Initiatives
NPI Grant Program
The Nonprofit Infrastructure Grant Program will invest $33.1 million from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 by providing grants to small community-based nonprofit organizations to build capacity and help mitigate the financial hardships of the COVID-19 public health emergency.
In partnership with the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA), Caring for Colorado’s Centennial Fund has been selected as one of eight Regional Access Partners (RAPs) statewide to provide technical assistance to interested organizations, assemble review committees, and administer the funds.
Colorado’s Nonprofit Infrastructure
Grant Program
Application Period Closed
The application period for the Nonprofit Infrastructure (NPI) Grant Program closed on August 31, 2023. Thank you to all the organizations that applied to us for funding. Applications are being reviewed and, once a decision has been made, we will be in touch.
If you have any questions about the NPI program or other grant opportunities, please contact us.
About the NPI Grant Program
Caring for Colorado’s Centennial Fund is collaborating with the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) to select and administer the Nonprofit Infrastructure Grant in the following counties:
Baca, Bent, Cheyenne, Crowley, Kiowa, Kit Carson, Las Animas, Lincoln, Logan, Morgan, Otero, Phillips, Prowers, Sedgwick, Washington, and Yuma.
The Nonprofit Infrastructure (NPI) Grant has been created for small nonprofits, with annual budgets between $150,000 and $2,000,000, that can show they have been impacted or disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.
Communities that have been disproportionately impacted include:
- LGBT
- BIPOC
- Women
- Gender non-conforming
- Disability/neurodiversity
- Low-income
- Immigrant/refugee
- Rural
Read More
Applying organizations or groups must have a track record of providing effective, culturally appropriate, and relevant programs and services to their communities who have historically been underrepresented, underserved, or under-resourced in Colorado.
The governing bodies and staff of these organizations must consist of a majority of residents who live in the communities they serve, have a history of providing services in specific communities in the state, and have their main offices in one of the communities that they serve.
Eligibility Requirements
The following types of organizations were eligible to apply for the NPI Grant:
Nonprofit Organization – A small community-based charitable or social welfare organization impacted or disproportionately by the Covid-19 public health emergency.
Fiscal Agent – A tax-exempt charitable organization or social welfare organization operating under a 501(c)(3) that has an arrangement with a small community-based nonprofit organization (NPO) that may or may not have its own tax-exempt status.
Fiscal Sponsor – A tax-exempt charitable or social welfare group operating under a 501(c)(3) that has an arrangement with small community-based groups (SCBG) that are not registered NPOs.
Read more about eligibility below and review the eligibility flow chart to confirm your organization should apply.
Eligibility
Applying organizations must be small nonprofits with annual budgets between $150,000 and $2,000,000 that can show they have been impacted or disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.
Applying organizations or groups must have a track record of providing effective, culturally appropriate, and relevant programs and services to their communities who have historically been underrepresented, underserved, or under-resourced in Colorado.
The governing bodies and staff of these organizations must consist of a majority of residents who live in the communities they serve, have a history of providing services in specific communities in the state, and have their main offices in one of the communities that they serve.
Applying organizations must also demonstrate that their services meet community-identified needs, including:
- Health Equity
- Workforce Development
- Community Economic Development
- Early Childhood Care
- Education Support
- Housing
- Food Justice
- Other community identified need
Using Grant Funds
The NPI Grant Program will provide funding for infrastructure improvements that are intended to positively impact an organization’s operational structure.
Grant funds may be used toward things like:
- Strategic planning and organizational development
- Professional development for staff and board
- Data technology, data collection and/or technology infrastructure
- Marketing and communications
- Existing program expansion, development or evaluation
Grant funds cannot be used toward programming or capital improvements, including:
- Real estate or land acquisition
- Building construction, renovation or improvement
- Payment of debt
- Advocacy or lobbying
- Organizing
- Endowments or reserves
Technical Assistance
We are here to support you with technical assistance throughout the application process. Please review the FAQs to learn more; or contact Emma Carpenter at ecarpenter@caringforcolorado.org.
Important Dates
The application timeline was July 5, 2023 through August 31, 2023.
Award Recommendations Submitted to DOLA: November 1, 2023
Award Notifications, Contracts and Payments: December 15, 2023 – January 15, 2024
Program End: All funds must be spent by December 30, 2026
About Our Partnership with DOLA
The Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) is collaborating with Caring for Colorado’s Centennial Fund and seven other organizations across the state to help select and administer the NPI Grant. Learn more about the Colorado HB22-1356: Small Community-based Nonprofit Grant Program.