City of Fort Collins Neighborhood Mini-Grant

The Western Colorado Community Foundation's 2024 Community Grants, themed "Youth Outside and Offline," is designed to foster healthy development in young people by encouraging outdoor activities and promoting responsible technology use. This initiative aligns with the foundation's broader mission to support nonprofits and strengthen communities across its seven-county service area in Western Colorado by addressing critical community needs through targeted funding. The program primarily targets youth participating in after-school and out-of-school programs within Delta, Eagle, Garfield, Mesa, Montrose, Ouray, and Rio Blanco Counties. The core impact goals are to get youth engaged in outdoor activities, teach healthy ways to use technology, reduce screen time, and ensure safe engagement with social media. This focus aims to counteract the potential negative effects of excessive screen time and encourage a balanced lifestyle for young individuals. The grant prioritizes programs that actively get youth outside, offering a variety of activities that promote physical activity and connection with nature. Simultaneously, a significant focus is placed on educating youth about responsible technology use, including strategies to reduce screen time and navigate social media safely. These dual priorities reflect a comprehensive approach to youth well-being in the digital age. Expected outcomes include an increase in youth participation in outdoor activities, improved understanding and adoption of healthy technology habits, and a measurable reduction in recreational screen time. Successful programs will also demonstrate an enhancement in youth's ability to engage with social media responsibly. The foundation's strategic priority through this theme is to invest in programs that build resilient, healthy communities by supporting the positive development of its youngest members, embodying a theory of change that posits that a balanced and informed approach to technology, combined with outdoor engagement, leads to healthier and more engaged youth. The Western Colorado Community Foundation awards approximately $100,000 annually in community grants, with individual grant sizes ranging from $10,000 to $100,000. Eligible applicants must be registered 501(c)(3) organizations or other qualified charitable entities, such as schools, churches, or government entities, serving the specified counties and registered in good standing with the Colorado Secretary of State. This structured approach ensures that funding reaches credible organizations capable of delivering meaningful impact.