Western Colorado Community Foundation’s 2022 Request For Funding (RFF)  is an opportunity for nonprofit organizations to submit requests to the Western Colorado Community Foundation (WCCF) for either general operating support/project support or smaller capital requests under $25,000. The RFF is not a competitive application, and is reviewed quarterly by the WCCF Grants and Program Team for consideration for funding across our fund portfolio. These may include:

Animal Welfare
Arts and Culture
Children’s Health
Disadvantaged Youth
Education
Environment and Outdoor Recreation
Hunger
Housing
Youth Prevention and Wellness

Note: Please ensure you are in the correct process or application once logged into our grant system. Any open competitive grant applications will be visible in the “apply” section of your dashboard, including our geographic based Local Community Funds.

If seeking capital funds of $25,000 or over, please fill out the 2022 Capital Campaign Request for Funding.

Resources for Housing Related Needs in Mesa County

The Bray Cares Foundation supports organizations that operate within Mesa County to provide support for housing-related needs.

Now in it’s third year of funding, the Bray Cares Foundation awarded grants to five organizations to address this issue in 2020, including Grand Valley Catholic Outreach, HomewardBound, Joseph Center, and Karis, among others.

Any time you access the system, there may be other application opportunities open. Please ensure you are applying to the correct funding opportunity.

Applications for 2022 will be open from September 1, 2022 to October 7, 2022.

​Formerly the Bridge House, the Brownson Memorial Fund affiliated with WCCF in 2004, becoming WCCF’s first field of interest fund. Since 1985, the Brownson Memorial Fund has granted over $430,000 to organizations addressing substance abuse prevention and treatment in Mesa County. The Mesa County Substance Use Resource Guide was created as a result of a partnership between the Brownson Memorial Fund and the Mesa County Opioid Response Group.

Read the latest newsletter here.

Applications for 2022 are now OPEN, and close July 15.

The fund awarded grants to the following organizations for 2021:

• Counseling and Education Center: Bilingual Addiction Counseling
• Girls on the Run Grand Valley: Heart and Soul for D51 Middle Schools
• Grand Valley Catholic Outreach: La Mariposa
• HomewardBound of the Grand Valley: Recovery Living Program
• Karis, Inc.; Recovery Advocacy for Homeless Youth
• MarillacHealth: Warrior Wellness Center
• Mesa County Partners: DTOC-Care and Share, and Substance Abuse Prevention Classes
• Mind Springs Foundation: Women’s Recovery Center
• Peer 180 Recovery Community: Circle of Parents Recovery Group
• Riverside Educational Center: After School Substance Use Prevention
• Western Colorado Area Health Education Center: Mesa County Opioid Response Group

Any time you access the system, there may be other application opportunities open. Please ensure you are applying to the correct funding opportunity.

These grants are for the purpose of improving education by supporting special projects, professional development of teachers, classroom environment improvements, field trips, etc.

Applicants must be a certified teacher (no administrative or support staff) from one of the following schools:

Crystal River Elementary
Carbondale Community School
Carbondale Middle School
Roaring Fork High School
Ross Montessori
Bridges High School

Up to $1,000 in funding may be requested. The review committee will make final selections and candidates will be informed of the outcome.

This grant application is currently closed.

Any time you access the system, there may be other application opportunities open. Please ensure you are applying to the correct funding opportunity.

The Mt. Callahan Community Fund was established in 2002, by local community leaders to benefit the people in communities from Parachute to Battlement Mesa. This fund is no longer accepting competitive applications.  Nonprofits serving this geographic area should submit a Request for Funding (RFF) that will be reviewed quarterly, and submissions will be informed of their status within the following month of the close of the quarter. Please plan to submit an RFF within the first 3 quarters of the funding year.

Any time you access the system, there may be other application opportunities open. Please ensure you are applying to the correct funding opportunity.

Click to read full brochure

The Ouray County Community Fund was established as an endowed fund by local community leaders in Ouray County in order to build resources to help local nonprofits through annual grant distributions.

Application for funding from The Ouray County Community Fund will open August 1, 2022 and close September 9, 2022. 

Since its establishment in 2016, the Ouray County Community Fund has distributed $209,004. in grants to nonprofits in Ouray County.

Any time you access the system, there may be other application opportunities open. Please ensure you are applying to the correct funding opportunity.

The San Juan County Community Fund (SJCCF) was established by local community leaders in order to help local nonprofits through the distribution of annual grants. This is made possible with support from both the Western Colorado Community Foundation – Dave and Mary Wood Fund, and Citizens State Bank.

Citizens State Bank (CSB) has been in operation for over 100 years with locations in Ouray, Ridgway, Silverton and Naturita. CSB partners with people and businesses to make the communities they serve successful today and sustainable tomorrow.

Application for funding from San Juan County Community Fund will open August 1, 2022 and close September 9, 2022. 

Since its establishment in 2018, the San Juan County Community Fund has distributed $41,000. in grants to nonprofits.

