The Colorado Gives Foundation is offering a Food Security Grant Opportunity to support initiatives that improve access to food for residents of Jefferson County (Jeffco), Colorado. The funding aims to ensure the availability of local, healthy, and culturally relevant food. Grant funding decisions will be based on alignment with the foundation’s strategic priorities, the depth and breadth of services provided in Jeffco, adherence to guiding principles, a focus on populations experiencing food insecurity, and organizational size and budget. Additionally, the foundation reserves the right to partially fund requests.

The grant provides funding in the range of $10,000 to $100,000, with a typical annual allocation of $5,000 to $50,000. However, the funding amount awarded will not exceed 20% of an organization’s operating budget per grant opportunity. Eligible organizations must be actively working on initiatives that improve food security through activities such as increasing enrollment in public assistance programs like SNAP and WIC, expanding access to local food pantries, fostering connections between food producers and pantries to enhance distribution of nutritious and culturally relevant food, and advocating for policy changes that improve food access at the local, regional, and state levels.

To be eligible, applicants must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, an organization operating under the fiscal sponsorship of a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, or a government entity. Additionally, organizations must demonstrate a commitment to serving Jefferson County residents by providing data on the number of Jeffco residents served, the percentage of their budget allocated to Jeffco-related programs, or specific initiatives targeting Jeffco populations.

The application process opens on February 3, 2025, and applications must be submitted by February 23, 2025. The grant term will run from May 1, 2025, to December 31, 2026. Virtual office hours will be held on February 11 and February 19, 2025, to provide applicants with an opportunity to ask questions about the application process and strategic priorities.

Applicants must complete their applications through the Colorado Gives Foundation’s online portal. The foundation encourages potential applicants to review eligibility criteria, funding priorities, and application requirements before submission. Those seeking additional guidance can participate in the scheduled virtual office hours or contact the foundation directly for support.

The grant will be evaluated based on several factors, including alignment with strategic priorities, the scope of services provided in Jefferson County, the organization’s adherence to the foundation’s guiding principles, and its focus on populations experiencing food insecurity. The funding decisions will also consider organizational size, past budget performance, and the potential impact of the proposed initiatives.

For further inquiries, applicants can reach out to Kelly Degering, the Grants Manager, or visit the foundation’s online portal for additional resources and application tracking.