projects that support institutions conducting medical research and clinical trials specifically related to Myelodysplastic Syndromes. We also fund projects that improve access to health care and health outcomes. Click here to view information about the Foundation's Myelodysplasia Research Grant.

- support for programs that improve the health outcomes of vulnerable people, particularly underserved, low-income individuals who don’t have adequate access to health care. 

The foundation is equally interested in efforts that have broad and meaningful impact and focus on intervention and prevention beyond the boundaries of any one disease. 

Therefore, we seek to support a network of hospitals and community-based organizations that work to improve the health outcomes of these individuals through enhanced access to health care.

Youth and Family 

It is critical that disadvantaged, underserved, and special needs children have access to programs that allow them to learn and foster important life skills. We help organizations develop and sustain programs that empower children and their families and offer opportunity to improve their lives. 

– support for youth programs that foster self-empowerment and self-esteem through academic, artistic, personal or social enrichment. 

Regardless, if a child lives in poverty or has a chronic disease, it is essential that they have access to programs that encourage self-expression and move their lives forward in a meaningful way. Therefore, we support organizations that empower children and optimize their development by providing access to programs that promote academic, artistic, personal and social enhancement opportunities. 

– support for programs that reinforce families. 

We are also interested in organizations that support youth through the provision of services that strengthen their families such as, but not limited to, workforce development, housing and family food assistance.

Animal Welfare 

We work with animal care organizations to make certain that they have the resources needed to ensure the best care and secure shelter for animals and offer corresponding public education initiatives.

– support for state-of-the-art facilities and services and corresponding public education initiatives.  

The foundation works with animal welfare organizations to make sure they have the resources they need to advance their work. We are interested in supporting state-of-the art facilities and services. Animal welfare efforts that the foundation will consider are, but not limited to, providing adequate treatment resources, upgrading equipment, improving and maintaining facilities, aiding in the shelter of animals in communities, and public education initiatives.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Dunn Family Foundation is to support programs that utilize education to build a better society and employ innovative approaches to the use of testing and support materials for educational initiatives. 

Values

The work of the Dunn Family Foundation expresses the values of its founders Lloyd & Leota Dunn and that of Dr. Douglas Dunn, who was passionate in his own pursuit of and support for life long learning. Our founders believed that education is a prime vehicle for the betterment of society. Their belief was that excellence in testing allows educational assets and resources to be employed more efficiently and that materials developed to support teachers in their educational environments is a necessary part of the educational process. 

Areas of Interest

At this time, the Dunn Family Foundation has three main areas of interest: 

• The development and implementation of educational testing materials for children and adults.
• The development and implementation of educational support materials for use by teachers in the education of society's children and adults.
• The innovative use of education to build a better society.

Types of Grants

Initial grants will be given for project funding only. After an initial grant is made, the Foundation may make general operating grants to continue supporting the organization. 

Capital funding is only available for projects connected to previous Foundation support. No endowment funds will be granted.

For reference, the average grant size generally ranges from $5,000 to $25,000. 

Dunn Family Foundation Policy on F&A Costs

The Dunn Family Foundation recognizes that organizations often require Facilities and Administrative (F&A) costs (a.k.a. indirect costs) be added to all grant requests. While we recognize that F&A costs are real, we work to focus our funding on direct costs and trust the sponsoring organizations will "keep the lights on" as part of their support for funded research. 

Extraordinary circumstances, when indirect costs exceed 10%, may be considered on a case by case basis. 

Strategic Grants

The Gates Family Foundation uses a portfolio approach to grant making in three priority areas: K‐12 Education, Natural Resources, and Community Development. Overall, strategic grants constitute about 60% of the Foundation’s annual grant making budget (with the remaining 40% dedicated to capital grants). This approach allows the Foundation to pursue ambitious, large-scale outcomes with a set of key partners while also remaining responsive to the broader community’s needs. While we do not accept unsolicited proposals for funding in our priority areas, we do encourage you to browse our grants and impact database and strategic priorities to determine our scope of interest — and if you believe you might be a fit, reach out to one of our program officers or submit your idea online.

Please note that this type of funding is not an opportunity for ongoing operating or program support, though it does allow us to work over multiple years with grantees focused on a specific set of goals and outcomes. While we continually work with grantees to adjust strategies and approaches, we expect to maintain a commitment to these broad priority areas over time.

Education

Approximately 23% of the Foundation’s annual grant making is devoted to strategic efforts to increase the quality and equity of Colorado’s public K-12 education system. Our K-12 education team uses this portfolio to support three key strategies: innovative learning environments, school system innovation, and conditions for sustained innovation.

• Innovative Learning Environments
• School System Innovation
• Conditions for Sustained Innovation

Natural Resources

Approximately 23% of the Foundation’s annual grant making is devoted to strategic efforts to protect and steward our state’s precious land and water resources. Our natural resources team uses this portfolio to support three key strategies: balanced water management, forest health and watershed restoration, and landscape conservation and land trust capacity building.