Any time you access the system, there may be other application opportunities open. Please ensure you are applying to the correct funding opportunity.

The Suicide Prevention and Awareness Fund was formed in 2018 for the purposes of supporting programs and initiatives that promote awareness, education, advocacy, and collaboration towards the prevention of suicide among all age groups and demographics in Mesa County.

Applicants must be a 501(c)3 or other tax-exempt charitable entity as defined by the IRS, such as a school or church. Organizations should also be registered and in good standing with the Colorado Secretary of State.

Applications for 2022 will be open from October 1, 2022 to October 29, 2022.

Grants typically range from $1,000 – $5,000.

The new Surface Creek Community Fund was established in 2019 by local community leaders to benefit the towns of Austin, Cedaredge, Cory, Eckert, and Orchard City in Delta County.

Application for funding from Surface Creek Community Fund will open August 1, 2022 and close September 9, 2022. 

Since its establishment in 2019, the Surface Creek Community Fund has distributed $27,750. in grants to nonprofits in the towns of Austin, Cedaredge, Cory, Eckert, and Orchard City in Delta County.

To learn more about Surface Creek Community Fund click here.

Any time you access the system, there may be other application opportunities open. Please ensure you are applying to the correct funding opportunity.

Click here to read full brochure

The Two Rivers Unrestricted Endowment Fund (T.R.U.E.) was established in 2018, by local community leaders to benefit the people in communities from Carbondale to New Castle. The theme for 2021 funding was: Make an Impact. Rebuild and Renew your organization.

Application for funding from T.R.U.E Grants Fund will open August 1, 2022 and close September 9, 2022. 

Since its establishment in 2017, the T.R.U.R Grants Fund has distributed $39,250. in grants to nonprofits in communities from Carbondale to New Castle.

Any time you access the system, there may be other application opportunities open. Please ensure you are applying to the correct funding opportunity.

Funding Available for Organizations Serving Veterans in Mesa, Delta, and Montrose Counties

Eligible organizations must be a qualified 501 (c) (3), public school, or tax-exempt public service agency providing services within Mesa, Delta and/or Montrose County

The Trutta Fund is managed by the Western Colorado Community Foundation and supports organizations that serve veterans and their families. The Fund is named in honor of the USS Trutta SS 421, to support and give back to those who served.

Applications open on July 6, 2022. The deadline to apply is August 12, 2022.

Any time you access the online grant system, there may be other application opportunities open. Please ensure you are applying to the correct funding opportunity.

The fund awarded grants to the following organizations for 2021:

• Western Slope Veterans Coalition
• HomewardBound of the Grand Valley
• Harmony Acres Equestrian Center
• Operation Revamp Inc. – Veterans Art Center
• Colorado Department of Military and Veterans Affairs

Any time you access the system, there may be other application opportunities open. Please ensure you are applying to the correct funding opportunity.

Click to read full brochure

WECF grant funding is available to organizations that primarily operate within the three communities we serve (Hotchkiss, Paonia and Crawford). This funding is made possible from WECF’s community grants endowment and from generous donors in the North Fork Valley.

Application for funding from West Elk Community Fund will open August 1, 2022 and close September 9, 2022. 

Since its establishment in 2018, the West Elk Community Fund has distributed $93,315 in grants to nonprofits in North Fork Valley.

Any time you access the system, there may be other application opportunities open. Please ensure you are applying to the correct funding opportunity.

 Improving Access to Health Care

Applications for 2022 will be open from October 1, 2022 to October 29, 2022.

The Western Colorado Health Fund offers funding for clinics, hospitals and other organizations to address issues of access to health care and to improve health care delivery in smaller, rural communities in our region. Tax-exempt organizations with programs to improve resident health through innovative or creative staffing arrangements, new technologies or other program, system or infrastructure investments are invited to submit an application. Preference will be given to programs serving less populated communities.

Any time you access the system, there may be other application opportunities open. Please ensure you are applying to the correct funding opportunity.

Please review the information in at Online Grant Center before registering as a user. Once you have reviewed the process, you may register a new user account. The system is very user friendly and will walk you through everything you need to know,  but you can access these tutorials to understand the process before creating an account.

Each grant opportunity has its own application deadline.  Be sure to check under each individual opportunity for the correct deadline.

Each grant opportunity has its own funding range. Please refer to the description and purpose of the grant opportunity for more detail.

There is no application process for donor-advised funds. Donors that have established donor advised funds make grants to nonprofit organizations based on their own areas of interest. Nonprofit organizations are encouraged to register their organization through our Online Grant Center as an informal means to share information with WCCF staff. WCCF staff may be aware of donor-directed funds that would have an interest in supporting your organization or project.

General Project Budget Template

Capital Budget Template
EXAMPLE Capital Budget Template

If you are applying on behalf of a charitable organization (such as a church or school) that is not registered with the Colorado Secretary of State then you can fill in the CO SOS number as zeros.