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Our Grantmaking
Since 1996, the Western Colorado Community Foundation (WCCF) has been committed to building philanthropic resources that sustain healthy and vital western Colorado communities. Through our grantmaking, WCCF invests in and improves the quality of life in the seven counties we serve. WCCF distributes grants from dozens of donor-directed funds in accordance with our donors’ wishes. In 2019, WCCF awarded $3.6 million in grants across our region. Most grant awards (81%) are donor-directed, and nonprofit organizations cannot apply for grants from donor-directed funds.
Nonprofit organizations can register through our online grants system to access the grant opportunities below. Nonprofits are encouraged to register and fill out the WCCF Request for Funding (RFF) as an informal means to share information on their organization’s mission with WCCF, as staff may be aware of donor-directed funds that would have an interest in supporting specific areas of service.
Invisible
WCCF REQUEST FOR FUNDING
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 submit a summary of their 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. 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 through our contact form.
Create your RFFBRAY CARES FOUNDATION
Resources for Housing Related Needs in Mesa County
This process will open again in September 2020 with a new deadline, to be determined based on the committee review schedule.
The Bray Cares Foundation supports organizations that operate within Mesa County to provide support for housing-related needs.
BROWNSON MEMORIAL FUND
Resources for Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment
This process closed for applications on June 30, 2020 and will open again in 2021.
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 $370,000 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.
Apply hereMARY FERGUSON CARBONDALE TEACHER MINI-GRANTS
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 cycle ran in Spring 2020 and is currently closed until 2021.
MESA COUNTY SMALL GRANTS
Small Grants that Make a Difference
This process will open again in the summer of 2020 with a new deadline, to be determined based on the committee review schedule.
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.
MT. CALLAHAN COMMUNITY FUND
Grant application will return in 2021.
The Mt. Callahan Community Fund was established in 2002, by local community leaders to benefit the people in communities from Parachute to Battlement Mesa.
SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNITY FUND
This process will open again in the summer of 2020 with a new deadline, to be determined based on the committee review schedule.
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.
Process opens Monday, August 3, 2020 and the deadline to apply is Friday, September 18, 2020, by 5pm MST.
Submit ApplicationSURFACE CREEK COMMUNITY FUND
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.
Process opens Monday, August 3, 2020 and the deadline to apply is Friday, September 18, 2020, by 5pm MST.
Submit ApplicationT.R.U.E. GRANTS FUND
Click here to read full brochure
This process will open again in the summer of 2020 with a new deadline, to be determined based on the committee review schedule.
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. This year, in celebration of the Two Rivers Community Foundation’s 20th Anniversary, the TRUE grants committee would like applicants to document how this year’s funding will help their organizations grow and have impact over the next 20 years.
Process opens Friday, August 14, 2020 and the deadline to apply is Friday, September 18, 2020, by 5pm MST.
Submit ApplicationTRUTTA FUND SUPPORTING VETERANS
Funding Available for Organizations Serving Veterans in Mesa and Delta Counties
This grant application cycle is open as of June 15, 2020 and the deadline to apply is August 17, 2020.
Apply hereOURAY COUNTY COMMUNITY FUND
This process will open again in the summer of 2020 with a new deadline, to be determined based on the committee review schedule.
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.
Process opens Monday, August 3, 2020 and the deadline to apply is Friday, September 18, 2020, by 5pm MST.
Submit Application
Click to read full brochure
WESTERN COLORADO HEALTH FUND
Improving Access to Health Care
This process will open again in the summer of 2020 with a new deadline, to be determined based on the committee review schedule.
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.
WEST ELK COMMUNITY FUND
This process will open again in the summer of 2020 with a new deadline, to be determined based on the committee review schedule.
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.
Process opens Monday, August 3, 2020 and the deadline to apply is Friday, September 18, 2020, by 5pm MST.
Submit Application
Click to read full brochure
Grant Guidelines
- Applicants must register an account in our Online Grant Center in order to access an application or a request for funding (RFF – first step in Invitation Only grant funding).
- Applicants must be a registered nonprofit organization with a current IRS Tax Exempt status. No grants will be made to individuals. www.irs.gov/Charities-&-Non-Profits/Charitable-Organizations. See more information and guidelines for grants to churches, schools and other charitable, tax-exempt organizations.
- Organizations should be registered with the State of Colorado and be in full compliance with Colorado’s Charitable Solicitations Law. https://www.sos.state.co.us/.
- Organizations must serve within the seven counties in our region.
- See more information and guidelines.
Grant FAQ’s
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How do I register my organization in the Online Grant System?
What is the application deadline?
What size grant should we request?
Can I apply for a grant from a donor-advised fund?
Templates for Grant Applicants
Churches and Schools Without CO SOS #
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.