• Balanced Water Management
• Forest Health and Watershed Restoration
• Landscape Conservation and Land Trust Capacity Building

Community Development

Approximately 12% of the Foundation’s annual grant making is devoted to strategic efforts to increase the vitality and resilience of Colorado’s urban and rural communities. Our community development team uses this portfolio to support two key outcomes: economic mobility for families and individuals, and equitable community assets.

• Economic Mobility for Families and Individuals
• Equitable Community Assets

Informed Communities

Approximately 5% of the Foundation’s annual grant making is devoted to catalyzing innovations in Colorado’s civic news ecosystem that make it more collaborative, sustainable, and responsive to the communities it serves. Our Informed Communities team uses this portfolio to support three key priorities: a stronger civic news ecosystem, more coverage of Gates’ core issue areas, and more diverse and inclusive local news leadership, voices and models.

• Evolve and Strengthen the Civic News Ecosystem
• Address Gaps in Civic News Coverage
• Build Inclusive News Leaderships, Voices and Models

The Leighty Foundation (TLF) is a small family foundation incorporated under Iowa law.  Directors and advisors live in Colorado, Alaska, and California.

Mission

To carry on the Leighty family legacy of service and stewardship by leveraging our time and talents, as well as our financial resources, primarily in the areas of Earth Protection, Education, Philanthropy, and Strategic Volunteer Engagement.Focus Areas Earth Protection “Environmental” has become trite, and does not convey the profound, urgent, and necessary changes in the way our species perceives and relates to our fellow species on Earth, and to its wonderful physical systems. The Leighty Foundation is especially interested in accelerating humanity’s transition to a sustainable, equitable, benign, affordable global energy system based entirely upon renewable energy sources — driven by radiant energy from our local star, the Sun, and by geothermal. Our earliest, most rewarding investments will be energy conservation and efficiency, while we invent and invest to “run the world on renewables.” We assist science education, so that we will better understand who and what and where we humans are, and to better understand Earth and our options for cooperation within its context and limits. Thus, we intend to invest wisely in Earth Protection, with both Foundation funds and with our personal involvement. An urgent Grand Challenge is transforming the world’s largest industry from about 80% fossil to nearly 100% renewable, CO2-emission-free energy sources, as quickly as we prudently and profitably can. Prudently: with acceptable social and economic disruption. Profitably: the huge amount of capital needed will flow only to attractive opportunities for returns. Electricity systems may be inadequate or technically and economically suboptimal for this transformation. Therefore, we now need to think beyond electricity, to comprehensively consider alternatives. Hydrogen (H2) and Anhydrous Ammonia (NH3) are attractive, energy carriers, storage media, and fuels – as complete renewable energy systems. The Leighty Foundation Earth Protection program focuses on the Big Three challenges of time-variable renewable generation:

• Gathering and transmission;
• Low-cost, annual-scale, firming storage;
• Distribution, integration, and end-use of energy services.

Strategic Volunteer Engagement Our nation finds itself faced with a perfect storm with shrinking resources and escalating needs. Meeting these needs will require a dramatic increase in the number of people willing to give their time and skills as well as their financial resources. However, the challenge may be less about increasing the number of people who volunteer, and more about building infrastructures which connect people with worthy opportunities, and empower them to make a meaningful difference.There is a growing awareness that even if Americans respond to the myriad of calls for service, many charities are not prepared to effectively engage them. A recent survey found that more than 30% of charities do not currently have the infrastructure to effectively deploy volunteers. Now is the time for us as funders to seize this unique opportunity to financially support nonprofits in building their capacity.

The Laura Jane Musser Fund wants to encourage collaborative and participatory efforts among citizens in rural communities that will help to strengthen their towns and regions in a number of civic areas including, but not limited to, economic development, business preservation, arts and humanities, public space improvements, and education.

Priority is placed on projects that: 

• Bring together a broad range of community members and institutions
• Provide the opportunity for diverse community members to work together
• Contain measurable short term outcomes within the first 12 to 18 months
• Include community members actively in all phases of the process 
• Work toward an outcome of positive change within their community

Projects must demonstrate:

• Support from a diverse cross-section of community members and institutions
• Matching financial and/or in-kind support from the local community
• Significant volunteer participation
• Reasonable plans to complete the project within 18 months or less

Funds will be available for: 

• Planning (up to $5,000) - These funds may support costs like: consultant or staff time, meeting costs, mailings, secretarial support, refreshments, local travel, childcare, etc.
• Note - this stage is optional and not a required phase prior to applying for or receiving an implementation grant. If an organization receives a planning grant from the Musser Fund, this in no way implies a commitment on the part of the Musser Fund to provide the organization with any subsequent implementation grant.
• But organizations that receive a planning grant may apply for subsequent implementation support after their planning activities are completed.      
• Implementation (Up to $25,000) - These funds are available to implement community based rural projects that originate in, have been planned by, and involve diverse people from the local community.
• Capital campaigns will not be supported.
• The projects should result in a tangible outcome within at least the first 18 months.
• Projects will be eligible for either planning or implementation funds during any one grant period.

