The Chaffee County Community Foundation (CCCF) has announced that applications open this coming Monday, April 29 for $50,000 in 2024 impact grants in support of environmental and housing solutions in the community. Aimed at nonprofit organizations, the services they provide with these grants deliver direct and measurable benefits to the Chaffee County community at large and are important for the public to be aware of.
“The impact grants are an opportunity to invest significantly in specific solutions that are designed to make measurable change in our community,” said Chaffee County Community Foundation Executive Director Betsy Dittenber. “At CCCF, we believe that by investing in environmental and housing solutions, we can create a more resilient, sustainable, and equitable future for everyone in our community.”
Now in its second year of funding, the impact
CCCF awarded a total of $51,000 to three area nonprofits in May, 2023. In case you missed that news, awards included:
- Chaffee Housing Trust: $25,000
- Chaffee Hospitality: $10,000
- The Greater Arkansas River Nature Association (GARNA): $16,000
The Chaffee Housing Trust award was to support construction of six new homes in Salida, soon to be occupied at the M and 3rd Street Project. Additionally, monies helped administer housing counseling services including assistance to clean up or repair their credit history, create a household budget and action plan, and apply for mortgage financing in hopes of future homeownership.
Chaffee Hospitality slated their award for emergency motel stays for adults without children in our community, believing that emergency stays are essential for the physical and mental health of an important percentage of residents within our county. The organization works in partnership with Chaffee Housing Authority and Chaffee Health and Human Services to secure sustainable housing for individuals using the shelter.
Residential Drop Off for composting. Image courtesy of Elements Mountain Composting.
GARNA planned to use the funds to strengthen its statewide waste diversion goals, aimed to more than double the state’s current recycling rate to 45 percent by 2036 including oversight at festivals and events and training and education programs.
Improvements in waste diversion benefit every resident as well as visitors to this county, while reducing landfill use and improving the quality of our air, water, and land.
2024 Impact grants and how they’re used
Image courtesy Chaffee Country Community Foundation (CCCF)
According to the CCCF, the 2024 initiative will again provide funding to local organizations addressing two critical issues in Chaffee County – environmental challenges, such as clean water, environmental stewardship, and recycling or waste reduction efforts, as well as affordable housing solutions that make long-term, sustainable housing accessible to local residents.
Addressing these issues requires large and often ongoing investments in programs, services, and hard assets. Generally, these cannot be funded by a single entity. “Nobody is doing this work alone,” said Anna Hendricks, CCCH Director of Programs. “Collaboration is required with other partners, planning departments, and municipalities.”
“A lot of times, these funds are used as seed money or matching funds to attract those with larger resources. Last year we saw that organizations were able to leverage these funds and increase the impact.”
The Housing Innovation Grant, funded by contributions to CCCF’s Housing Solutions Fund, will be awarded to one or more applicants in amounts ranging from $10,000 up to $35,000.
The Environmental Innovations Grant, made possible by CCCF’s partnership with Bonfire Entertainment and contributions to the foundation’s Environmental Solutions Fund, will award between $10,000 – $15,000.
The application process
The deadline for these applications is Friday, May 31 at 11:59 pm. Nonprofits are urged not to wait until the last minute, so that their applications receive the time they deserve for a thorough evaluation by the grant committee.
Applications will be evaluated based on a range of criteria, including impact, innovation, community engagement, and sustainability.
Interested organizations are encouraged to visit www.chaffeecommunity.org/grants to learn more about the eligibility criteria and application process. Grants will be awarded to organizations and initiatives that demonstrate a clear understanding of the challenges faced by the community and present viable solutions that align with criteria outlined in the respective grant rubrics, available here and here.
Applicants should direct any questions to Anna Hendricks, Director of Programs at anna@chaffeecommunity.org or 719-204-5071.
About the Chaffee County Community Foundation
Founded in 2018, Chaffee County Community Foundation is a public, nonprofit organization established to promote and facilitate philanthropy in Chaffee County, created by and for the people in that area. CCCF acts as a catalyst to inspire positive change through the power of philanthropy to enrich the lives of all people within the county.
Its goals are to make informed philanthropy accessible to all, build local nonprofit capacity, and enable community conversations. Since 2018, CCCF has actively supported nonprofit organizations for the betterment of Chaffee County and the local communities. To learn more, visit www.chaffeecommunity.org.
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