Thriving Communities Grants

The City of Golden’s Thriving Communities Grant program will award $150,000 in 2026 to support community-focused programs and projects that align with City Council goals and can be implemented during the 2026 calendar year. These grants are intended to enhance quality of life, foster community connection, and help residents thrive through educational, recreational, wellness, and innovative initiatives. The program includes both general operating and project-specific support, as well as capital grants and smaller mini-grants. Thriving Communities Grants are open to a broad range of applicants. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, individuals, and other organizations, including those with fiscal sponsors. All applicants must propose projects that take place within Golden city limits or directly serve Golden residents. The initiative excludes funding for housing or food insecurity, but prioritizes projects with a strong local focus, especially those that address quality of life, community building, youth programming, recreation, mental health, or senior services. Two types of applications are accepted under this program. The Operations, Program/Project, and Capital Grant application is for requests including operational support and small capital projects (with capital requests capped at $10,000). The Mini-Grant application is for smaller-scale projects requesting less than $5,000. Applicants may apply for both types but must submit separate applications for each. Regardless of type, all projects must be completed in the 2026 calendar year. Funding beyond 2026 is not guaranteed. Applications must be submitted by October 10, 2025, at 10:00 p.m. Mountain Time. Submissions received after this deadline will not be considered. Grant awards will be announced by December 15, 2025, and funds will be disbursed as a one-time lump sum payment after January 1, 2026, upon execution of a standard City contract. Reporting requirements include submission of a final grant report, with templates and guidance provided upon award notification. Each application will be reviewed by a community committee that makes funding recommendations to the Golden City Manager’s Office. Evaluation criteria include completeness of application materials, clarity of benefit to the Golden community, feasibility of completing the project in 2026, and defined metrics for success. Priority will be given to applicants that demonstrate financial need, propose an expansion of services, address urgent needs, or leverage unique opportunities. All applicants are subject to additional provisions. They must operate transparently with financial statements available for inspection, comply with all applicable laws and ordinances, and avoid conflicts of interest. Any change in project scope, budget, or timeline must receive prior approval from the grant administrator. Grant funds must be used only for the purposes stated in the application and may not result in personal or related-party financial benefit. Funded recipients are required to acknowledge support from the City of Golden Thriving Community Grant Program in all relevant public-facing materials. For further questions or application guidance, interested parties are encouraged to contact Grant Administrator Sarah Vaine at svaine@cityofgolden.net well before the deadline.

Contact the grant administrator early to determine correct application type. Complete all attachments and submit separately for operations and capital if applying for both.