The Boulder County Parks & Open Space Foundation is accepting applications for its 2025 project funding cycle. The Foundation, which serves as the nonprofit supporting organization for the Boulder County Parks & Open Space department, was established in 2004 and is funded by donations from community members. Its mission is to strengthen public connections with the Parks & Open Space department by raising private funds, fostering innovative projects, encouraging partnerships, and promoting community involvement. The Foundation operates as a Colorado nonprofit corporation and is recognized as a tax-exempt supporting organization under Section 509(a)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

For the 2025 cycle, the Foundation encourages applications for projects that demonstrate innovation, require seed funding, fill funding gaps, or deliver benefits to historically marginalized communities. In addition, collaborative projects that foster partnerships with other organizations are especially encouraged. The Foundation typically funds projects for up to three years, though the final determination will be made by the Foundation board.

To apply, interested parties must complete the application form and submit a required budget spreadsheet. Both documents must be emailed to ParksFoundationInfo@bouldercounty.gov. The submission deadline is Wednesday, March 19, 2025. The Foundation’s board will review and discuss proposals during their meeting on April 8, 2025, and applicants will be notified of funding decisions by mid-April.

Recent grants from the Foundation have supported a variety of projects, including cultural events for the San Lazaro community, funding for a working dog for park rangers, native plant education and giveaways, an ADA-accessible garden plot, preservation of Native American tree carvings, ceremonial site improvements, program enhancements for outdoor exploration, and food justice initiatives led by Indigenous groups. Awards ranged from $2,263 to $60,000 in the most recent funding cycle.

The grant is open to applicants who have projects aligned with the Foundation’s mission and focus areas within Boulder County. The grant does not explicitly limit eligibility to certain organization types, but projects must demonstrate relevance to parks, open space, community engagement, or natural and cultural resource enhancement.

For questions, applicants can contact Vivienne Jannatpour at (303) 678-6277. Additional information about the Foundation and its work can be found on the Boulder County Parks & Open Space Foundation website. The grant opened for applications on January 24, 2025, and the deadline to apply is March 19, 2025, with awards expected to be announced in mid-April 2025.