Summit County Government Grant Program

Summit County Government Non-profit Grant Program is a locally administered funding opportunity designed to support nonprofit organizations serving the Summit County community. Beginning in 2025, Summit County Government streamlined its grantmaking process into one to two funding request windows per calendar year, requiring all organizations seeking support to apply annually regardless of prior funding history. The program is administered through Summit County Government and reviewed by an internal Grant Review Committee before recommendations are forwarded to the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) for final approval. The program reflects the BOCC's commitment to investing in community-based services and initiatives that directly support residents of Summit County, Colorado, particularly historically marginalized and underserved populations. For the 2026 funding cycle, the BOCC established four core priority areas that applicants are encouraged to align with in order to strengthen competitiveness for funding consideration. These priorities include early childhood education, economic and food security, environmental sustainability, and providers of social services. Although the County encourages alignment with these strategic priorities, applications are accepted from any nonprofit organization operating within and serving the Summit County community. Funding is intended for programs or events occurring during Fiscal Year 2026. The County notes that awards may be approved for full funding, partial funding, or no funding at all depending on the quality of applications and alignment with current priorities. The application process is conducted entirely online through the official grant application portal. Applications submitted through email, postal mail, or other formats are not accepted. Applicants are instructed to gather and prepare all required documentation before beginning the online application because the system does not permit saving progress and returning later. Applications are not considered complete until all required supporting documents have been received. Summit County Government also notes that organizations eligible for specialized County funding programs, including Strong Future initiatives related to recycling, mental health, or early childhood services, may be redirected to those funding opportunities during the review process. Required documentation varies depending on the amount of funding requested. Applicants requesting $1,000 or less must submit an IRS Determination Letter, previous program budget, W9 form, and a detailed fee schedule or budget for the requested funding amount. Organizations requesting more than $1,000 must provide more extensive financial documentation, including an income statement, year-end balance sheet, year-to-date balance sheet, list of board trustees or directors, IRS Determination Letter, most recent audit or financial review, and W9 form. These requirements indicate that the County evaluates organizational financial stability, governance, and fiscal accountability in addition to programmatic alignment with community priorities. The application period for the second round of 2026 funding is currently open, with a final submission deadline of May 22, 2026. Following the close of the application window, Summit County Government's internal committee will review all submissions and develop recommendations for the Board of County Commissioners during June 2026. Final award determinations will be made by the BOCC after considering both the committee recommendations and the degree of alignment with current funding priorities. Contracts are expected to be finalized in June 2026, with award distributions anticipated in July 2026. The funding opportunity appears to be recurring on an annual basis because the County specifies that all organizations must apply every year and references annual funding cycles. The program does not specify a required cost-sharing or matching contribution from applicants. Likewise, no minimum or maximum award amount, total program funding allocation, or estimated number of awards is identified in the provided materials. No pre-application, letter of intent, or concept paper requirement is mentioned. Questions regarding the grant process or the revised annual funding structure may be directed to Summit County Government's administrative team through the email address manageradmin@summitcountyco.gov. The opportunity is intended to support nonprofit organizations that contribute meaningful community impact within Summit County and demonstrate alignment with the County's strategic priorities for social and community wellbeing.

Align proposals closely with BOCC priorities including early childhood education economic and food security environmental sustainability and social services. Clearly demonstrate service to historically marginalized and underserved communities. Prepare all required documents before beginning the online application because the system does not allow applicants to save and return later.