CCCF Community Grants

The 2026 Community Grants program represents a consolidated effort by multiple funders to streamline and enhance grantmaking for nonprofits and public-serving organizations operating within the communities of Chaffee, Custer, Fremont, and Lake Counties in Colorado. This newly unified grant process combines what were previously separate spring and fall grant cycles into a single annual opportunity. The total estimated funding available through this cycle is $196,000, pooled from five distinct partners: Sangre de Cristo Electric Association (SDCEA), Monarch Mountain Community Outreach, City of Salida, Town of Buena Vista, and the Chaffee County Community Foundation (CCCF) itself. Each of these contributors supports local impact through tailored focus areas and funding goals. Applicants may apply through one centralized portal, regardless of which specific fund or funds they are targeting. The application window for the 2026 cycle is open from January 26 to February 27. Detailed eligibility requirements, application content, and deadlines were expected to be posted by mid-December 2025. Interested applicants are encouraged to review these details on the CCCF website, and to ensure all previously funded projects have submitted final reports, as outstanding reporting will disqualify organizations from consideration. Applications must be submitted online via the Grant Portal. Each funding partner contributes under different thematic priorities. For example, SDCEA’s grant fund—allocating $35,000—prioritizes health services, human services, disaster preparedness, animal welfare, and environmental or historical preservation efforts. Projects must serve residents in one or more of Chaffee, Custer, Fremont, or Lake Counties. In contrast, CCCF’s own fund focuses more broadly on strengthening community health, vitality, and capacity within Chaffee County specifically. Its allocation for the 2025 fall round was $16,666, distributed among nonprofits with missions aligning with these themes. Organizations are encouraged to apply for one or both funding pools, as applicable, using a single unified application. To be eligible, organizations must be 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), or 501(c)(6) nonprofits, or government entities, and must be in good standing with the IRS and the Colorado Secretary of State. Fiscal sponsorship is permitted provided that the sponsor is eligible and the agreement is formalized. While there is no maximum request amount, award sizes in previous cycles ranged from $800 to $4,800, with an average grant of $1,640. Requests should reflect true project needs while being mindful of total available funds and competitiveness. Not all applications will be funded, and partial funding may occur based on reviewer recommendations. The review process is multi-tiered. Initially, applications are screened for completeness and compliance. Following this, a review committee composed of two residents from each eligible county independently reviews and ranks proposals. Applicants may be asked to participate in interviews to clarify aspects of their submission. The committee then meets to deliberate and finalize recommendations, factoring in site visit reports and program budgets. Grant award notifications are expected by late October 2026, and payments will be processed within ten business days following execution of the grant agreement. All grant-funded activities must be completed, and final reports submitted by July 31, 2026. Any organization with incomplete reports from previous awards will be ineligible to receive funding. The program is expected to continue on an annual basis, with this 2026 cycle serving as the singular application window for the year. Interested applicants should monitor the CCCF website and Grant Portal for updates and supporting documents. Questions or report status inquiries may be directed to [email protected].

Clearly define community needs and outcomes; support application with data and detailed program budgets.