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Nonprofit Infrastructure Grant Program

Program Overview

Purpose: Colorado House Bill 22-1356 was signed into law on June 3, 2022 creating the small community-based nonprofit infrastructure grant program. This initiative invests dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 by providing grants to small community-based nonprofit organizations for infrastructure funding to help mitigate the financial hardships of the COVID-19 public health emergency. 
The initiative will fund  up to 10 regional access partners - who will work with the Department of Local Affairs to administer grants of no more than $100,000 to small community-based nonprofit programs across the state of Colorado. 

Fund Distribution: Up to 10 Regional Access Partners (RAP) will be selected by DOLA through a NOFA & Application process to administer funds to small community based nonprofit organizations across the state of Colorado

  • RAPs will engage with DOLA to help create the policies and procedures to
    • Outline application, award and disbursement timelines
    • Streamline information received from application
    • Outline the rubric used to evaluate all applications

 

Available Funding: $33,100,000 

  • Awarded to no more than 10 regional access partners to award and distribute to small community-based nonprofits by 12/30/2024.  
    • All funds must be expended by 12/30/2026
    • $100K - Maximum Grant Award to small community-based nonprofits & not more than 30% of their annual operating budget

 

Regional Access Partner Requirements:

  • Headquartered in Colorado with grant management experience
  • Ability to distribute grants statewide or in regions of the state
  • Strong track record in TA to small community based NPO
  • Has at least 51% of programming focused on serving, engaging and supporting marginalized & under-resourced communities
  • Has a Board of Directors or staff with at least 30% who are individuals from historically marginalized and under-resourced communities.
  • No more than 5% of award can be used for administrative dollars
 

Eligibility for Nonprofit Grants: A small community-based charitable or social welfare organization that has been impacted or disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency and that:

  1. Has organizational leadership whose lived experiences in the communities they serve lead to the creation, mission and work of the NPO, and
  2. Has an annual budget of at least $150K and not more than $2M, and 
  3. Is one of the following
    • Small Community Based Nonprofit Organizations, OR
    • Small Community Based Nonprofit Organizations NOT a 501c3 - but works with a fiscal agent, OR
    • A collaborative of multiple small community based groups (NOT NPO) that work with a fiscal sponsor

 

Eligible Use of Grant Funds Ineligible Use of Grant Funds
Data Technology needs - data collection & tech infrastructure Capital Improvements (IT Infrastructure is not considered a capital improvement)
Professional development - staff & board Real estate or land acquisition
Strategic planning & org development for capacity building, fundraising & other services Payment of Debt
Communications Advocacy or Lobbying
Existing program expansion, development or evaluation Organizing
 
Endowments or reserves
 

 

Tentative Timeline 2022  
**Subject to Change**

 

June
  • RAP application & document creation
  • Begin to market the RAP NOFA & Application
July
  • Tentative Goal: Release RAP NOFA 7/1
August
  • Tentative Goal: Close RAP NOFA
  • Begin RAP selection & Award process
September
  • Tentative begin RAP Contracting
October
  • Tentative Completion of RAP Contracting
  • Begin stakeholder engagement with RAPs to create policies, procedures and determine application timelines
November
  • Continue stakeholder engagement
  • Tentative launch of nonprofit applications
December 2022/January 2023
  • Tentative goal award approval for nonprofits

 

Program Contacts

Audrey Field 
Financial Assistance Manager
(303) 864-7897
audrey.field@state.co.us