The Western Colorado Community Foundation (WCCF) offers nonprofit organizations an open Request for Funding (RFF) opportunity as a means to share information with our grants team about funding needs.  This is not an application process and there is no guarantee of funding, since the majority of our grant making is donor-advised/donor directed.  The RFF is an opportunity for organizations to fill out a brief summary of funding needs (general operating, project/program or capital campaign) so that the grant team can determine if there is a good fit with one of our donor-advised or field of interest funds.  In some cases (requests under $5,000) the RFF will be enough for our team to make a determination, in the event there is a funding opportunity.  Other RFF’s may be asked to submit a more detailed application to further determine whether funding is available.   The RFF is available to organizations that operate within the seven counties we serve (Delta, Eagle, Garfield, Mesa, Montrose, Ouray and Rio Blanco).

Eligible organizations must be a qualified 501(c)(3), public school or tax-exempt public service agency providing services within WCCF’s seven county region.  Organizations should also be registered with the Colorado Secretary of State and be in good standing.

Questions should be directed to Tedi Gillespie, Director of Grants and Community Outreach at tgillespie@wc-cf.org.

Resources for Housing Related Needs in Mesa County

This site is under construction.  Please check back after May 1, 2019.

Resources for Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment

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 $350,000 to organizations addressing substance abuse prevention and treatment in Mesa County. Deadline is June 30th, annually.

The Community Grants for the Environment funding opportunity is available to organizations that operate within the seven counties we serve (Delta, Eagle, Garfield, Mesa, Montrose, Ouray and Rio Blanco). This funding is made possible from WCCF’s community grants endowment and from generous donors across western Colorado.
Goal of 2019 Community Grants for the Environment: To fund projects that protect and enhance the environment in western Colorado.
Primary areas of focus are projects that:
• Reduce, reuse and recycle in order to conserve resources
• Expand composting and reduce food waste
• Promote clean air and clean water
• Foster community awareness and stewardship of our natural resources
• Engage youth in learning and leadership opportunities around these issues
Additional guidance
• Preference will be given to projects that involve collaboration across organizations and those that develop alignments between atypical partners.
• Grants will not support marketing or sponsorship of an event.
• Funding may not be used for direct lobbying activities.
Funding Range: Grants will be awarded in the $2,500-$10,000 range. Funding is intended to have a concrete and demonstrable impact on protecting the environment in our region.
Criteria: Eligible organizations must be a 501 (c) (3) or other qualified charitable entity, recognized by the IRS and working within WCCF’s seven county region. Organizations should also be registered with the Colorado Secretary of State and be in good standing.
Process: Grant requests should be submitted via WCCF’s website http://wc-cf.org/nonprofits/grantmaking/ by the application deadline, July 19, 2019, 5pm MST. Organizations must first register in WCCF’s Online Grants Center. For a quick overview or our new Online Grant Center click here, then register to access our applications.
Proposals will be reviewed by WCCF’s Grant Committee and applicants will be notified of their status by August 15, 2019. For more information, contact Tedi Gillespie, Director of Grants and Community Outreach at tgillespie@wc-cf.org.
Submit application

Small Grants that Make a Difference

The community leaders who established this fund are fond of quoting Eleanor Roosevelt, “Energy can be generated for the solution of all kinds of problems by having a small amount of money in the right place.”  Mesa County Small Grants are available for Mesa County projects where a modest amount of dollars ($200 to $500) in the right places will make a difference. Deadline is October 1, 2018.

Note: WCCF is transitioning to an on-line grants management system for all application processes, starting June 1, 2018.  Thank you for your patience while this transition is in process.  Please check back after June 15th, on the specific tabs below, for more information, timeline and detailed instructions on how to apply.

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.  The OCCF grant application process will open July 15th, 2018 and the deadline to apply is September 15, 2018.  All applicants will be required to register in the system in order to have access to the application.  All applicants, including new, former, and those that have an organizational summary on file, will need to create a new account when accessing the system for the first time.  Once you have created an account, this application will be available on your dashboard, starting July 15.  For questions or or problems with submitting an application, email tgillespie@wc-cf.org.

For a list of OCCF grants for the current year, click here.

The San Juan County Community Fund was established as an endowed fund by local community leaders in San Juan County, in order to build resources to help local nonprofits through annual grant distributions.  The SJCCF grant application process will open July 15th, 2018 and the deadline to apply is September 15, 2018.  All applicants will be required to register in the system in order to have access to the application.  All applicants, including new, former, and those that have an organizational summary on file, will need to create a new account when accessing the system for the first time.  Once you have created an account, this application will be available on your dashboard, starting July 15.  For questions or or problems with submitting an application, email tgillespie@wc-cf.org.

The  Two Rivers Unrestricted Endowment (T.R.U.E)  Fund was established as an endowed fund by local community leaders in Garfield County in order to build resources to help local nonprofits through annual grant distributions. Non-profit organizations providing services to people from the communities throughout Glenwood Springs, Carbondale, New Castle and surrounding communities are eligible to apply.

The T.R.U.E. grant application process will open July 15th, 2018 and the deadline to apply is September 15, 2018.  All applicants will be required to register in the system in order to have access to the application.  All applicants, including new, former, and those that have an organizational summary on file, will need to create a new account when accessing the system for the first time.  Once you have created an account, this application will be available on your dashboard, starting July 15.  For questions or or problems with submitting an application, email tgillespie@wc-cf.org.

Note: WCCF is transitioning to an on-line grants management system for all application processes, starting June 1, 2018.  Thank you for your patience while this transition is in process.  Please check back after June 15th, on the specific tabs below, for more information, timeline and detailed instructions on how to apply.

 Improving Access to Health Care

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. Deadline is October 1, 2018.

Note: WCCF is transitioning to an on-line grants management system for all application processes, starting June 1, 2018.  Thank you for your patience while this transition is in process.  Please check back after June 15th, on the specific tabs below, for more information, timeline and detailed instructions on how to apply.

The West Elk Community Fund was established as an endowed fund by local community leaders in the West Elk region (Crawford, Hotchkiss, Paonia), in order to build resources to help local nonprofits through annual grant distributions.  The WECF grant application process will open July 15th, 2018 and the deadline to apply is September 15, 2018.  All applicants will be required to register in the system in order to have access to the application.  All applicants, including new, former, and those that have an organizational summary on file, will need to create a new account when accessing the system for the first time.  Once you have created an account, this application will be available on your dashboard, starting July 15.  For questions or or problems with submitting an application, email tgillespie@wc-cf.org.

Note: WCCF is transitioning to an on-line grants management system for all application processes, starting June 1, 2018.  Thank you for your patience while this transition is in process.  Please check back after June 30th, for more information, timeline and detailed instructions on how to apply.