The Caring for Colorado Foundation, in partnership with the Caring for Pueblo County initiative, is offering grant funding through its Children, Youth, and Families program. This opportunity is designed to support organizations working to advance equity for children, youth, and their families within Pueblo County, Colorado. The foundation prioritizes efforts that promote safe, stable, and nurturing environments to ensure children thrive and develop into resilient and engaged members of society. The funder’s guiding principles emphasize community voice, equity, cultural responsiveness, and demonstrable impact.
Funding is available for general operating or project-specific work and must align with one or more of four focus areas: Basic Needs, Social and Emotional Well-Being, Behavioral Health, and Economic Stability & Advancement. Applicants are required to choose at least one eligible funding strategy from these categories. Examples of eligible activities include access to nutritious food, transitional housing, restorative justice practices, behavioral health crisis support, educational support, and career development for youth. Grants are intended to be flexible and responsive to community needs and assets.
To be eligible, organizations must serve Pueblo County. This includes organizations headquartered in the county, those with satellite offices serving Pueblo County communities, and regional or statewide entities that include Pueblo County in their service area. Ineligible applicants include individuals, organizations that do not meet general eligibility requirements, and those applying for purposes such as debt retirement, capital campaigns, or religious activities.
The application process is divided into two parts. Part 1 requires registration in the foundation’s Fluxx portal by January 13, 2026, and submission of the Part 1 application by 5:00 p.m. on January 15, 2026. Applicants invited to proceed will submit Part 2 between February 5 and March 12, 2026. Site visits will occur between March 30 and May 8, 2026, with final decisions made by June 25, 2026. Funded projects will begin on July 1, 2026. The process emphasizes clarity, and applicants are encouraged to watch webinars and review FAQs and application questions before applying.
While there is no maximum request amount, funding levels from the prior cycle ranged from $15,000 to $100,000, with an average annual grant size of $38,550. Applicants may request funding for periods between 12 and 24 months. No matching funds are required. Applications are evaluated based on alignment with funding strategies, community impact, and adherence to the advisory board’s principles.
For assistance, applicants may contact Gina Lopez Ferguson, Senior Philanthropy Lead, by email or phone. Additional application guidance, including downloadable PDFs and timeline overviews, are available on the funder’s website.
