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NOTE: The following questions relate to our competitve grant program.
How can our agency apply for funding?
To apply for a grant from the Community Foundation, an organization must be a 501(c)3 tax-exempt nonprofit organization that directly serves residents of Larimer County. The Community Foundation's competitve grant program begins with the submission of a Letter of Inquiry (LOI). A nonprofit agency may submit one Letter of Inquiry for our 2008 competitive grant cycle.
Can our agency submit more than one Letter of Inquiry (LOI)?
Each 501c3 nonprofit agency may submit one Letter of Inquiry for our 2008 competitive grant program.
How should our agency decide which LOI link to use?
Our Grants page contains complete instructions on this process.
How many copies of a Letter of Inquiry or grant application should I submit to you? Should I staple my materials, or simply paperclip all items together?
All LOIs must be submitted online using our online application tool (see the Grants page of our website). Please do not mail, fax, or personally deliver any hard copies of your LOI or related materials. If your agency does not have Internet access at your office, we encourage you to use the free Internet access available at local libraries.
What is the average size of competitive grant awards in recent years?
The size of our competitive grant awards varies a great deal, and may depend on the size of the fund and the assessment of need. Please keep in mind that only ~5% of our annual grant and program distributions are made as a result of our Fall competitive grant cycle. During the Fall 2007 competitive grant cycle, we awarded 45 grants totaling $136,199; most awards ranged from $500 - $6,500, and one $10,000 grant was awarded.
Should we contact the Community Foundation to ensure that our Letter of Inquiry was received?
Once you submit your LOI using our online tool, an email message confirming receipt of your submission will be sent to the address you provided. The email is generated automatically so you should receive it soon after your submission. Please be sure to check your spam filter to ensure that the confirmation email was not quarantined.
Should we contact the Community Foundation to ask questions about the competitive grantmaking process?
Thanks in part to helpful feedback from nonprofit agencies, this website provides answers to the most frequently asked questions posed by grant seekers. We encourage you to carefully review the main Grants page and each of the questions on this page. In the event that you are not able to locate an answer to your question, you may contact our Chief Operating Officer. Please make sure that your email clearly states your name, your phone number, your question, and the name of the organization you represent. If you wish to call our Chief Operating Officer at (970) 488-1989, please be aware that we experience high call volumes during our grantmaking season.
NOTE: The following questions relate to our grantmaking process in general.
Do you make grants to individuals?
The Community Foundation only makes grants to agencies that are 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organizations. The annual competitive grant cycle, which takes place each Fall, allows the Foundation to promote philanthropy in Northern Colorado by investing in the vision, passion and expertise of nonprofit organizations that serve Larimer County residents.
Can our organization apply to a Donor Advised Fund?
Grants from Donor Advised funds are made as a result of recommendations from the fund's Donor Advisors. While the Community Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals for Donor Advised Funds, we may highlight your organization's needs in the monthly e-newletter we distribute to our donor advisors (see below.)
Will you tell donors about our nonprofit organization?
Each month we send an e-newsletter to our fund advisors. The Community Foundation would be pleased to spotlight your Larimer County nonprofit agency in this communication piece. Simply complete our online request form.
How do I apply for a scholarship?
Most of our scholarships are coordinated directly through local high schools. A few are coordinated directly through Colorado State University, service organizations, churches, or community committees. Because the Community Foundation doesn’t directly collect or coordinate any applications, college students should contact the CSU Financial Aid or Scholarship office for more information on scholarship availability. Graduating high school seniors should contact the scholarship coordinator at their school to determine eligibility for any of the Foundation's scholarship programs.
If I receive a scholarship, what do I need to do?
You will receive a form from the Community Foundation, which you must complete and return as soon as possible. Typically the forms are mailed to scholarship recipients by mid-June. If you return your form by mid-July, your scholarship will be mailed to your university by mid-August. Forms received after August 1 will be processed as quickly as possible, with the check typically sent to your university within two weeks of the date your form is received. Please be aware that it may take an educational institution 2-4 weeks to complete its scholarship processing procedure. You should make sure that your form is submitted to the Community Foundation office as promptly as possible to avoid delays in having the scholarship funds transferred to your student account.
May I contact the donors who provide the funds for my scholarship?
The Foundation encourages recipients to contact their scholarship donors to express their appreciation. However, many scholarships are set up as memorials, leaving only the Community Foundation to accept your gratitude.
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