What the Program will Cover:

• New programs or projects within their first three years
• A planning, and/or implementation phase

The Foundation supports organizations that promote the western values of self-reliance, personal responsibility and integrity. We believe these values foster an environment where entrepreneurial spirits flourish, helping Coloradans reach their full potential. The Foundation places a high priority on programs that help youth to prosper, encourage economic opportunities for adults and advance public policies that reflect our nation’s founding principles.

Our grant-making places a premium on entrepreneurship. Specifically, our traditional areas of support include one-to-one mentoring programs for youth, paid on-the-job training, and a variety of self-help initiatives. The Foundation also has an interest in bringing integrative medicine into the medical mainstream. In each of its giving areas, the Foundation seeks evidenced-based results.

Grantmaking Priorities: Youth and Adults

Youth and Youth Development

• One-to-one mentoring
• Academic tutoring
• Character development
• Leadership
• STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)
• Financial literacy

Adult Work Programs

• Paid on-the-job training
• Vocational training
• Job placement

Caring For Colorado Grant Program: Youth Health and Well-Being

Priority: Youth Health and Well-Being

We’re working to advance health and well-being for young people, ages 9 to 25, in Colorado who experience health inequities due to economic injustice, racism, and discrimination through strategic investments designed to support young people, strengthen families, and build youth-centered communities.

Our Approach

Guided by local youth and community insight, and informed by the science of adolescent development, we believe that young people will experience greater health and well-being if they:

• Develop a strong sense of belonging, identity, purpose, and agency
• Experience secure and supportive relationships with their parents and caregivers
• Have equitable access to services, spaces, and systems that are youth-centered, culturally responsive, and trauma-informed

To advance youth health and well-being, Caring for Colorado will invest $6 million in the upcoming year through our Youth Health and Well-Being Funding Priority in three focus areas:

• Supporting Young People
• Strengthening Families
• Building Youth-Centered Communities

The Youth Health and Well-Being funding priority is designed to be flexible, leverage local community assets, and support grantee partners as they work to improve conditions for young people and their families. To understand how grant decisions are made, see our Guiding Principles.

We believe that investments in these focus areas have the power to yield a triple benefit: increased health and well-being for young people today, into adulthood, and for the next generation.

Funding

• Supporting Young People and Strengthening Families Focus Areas: The annual grant range for this focus area is $50,000-$125,000. We will also consider multi-year requests, for up to 36 months.
• Building Youth-Centered Communities: The annual grant range for this focus area is $25,000-$100,000. We expect the majority of grants in this focus area to have a term of 12 months.

Grant size depends on several factors, including but not limited to, the scale and scope of the proposal, other sources of funding available to support the work, and our available budget.

Our Mission

The Kerr Foundation, Inc. is a nonprofit charitable and educational Oklahoma corporation, established to identify and support 501(c)3 organizations, programs and institutions that provide new or enhanced opportunities for those within the granting areas, particularly the young.

Program Categories

Education - Institutions of elementary, junior high, pre-collegiate, along with institutions of higher learning to include health science centers and medical research done by educational institutions

Arts and Culture - Organizations in the visual arts and performing arts areas, museums and libraries

Health - Institutions providing health care, doing medical research, or outreach organizations employing primarily professionals from the allied health area

Human Services - Organizations providing services in diverse areas to the public, and specifically to the disadvantaged, people with special needs and the elderly

Project Categories

Capital - Bricks and mortar projects, including equipment

Program - Programs having an objective and specified time span

Operating - Funds to be used to cover basic ongoing administrative and personnel expenses

What We Fund

At the Buell Foundation, we believe that investing in quality programs will lead to long-term changes in Colorado. The Buell Foundation seeks proven, promising, or developing programs that can demonstrate success in helping children thrive. We support efforts to improve quality and encourage meaningful evaluation and assessment. It is our goal to partner with outstanding organizations to improve the systems that serve children. Particular focus is placed on programs that target underserved communities.

