YVCF Community Grant 2025-2026

The Yampa Valley Community Foundation (YVCF) operates under a philosophy of trust-based philanthropy, emphasizing transparency, dialogue, and mutual learning. Through partnerships with the Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation, donor-advised fund holders, and other granting endowments, YVCF offers annual community grants and occasional higher-level impact grants. The foundation prioritizes efforts that align with shared regional goals and aims to simplify application and reporting processes for applicants. The YVCF Community Grant offers annual funding of up to $10,000 per organization, with a possible invitation for a separate Impact Grant of up to $30,000 for regionally collaborative initiatives. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) public charities or have a fiscal sponsor that meets this classification. In some cases, certain government entities may act as fiscal sponsors. The grants are open only to programs benefiting Routt and/or Moffat County in Colorado, and applicants must demonstrate that funds will be used exclusively within these regions. Grants can be categorized into general operating grants or programmatic grants. Organizations with operating budgets under $1 million and not faith-based are encouraged to apply for general operating grants, which provide flexible, unrestricted funding. In contrast, programmatic grants are restricted to specific uses and are mandatory for organizations that are faith-based or have annual budgets over $1 million. Detailed documentation is required for both types, including a board-approved operating budget. The 2025 application period opens on May 5, with the final application deadline on June 2, 2025, at 11:30 PM Mountain Time. Applicants are encouraged to attend grant training sessions held on May 6 and 7, with recordings available for those unable to attend in person. The deadline to request pre-application technical assistance is May 28, 2025. Site visits will occur from July 30 to August 19, and grant notifications will be issued by September 5. Applications must include a report on the prior year’s grant (if applicable), even if the project is still in progress. This report is due concurrently with the new application. Grant funding may not be used for debt reimbursement, completed projects, religious or political activities, or anything that conflicts with YVCF’s non-discrimination policies. All applicants are encouraged to review updated scoring rubrics and sample applications for guidance. For questions or further assistance, applicants may contact Greg Hamilton at [email protected]. Technical and financial training materials, including video guides and FAQs, are provided online to support applicants throughout the process.