Food Security Grant

The Colorado Gives Foundation's Food Security Grant is a funding opportunity aimed at improving food access for residents of Jefferson County, Colorado. The Foundation, with its broader mission of helping Jefferson County thrive, focuses this specific initiative on ensuring that local, healthy, and culturally relevant food is available to the community. This grant provides general operating support to organizations whose missions and programs align with enhancing food access across the region. The Foundation’s strategic emphasis underlines food equity and aims to reach vulnerable populations who face food insecurity in the county. Eligible organizations for this grant include 501(c)(3) nonprofit entities, those operating under a fiscal sponsor with that designation, or government entities. Applicants must be able to demonstrate a clear and measurable impact in Jefferson County, such as the number of residents served or the percentage of the organization's budget directed toward services within the county. The grant opportunity seeks to support programs that increase enrollment and utilization of public assistance programs like SNAP and WIC, improve access and use of food pantries, and develop innovative solutions such as Double Up Food Bucks. It also encourages collaboration between local food producers and community organizations to ensure culturally appropriate and nutritious food is readily accessible. Another vital focus of the grant is supporting advocacy efforts at the local, regional, and state levels to expand food access in Jefferson County. This may include policy work or campaigns that aim to remove systemic barriers to food equity. The Foundation values systemic, community-driven approaches that reflect the diverse needs of residents and aim for sustainable solutions. As such, organizations applying should be prepared to articulate their advocacy or service delivery strategies clearly and show the effectiveness of their approach. The application process is conducted through the Colorado Gives Foundation’s GranteeView portal. Interested applicants must create or access an account to initiate the application. All application progress is tracked through this portal, and applicants are encouraged to continue any in-progress applications to avoid duplication. Terms and conditions for the grant agreement are included at the end of the application form and must be accepted before submission. The final award letter and funding agreement are also communicated through this platform once a decision is made. While the specific application questions are not detailed on the grant page, applicants should be prepared to provide program details, budgetary allocations related to Jefferson County, and organizational eligibility verification. Interim and final impact reports are required for funded projects, typically with interim reports due annually (for multi-year grants) and final reports expected within 30 days of grant term completion. This grant opportunity is not currently accepting applications. The next anticipated funding cycle is scheduled to open in February 2027. As such, interested organizations should prepare their materials in advance and monitor the GranteeView portal or Colorado Gives Foundation's website for updates. The contact listed for the grant is Ashley Stoltenberg, the Foundation’s Grants Manager, who can assist with questions related to the application or eligibility.