Areas of Interest

Our funding strategy includes two primary areas of interest:

At the Buell Foundation, we believe in the potential of young children. As we work to support Colorado communities in raising thriving kids, we seek grant partners who work in the following areas: 

• Assessment and evaluation:
  • We support a variety of assessments used to gauge the effectiveness of programs and progress of program participants.
  • This may include process/fidelity measures as well as outcome measures (e.g., Teaching Strategies GOLD, Adult-Adolescent Parenting Index, Social Competence Scale, etc.). 
• Behavior and social competence:
  • We support direct programming as well as consultation in early learning settings with a focus on the promotion and prevention levels of behavioral health. 
• Early childhood education and preschool programs:
  • We support licensed child care centers and preschools that have a commitment to quality improvement and serving children from diverse populations. We also support the early learning components of community-based programs, such as family literacy. 
• Home visitation:
  • We support evidence-based and evidence-informed home visiting programs with a focus on supporting positive parenting skills and increased knowledge about child development. 
• Improvements directly related to quality:
  • We support ongoing quality improvement of all programs. This includes funding for materials, additional staff, coaching, and quality ratings. 
• Parenting education:
  • We support evidence-based and evidence-informed parenting education programs with a focus on supporting positive parenting skills and increased knowledge about child development. 
• Professional development and education:
  • We support projects that facilitate early childhood professionals’ access to college-level coursework, mentoring, or community-based trainings. 

The Buell Foundation funds proven, comprehensive, and medically accurate comprehensive sex education programs. The Foundation will not fund abstinence-only programs. 

Comprehensive sex education programs must: 

• Be facilitated by trained and experienced professionals, ideally by someone who has been prepared to facilitate sexual health education programs and/or a curriculum 
• Emphasize the importance of delaying sex 
• Instruct about the benefits and risks of condoms and contraception when engaging in sex 
• Impart information about sexual activity and the use of condoms and contraception that is deemed medically accurate by sources on which medical professionals rely 
• Provide education about consent and refusal skills 
• Occur in a safe, confidential, and non-judgmental learning environment for all youth 
• Be inclusive of the cultures, values, sexual orientation, and gender identity of youth participating in the program 
• Assess the effectiveness of the programs on the skills, knowledge, and attitudes or behavior change of the participants 

Other considerations:

• If adapting an evidence-based program, organizations must ensure that the intent of the program is not compromised and that the same skills, knowledge, and attitudes or behaviors are evaluated. 
• When an option, programs should link students to clinical and medical providers and services. 

If you have any questions about the types of programs that we fund, please call the Program Officer for your region. 

Grant types we prioritize:

• Program/project support and/or planning
• Operating support
• Technical assistance
• Capital improvements (limited child care programs)

Attributes we prioritize:

• Organizations/projects serving rural or underserved populations (e.g., low-income families, teen parents, communities of color, etc.) where there are fewer individuals and institutions providing financial support
• Organizations/projects with evidence of engaging community members to inform project priorities and best meet community needs (e.g., a parent advisory board, focus groups with local families, etc.). This includes collaboration with local stakeholders, such as the region’s early childhood council, a family resource center, the school district, and/or elected officials
• Projects that leverage public funding as sustainable revenue sources (e.g., the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program and Universal Preschool Program)
• Organizations with a commitment to continuous learning and improvement

Funding Focus Areas

Colorado Springs Health Foundation has identified six funding focus areas. These areas align with the Foundation’s mission, community need, community and stakeholder input, and the population health framework described above. Colorado Springs Health Foundation prioritizes high-need and underresourced populations.

• Healthcare access*
• Suicide prevention
• Trauma prevention or healing
• Food
• Physical activity
• Transitional or affordable housing

*Healthcare access includes care for physical, mental, oral and/or substance use disorder-related concerns, and initiatives to address the healthcare workforce shortage.

Opportunity Specifics

The Summer/Fall 2025 Funding Opportunity will accept requests related to:

• Food
• Physical activity
• Transitional or affordable housing. This includes home improvement, weatherization and energy efficiency efforts to maintain affordable housing as well as efforts to connect people in need with transitional or permanent affordable housing, e.g. case management, resource coordination, navigation, and support.

The Foundation supports organizations that promote the western values of self-reliance, personal responsibility and integrity. We believe these values foster an environment where entrepreneurial spirits flourish, helping Coloradans reach their full potential. The Foundation places a high priority on programs that help youth to prosper, encourage economic opportunities for adults and advance public policies that reflect our nation’s founding principles.

Grantmaking Priority: Public Policy

• Public Policy
• Enhance understanding of the free enterprise system
• Preserve the principles upon which our democracy was founded to help ensure a limited role for government and the protection of individual rights as provided for in the Constitution
• Encourage personal responsibility and leadership
• Uphold traditional American values

Overview

The Foundation is interested in grants and Program Related Investments that advance Coloradoan’s ability to improve earning potential and quality of life. The Foundations places premium on programs that have a proven track record in creating jobs with livable wages / pathways to self-sufficiency / wealth creation and entrepreneurship opportunities / growth. Giving areas include Entrepreneurship and Job Creation programs (50% of giving), Barriers to Employment (25% of giving) and General Purpose Funding (25% of giving). Within our General Purpose portfolio, the Foundation allocates funds towards pre-determined legacy organizations and arts, culture and sciences.

