Local Community Funds

The Western Colorado Community Foundation administers the Local Community Funds program, which is part of its broader mission to connect philanthropic resources with community needs across the western region of Colorado. The foundation was established in 1992 and is recognized for maintaining compliance with National Standards for US Community Foundations. Its role includes stewardship of donor contributions, oversight of community initiatives, and management of numerous charitable funds aimed at improving quality of life across multiple Colorado counties. The Local Community Funds (LCF) program for 2025 provides targeted grantmaking opportunities to nonprofits serving specific geographic regions within western Colorado. These include the Delta County Community Fund for organizations serving Delta, Colorado; the Ouray County Community Fund for Ouray County; the Surface Creek Community Fund for nonprofits in Austin, Cedaredge, Cory, Eckert, and Orchard City; the San Juan County Community Fund for San Juan County; the T.R.U.E. Fund for communities spanning Carbondale to New Castle; and the West Elk Community Fund for nonprofits serving Hotchkiss, Paonia, and Crawford. Each of these funds is designed to keep philanthropic resources within the communities where they were raised, ensuring localized impact and support for community-driven initiatives. The program is open to nonprofit organizations that qualify as 501(c)(3) entities or other eligible charitable entities such as schools, churches, or government organizations as recognized by the IRS. Funding is intended to support a broad range of community needs, depending on the priorities of each local fund. Grants may be used for general operating support, program or project-based activities, or community initiatives. The foundation emphasizes that applicants should ensure they are applying under the correct funding stream, as multiple grant opportunities may be available through the portal at any given time. Applications for the 2025 Local Community Funds cycle will open on August 11, 2025, and close on September 8, 2025, at 5:00 PM. The application process is conducted entirely online through the foundation’s Riverside Educational Center Grant Portal. Nonprofits should prepare required documentation and information about their programs, financials, and community impact to strengthen their proposals. The foundation encourages applicants to carefully review eligibility criteria and fund descriptions to confirm alignment with geographic and programmatic focus areas before submission. Evaluation of applications will be conducted by local advisory boards or committees associated with each fund, ensuring that grant awards are responsive to community-specific needs. Decisions will be based on organizational capacity, demonstrated community impact, alignment with fund priorities, and the ability to effectively use grant funding. The foundation does not provide a set minimum or maximum award amount for the Local Community Funds, nor does it specify total program funding, as these may vary depending on available resources in each fund and donor intent. For questions or assistance, applicants can contact the Western Colorado Community Foundation at its main office. The foundation can be reached at PO Box 4334, Grand Junction, CO 81502, or by phone at 970-243-3767. The office is open Monday through Friday, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, at the Center for Philanthropy building in Grand Junction. Additional information about the foundation and its compliance status can be found through resources such as Charity Navigator. Applicants are strongly encouraged to plan ahead and submit well before the deadline to ensure successful completion of the application process.