Colorado Outdoor Equity Grant

The Outdoor Equity Grant Program is administered by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, a state agency responsible for managing wildlife resources, state parks, and outdoor recreation opportunities across Colorado. The program is supported through funding from the Colorado Lottery, along with supplemental support from initiatives such as the Keep Colorado Wild Pass. These funding streams are designed to reinvest in conservation, education, and equitable outdoor access. The program operates under the guidance of the Outdoor Equity Grant Board, which governs the program and awards grants to organizations that directly engage youth and families in outdoor experiences while reducing systemic barriers to access. The primary purpose of the Outdoor Equity Grant Program is to increase access, representation, and meaningful participation in outdoor recreation for youth and families from communities that have been historically excluded. The program focuses on youth ages zero through twenty five and prioritizes low income, racially and ethnically diverse populations, LGBTQ youth, individuals with disabilities, and American Indian and Native youth. Funded projects are expected to reduce barriers to outdoor participation, provide environmental and experiential education, create conservation and stewardship opportunities, and support job and career pathways related to outdoor and environmental fields. Funding is available in amounts up to one hundred thousand dollars per award. The program supports a wide range of eligible costs, including program delivery, staffing, transportation, food, planning, coordination, and outreach activities. Additional allowable expenses include volunteer engagement costs, insurance requirements necessary for grant compliance, and capital purchases such as vehicles, equipment, and outdoor structures like classrooms or playgrounds. General operating support may also be provided for organizations whose mission aligns with conservation and outdoor access. However, certain costs are explicitly ineligible, including land acquisition, trail construction projects, and building construction or renovation for indoor facilities. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, for profit organizations, school districts, local governments, and federally recognized tribes. Applicants must propose projects that clearly demonstrate how they will address inequities in outdoor access and engage underserved youth populations in Colorado. Proposals are expected to articulate the barriers faced by their target communities and outline strategies to overcome those challenges. Projects should also incorporate community input and demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout program design and implementation. The application process involves multiple steps. Applicants must first submit a Grant Interest Form during the initial submission window. This form requires general organizational information, a summary of the proposed project, the requested funding amount, and descriptions of the populations served and the project scope. Selected applicants are then invited to submit a full application, which includes a detailed project budget, budget narrative, project timeline, and explanations of how equity and community engagement are integrated into the program. Applications are reviewed by the Outdoor Equity Grant Board using criteria that emphasize community understanding, environmental stewardship, organizational commitment to equity, and demonstrated need. The grant follows a structured annual timeline. The Grant Interest Form submission period for the current cycle runs from April 30 to June 2, 2026. Selected applicants are notified in early August and invited to submit full applications by mid September. Final funding decisions are communicated in November, with contract processes beginning in January of the following year and funds disbursed by late March. The program is highly competitive, with historically fewer than eighteen percent of applicants receiving funding. The next grant cycle is expected to reopen in April 2027, indicating a recurring annual opportunity for eligible organizations.

Emphasize deep understanding of community barriers demonstrate strong equity commitment and include clear community input in program design