Kenneth King Foundation Focus

• Programs developing individuals with increased skills in high-demand fields
• Training and support that results in increased entrepreneurial skills and/or new businesses.
• Seed capital bundled with support services to help grow small to mid-sized ventures,
• jobs created because of new businesses or growth, financial skill building
• Programs placing individuals in jobs with living wages
• Apprenticeship programs
• Job training through social enterprise
• Jobs created through social enterprises or for-profit companies
• Financial literacy training, adult education
• Workforce development

Job Creation & Entrepreneurship Grant

Programs promoting job creating and entrepreneurship represent 50% of the Foundation's giving.

Criteria for strong proposals

• Programs developing individuals with increased skills in high-demand fields
• Training and support that results in increased entrepreneurial skills and/or new businesses.
• Seed capital bundled with support services to help grow small to mid-sized ventures,
• jobs created because of new businesses or growth, financial skill building
• Programs placing individuals in jobs with living wages
• Apprenticeship programs
• Job training through social enterprise
• Jobs created through social enterprises or for-profit companies
• Financial literacy training, adult education
• Workforce development

Focus Populations

• Low -income entrepreneurs
• Individuals lacking credit needed to secure traditional loans
• Women
• People of color
• Justice involved individuals
• Rural communities
• People with disabilities 

Funding

An average grant is between $5,000 and $20,000.

Program Areas Funded

The Following organization program areas are eligible for consideration:

• Arts & Culture
• Performing Arts
• Visual Arts
• Music

• Civic & Community
• Parks, Trails and Community beautification efforts
• Civic enhancement
• Adult and Youth leadership

• Education
• K-12 (Public, Private and Charter)
• Early Childhood Education
• Special Education
• Colleges and Universities

• Healthcare
• Direct service
• Health access

• Medical Research (by invitation only)

• Nature & Wildlife
• Land and Wildlife Conservation & Protection
• Restoration

• Social Services
• Housing
• Mental Health
• Feeding programs and Food Access
• Basic Needs provision

Type of Funding Provided

The Chapman Trusts currently provide funding for general operations, projects and programs, capital needs (brick and mortar, equipment purchases, etc.), and organization capacity building. 

Supporting Historic Sacred Places

A program of Partners for Sacred Places in collaboration with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the National Fund for Sacred Places provides financial and technical support for community-serving historic houses of worship across America.

What We Offer

The National Fund for Sacred Places provides matching grants of $50,000 to $250,000 to congregations undertaking significant capital projects at historic houses of worship, along with wraparound services including training, technical assistance, and planning support.

What We’re Looking For

The National Fund for Sacred Places assesses applicant eligibility according to the core criteria shown below, while also striving to build a diverse participant pool that reflects a broad range of geographic, cultural, and religious identities.

Historic, Cultural, or Architectural Significance

We are looking for buildings that have historic, cultural, or architectural significance—and sites that have important and relevant stories to tell. Many of our participants are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the state register, or the local register. Your building does not have to be on one of these lists, but eligibility for one or more of these lists is a good benchmark for National Fund eligibility.

As part of the National Trust’s commitment to telling the full American story, we particularly encourage congregations to apply that illuminate a unique or overlooked aspect of American history and that expand our understanding of our shared national heritage. We encourage submissions related to historic sacred places of importance to historically and contemporaneously underrepresented communities including, but not limited to, women, immigrants, Asian Americans, Black Americans, Latinx Americans, Native Americans, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, and LGBTQIA communities.

Successful applicants are able to demonstrate their place in history by answering questions such as:

• Does the building tell a story relevant to our history—either cultural or religious?
• Does the history highlight previously underrecognized communities, stories, or locations?
• How has the building served the community over time? Does the building have a great physical presence in its community due to its location or programming?
• Is the building the work of a notable architect? If so, is it a high-quality example of their body of work?
• Is the building an exceptional example of its architectural style or building technology?
• Does the building embody the congregation’s resilience over time?

Community-Serving Congregations

We are looking for congregations that are engaged in their communities and that are serving others. Engaged congregations operate and host programming that serves vulnerable, at-risk, and diverse populations; share space with non-affiliated groups and organizations (often at subsidized rates); work with other congregations, faith-based organizations, nonprofit organizations, and/or municipalities; and have a widespread reputation for being a welcoming center of community life.

Project Scope and Need

We fund historic preservation projects addressing urgent repair needs and/or life safety. We also fund projects that increase congregations’ ability to open their buildings to new populations or to serve greater numbers of people. All projects must adhere to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation, which is a universally accepted framework for doing work to older and historic properties.

We prioritize congregations/projects where there is a demonstrated need (meaning that the congregation cannot raise the funds alone) or where it is clear that our grant will have a catalytic effect (meaning that our grant is likely to lead to additional monies being contributed to the project).

Readiness

Once-in-a-generation capital projects require a great deal of planning. We are looking for applicants that understand their buildings’ needs and that are ready to undertake a capital campaign. National Fund congregations typically have a history of successful capital campaigns, which demonstrate an ability to raise significant funds and complete a project.

