The Community Impact program is administered by Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), an organization committed to preserving, enhancing, and promoting outdoor spaces across the state of Colorado. GOCO invests a portion of Colorado Lottery proceeds in outdoor recreation, land conservation, and wildlife projects. Through this funding stream, GOCO partners with local communities and government agencies to ensure equitable access to nature and enhance quality of life for Colorado residents.
The purpose of the Community Impact program is to support the planning and construction of outdoor infrastructure that improves community access to nature. This includes parks, trails, natural areas, and similar outdoor spaces. Additionally, grant funding can be allocated toward stewardship work, which focuses on maintaining and preserving natural assets.
Eligible applicants include a variety of public and nonprofit entities in Colorado. These are limited to Colorado cities, towns, and counties; Title 32 special districts; land conservation organizations involved in acquiring open space; political subdivisions of the State of Colorado with a mission centered on open space and natural area management; and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Eligibility is restricted to organizations with a Colorado base and focus.
Grant awards range from $100,000 to $2,000,000 per project, with the possibility of a revised award amount based on project assessment. Beginning in fiscal year 2027 (July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027), GOCO will offer a limited number of grants above $2,000,000, selecting no more than one or two projects for this level of funding per cycle.
The program follows a two-cycle annual schedule. For the first cycle, concept papers are due by July 24, 2025, invitations to apply are issued on August 8, 2025, and full applications must be submitted by September 11, 2025. Awards will be announced on December 12, 2025. The second cycle begins with concept papers due January 15, 2026, followed by invitations on January 30, 2026, application submissions by March 5, 2026, and award notifications in June 2026.
Prospective applicants are encouraged to review the Community Impact Program Guidance and Concept Paper document to prepare competitive proposals. GOCO offers several resources to support applicants, including successful project examples, strategy guides, and design best practices. Interested applicants should contact their regional officer for tailored assistance.