Successful congregations come to us with a realistic fundraising goal, which has been generated with the help of qualified preservation professionals and is not too far beyond the congregation’s fundraising capacity.

Healthy Congregations

The National Fund prioritizes healthy, stable congregations so that our investment is truly impactful and lasting. We look for the following, although this is not an exhaustive list of characteristics that indicate healthy congregations: tenured, well-respected clergy; capable lay leadership; stable or growing membership; financial strength and stability; support of the judicatory or governing body, if applicable; and a history of weathering any congregational conflict or trauma with resilience.

Land, facilities, and civic infrastructure are long-term assets that can transform the ability of nonprofit and community organizations to serve Colorado communities. For this reason, the Gates Family Foundation invests in capital projects across the state, in both rural and urban areas. We strive to be responsive to each community’s unique needs and opportunities.

Our capital grants are generally limited to comprehensive capital campaigns, which are typically for building purchases, construction, expansion, renovation, and/or land acquisition. Only nonprofit organizations with capital projects that benefit Colorado and its residents are qualified to apply. When making funding decisions, we prioritize:

• Projects that address root problems with substantive solutions
• Projects with strong evidence of support from the community and the organization’s board
• Projects in rural and low-income areas across Colorado where there are fewer individuals and institutions providing support for capital projects
• Projects that serve individuals and communities of color who have faced historic inequities and lack of access to funding
• Projects that reinforce the foundation’s strategic priorities in K-12 public education, natural resources, community development, and informed communities
• Projects that address climate change, and/or incorporate green building and sustainable development practices

Priority Funding Areas

We fund capital projects within five categories that overlap somewhat with the Foundation’s strategic priorities, but are broader in scope in order to be more responsive to community needs.

Arts & Culture

The Foundation supports cultural organizations that:

• enhance the quality of community life while also strengthening the economy
• link a community with its heritage and contribute to usable community infrastructure
• serve as an educational resource for children, youth, and adults.

Funding examples in this area are:

• libraries & museums
• community theaters
• performing arts organizations
• historic preservation that contributes to community revitalization

Education

The Foundation supports major capital projects for:

• charter schools that serve a substantial proportion of low-income students (generally, at least 50% of the student body will qualify for Free and Reduced Lunch), have demonstrated high academic achievement, and are utilizing a sustainable financial model
• public schools in rural areas that have planned capital improvements which are heavily used by the community, and that reinforce the long-term viability of the area
• licensed early childhood education centers with particular, but not exclusive, interest in rural areas of the state to assure readiness for elementary school and to strengthen rural economies
• organizations that provide life-long learning and experiential learning to a broad audience
• independent school and public and private university capital campaigns on a highly selective basis

Funding examples in this area:

• participation in the matching requirement for a charter school receiving a BEST grant
• rural school improving its auditorium or athletic field for school and community use
• rural community establishing an early childhood education center to fill an unmet need
• early childhood education center making significant facility improvements in order to advance the quality of care for the children served
• facility improvements for an organization that provides adult GED, literacy, or vocational training
• on a highly selective basis, support for public and private universities with campaigns to improve their science, technology, library, and engineering related facilities

Well-being of Children, Youth & Families

The Foundation supports organizations that encourage individuals to:

• develop greater self-sufficiency, including the well-being and independence of disadvantaged families and the elderly
• increase leadership and life skills
• maintain good health and well-being rather than cure disease

Funding examples in this area:

• human service organizations promoting self-sufficiency
• community and senior centers
• family resource centers
• youth mentoring organizations
• nonprofit dental clinics
• residential treatment centers for youth
• transitional housing facilities
• job training
• rural health centers (non-FQHC)

Parks & Recreation

The Foundation supports capital projects that:

• invest in land and water protection that safeguards important natural resources, habitat, and the health of natural systems
• help preserve the state’s ranching and agricultural legacy and encourage smart land use patterns
• construct and improve urban and mountain parks and open space for public recreation and access
• maintain the state’s urban and mountain trail systems
• provide recreation, environmental education and leadership opportunities for young people
• encourage the spirit of scientific inquiry as well as the preservation of natural habitat

Funding examples in this area:

• land conservation and easement purchases
• greenways and trail systems
• outdoor/indoor recreation facilities
• urban public spaces and community gardens

Community Development & Revitalization

The Foundation invests in projects that:

• have the potential to reinforce and enhance the economic vitality of a community
• involve partnerships between public and private sector organizations that seek to improve the economic and cultural health of communities

Funding examples in this area:

• restoration of historically significant architecture that contributes to community revitalization
• development of rural main streets as a means of promoting community revitalization
• heritage tourism as a means of promoting economic health for rural areas
• public-private partnerships for economic development

The In-N-Out Burger Foundation’s mission is to assist children and youth who have been victims of child abuse and neglect, and to prevent others from suffering a similar fate. The Foundation will only consider requests from organizations that closely align with our mission and that serve communities where In-N-Out Burger does business.

The In-N-Out Burger Foundation is happy to consider the following types of grants:

Traditional Grants: Grant awards range from $5,000 - $25,000.

Program: Restricted funding to support the development, expansion, or enhancement of programs within an existing organization.

General Operating Support: Unrestricted funding to support the overall operations and sustainability of your nonprofit. Applicants must present a strong case on how this funding will help sustain the organization’s mission and provide benefits to the children in their care. *Please note that all of your organization’s programs must align with our mission to be considered for this type of support.

Capital Grants: Grant awards range from $5,000 - $50,000.

Capital Campaign: Restricted funding for the construction of new facilities, renovations or upgrades to existing buildings, and other special projects that will enhance the organization’s mission.

Capital Purchase: Restricted funding to purchase equipment, furnishings, or any other major material purchases that will enhance the organization’s mission.

Capital grants are awarded on a very limited basis each year. The Foundation will only consider requests from organizations that meet all other funding criteria and who already have an established long-term funding relationship with the Foundation (minimum of 2 years).

Please carefully review the Capital Grant Guidelines above to ensure that your organization meets the requirements to apply. Capital Grants are invitation-only. Please contact us to set a 30-minute meeting to discuss your project and be prepared to send a draft summary of the project for review beforehand. 

Background

Colorado Creative Industries (CCI) is a division of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade. Established to capitalize on the immense potential for our creative sector to enhance economic growth in Colorado, the mission of Colorado Creative Industries is to promote, support and expand the creative industries to drive Colorado's economy, grow jobs and enhance our quality of life.

Colorado Creates Grants

The purpose of Colorado Creates, Creative Industries’ largest annual competitive grant program, is to provide support to nonprofit arts organizations who produce and present arts and cultural activities. All grants are for General Operating Support.

Grant awards are flat amounts based on the size of the applicant’s cash operating revenue for the organization’s most recently completed fiscal year (as of the grant deadline date). All applicants in the same budget range who are recommended for funding will receive the same dollar amount. Both the first year and the continuation of a second-year grant is contingent upon available funds.

If your cash operating revenue in your most recently completed fiscal year was $1 million or more, you will request $10,000. For $500,000-999,999 the amount is $8,500. For $250,000-499,999 the amount is $7,500.  For $100,000-249,999 the amount is $6,500.  For $25,000-99,999 the amount is $4,000.

Community Investment Fund - Climax Area (CO), Globe-Miami (AZ), Graham (AZ), Grant (NM), Green Valley + Sahuarita (AZ) & Henderson (CO)

Freeport-McMoRan's group-wide guiding philosophy for its community development activities is Transforming Tomorrow Together. This philosophy drives implementation of a social impact framework that includes priorities, strategies and goals that allow us to work collaboratively with communities to make transformative change and increase overall individual/ community opportunity, wellbeing and capacity.

We are driven to partner to build long-term resiliency and support the community’s ability to successfully navigate commodity market downturns, end of mine life and other economic/social disruptors or shocks. Our framework or approach for delivering on our guiding philosophy of Transforming Tomorrow Together is based on three main priority areas that we believe help deliver on our commitment:

• Education and Workforce Development:
  • The following are examples of the types of programs we seek in support of the Education & Workforce Development priority and goals.
    • PK-12:
      • Professional development programs for teachers and/or school administrators
      • Student preparation, incentive or other programs that drive achievement /performance and matriculation (including early childhood)
      • Classroom equipment or supplies that are proven to drive achievement /performance and are tied to a program or training/professional development
      • Programs that remove barriers or address problems related to lack of performance
      • Programs that engage parents in supporting their student’s achievement in reading, math or the pursuit of graduation and/or enrollment in higher education
      • Research studies, surveys or other activities to identify gaps and needs
    • Higher Education:
      • Student counseling or advising services that help students navigate the process of enrollment in a higher ed program
      • Programs that increase access / remove barriers to enrollment or the pursuit of higher ed
      • Teacher/school administrator or counselor training needed to fully understand the higher education landscape, what is available to students and how to access it
      • Student preparation, awareness, incentive or other campaigns or efforts that drive enrollment and attainment
      • Research studies, surveys or other activities to identify gaps and needs
• Economic Opportunity:
  • The following are examples of the types of programs we seek in support of the Economic Opportunity priority and goals.
    • Small Business Development:
      • Programs that provide training or skill-building to entrepreneurs on start-up or growth
      • Access to capital programs
      • Other support services that drive start-up, expansion or retention
      • Research studies, surveys or other activities to identify gaps and needs among small business owners
    • Affordable Housing:
      • Loan funds or other resource programs that help families access housing options or make housing more affordable for them
      • Housing improvement programs that allow families to stay in safe, quality housing
      • Research studies, surveys or other activities to identify gaps, needs or viable models
    • Other Economic Opportunity:
      • Programs that provide transportation to health, education, recreation or other critical activities
      • Programs that increase the availability of and access to quality healthcare facilities and services
      • Projects that create or improve parks or other recreational activities
      • Projects that improve or eliminate blight or beautify high traffic areas in the community
      • Restoration of lands for habitat or public use
      • Projects that improve river or waterway health
• Capacity and Leadership:
  • The following are examples of the types of programs we seek in support of the Resiliency, Capacity and Leadership priority and goals.
    • Programs that provide leadership or other skills for staff, board, volunteers or other community constituents to improve organizational or community performance.
    • Organizational self-assessment or diagnoses activities to determine gaps and needs.
    • Efforts to develop leadership succession plans that protect and prolong organizational effectiveness.
    • Planning initiatives to evaluate, identify and/or consider supports needed to weather future economic disruptions (commodities market or global economy downturns, health pandemics, technological disruptors to the future of jobs/economies, etc.)
    • Programs, training or other efforts that aid organizations in understanding the broader social context of which they are part and how they can collectively mobilize to address community needs and create resiliency.
    • The development of leadership networks as a tool for transformative social change and amplifying impact across social systems or issues.
    • Projects to increase citizen engagement in solving or addressing community challenges or opportunities.

This philosophy includes securing and maintaining our social license to operate and delivering transformation through robust stakeholder engagement and consultation, social investment, and impact evaluation. 

Funding

Your program or project must directly benefit those living in the communities outlined below. Requests should be for more than $10,000. Requests for less than $10,000 may be eligible for funding from one of our site operations. Typically, awards are between $500 and $5,000.

Requests of $10,000+ should be submitted to the Freeport-McMoRan Foundation via the appropriate Investment Fund must meet the criteria of those grant programs. 

Background

Women of color contribute immensely to the health, well-being, and advancement of our communities. They mobilize grassroots movements that create real change, they are thought leaders who shape our understanding of gender and race, and they are uniquely positioned to lead us into a better future because of their lived experiences. At the same time, women of color face greater disparities in health outcomes, pay, wealth, access to capital, and more. 

Women and girls of color are immense assets to our communities, yet women and girls of color receive just .5% of all foundation funding. The Women & Girls of Color Fund is a community-developed, community-led field-of-interest fund dedicated to investing in and partnering with women-of-color-led organizations that are committed to building economic power and dismantling oppressive systems through direct service or community organizing. Our approach will focus on elevating women and girls of color across the state of Colorado to create a better future for all of us.

Grantmaking priorities

Our funding priorities are grounded in increasing investments in Colorado women and girls of color, their leadership, their futures, and their economic security.

Led by Women and Girls of Color

Women of color Grantee organizations will be led by women of color executive directors.

Focused on Women and Girls of Color

 Programs we fund will have a focus on the power and potential of women and girls of color. 

Colorado-based and Colorado-focused

Colorado is a large and diverse state. Grantees will take a range of approaches to advancing the economic security of women and girls of color based on their specific communities' needs.

Liberatory Leadership

Grantees will not only reject systems of racism, classism, homophobia, and patriarchy, they will also demonstrate radical practices of liberatory leadership such as self care and collective leadership.

Advancing Economic Security

The fund will support programs that advance the economic security of women and girls of color. 

Those Most Underfunded

Following principles of intersectionality, the Women & Girls of Color Fund will prioritize those communities marginalized by multiple systems of oppression and most underfunded.

Our Focus

Children are more likely to thrive when caregivers, families and communities experience opportunities for health and well-being. We believe all children, youth and families deserve equitable access to systems of support.

Partnering to promote public policy advocacy and systems change can promote justice and equity and achieve the greatest good for the greatest number of people in Colorado.

What We Fund

Caring for Colorado seeks to create lasting, meaningful and broad change that improves the lives of children for generations to come. We support public policy advocacy as a central tool for advancing our mission.

Public policy advocacy funding can support general operating, capacity building, network and coalition building, research and analysis, public education, policy implementation engagement and monitoring, leadership development, polling, nonpartisan voter education, regulatory efforts, and, in some cases, limited lobbying.

Public Policy Advocacy

Caring for Colorado funds public policy advocacy at local and state levels to support efforts that improve health, well-being and opportunity for children, youth, and families in Colorado. We prioritize work that aligns with the foundation’s Guiding Principles.

Statewide

We fund statewide public policy advocacy efforts that improve access to high quality health care for children, youth, and families experiencing barriers to care or support efforts to strengthen or expand public programs or benefits to help families prosper.

Children, youth, and their families must be a core component of an organization’s advocacy agenda, and the organization must explicitly work to create or improve policies that reduce economic, racial and gender-based inequities.

Local

We fund local policy advocacy efforts that respond to emergent or urgent issues, or capitalize on new opportunities to improve health, well-being and opportunity for children, youth, and their families.

Youth-Led

We fund policy advocacy efforts that partner with young people to identify and respond to issues that affect youth health, well-being, and opportunity.