Willow Lake in Saguache County, Colorado.

Colorado Outdoor Regional Partnerships Initiative & Grant Program

The Colorado Outdoor Regional Partnerships Initiative (RPI) advances regionally driven collaboratives working to ensure that Colorado’s land, water and wildlife thrive while also providing equitable access to quality outdoor recreation experiences. The Initiative convenes broad outdoor interests through Outdoor Regional Partnerships to develop regionally rooted visions and action plans that advance sustainable outdoor recreation and conservation priorities. Combined with Colorado’s Outdoors Strategy, a collaborative vision for conservation, climate resilience, and sustainable recreation, Outdoor Regional Partnerships are informing future investments for Colorado’s outdoors.

Read the 2024 Regional Partnerships Initiative Annual Report and RPI StoryMap for features on Outdoor Regional Partnerships and their work convening broad outdoor interests in support of thriving people, landscapes and wildlife.

Great Sand Dunes National Park.

About the Grants

Outdoor Regional Partnerships Initiative Grant Program

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) and Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) offer grant funding to support and grow a network of regionally driven collaboratives working to ensure that Colorado’s land, water, and wildlife thrive while also providing exceptional, equitable, and safe access to quality outdoor recreation experiences through the development and implementation of regional visions, goals, objectives, and collective actions that advance Colorado’s Outdoors Strategy (COS) to achieve the following outcomes:

Conservation and restoration of lands and waters help wildlife and biodiversity thrive; habitats are resilient and connected; communities benefit from healthy ecosystems and agricultural lands.
A diversity of high-quality outdoor recreation experiences are accessible, equitable, and inclusive; management and stewardship enhance benefits and minimize impacts for people, landscapes, and local communities.

For areas that do not have a partnership, these grants support collaborative efforts to establish a coalition that is committed to convening a broad range of outdoor interests to identify and advance conservation and sustainable recreation objectives. For areas with established Regional Partnerships, grant funds support collaboration, public involvement, research, planning, and plan implementation.

With the Regional Partnerships Initiative, coalitions representing regions across Colorado, are provided tools, resources, best practices, and connections to a statewide network of recreation and conservation leaders. Designated CPW staff support the growth and development of regional coalitions and provide information as needed.

Currently Open: This grant application is open with a deadline in September.

total grants awarded

Regional Conservation and Recreation Plans completed

$6.2

million funds awarded since 2021

total Regional Partnerships

79%

of Colorado covered by Regional Partnerships

Eligible Applicants

Colorado non-profit organizations and government entities that represent a coalition with a broad range of outdoor interests including conservation, outdoor recreation, working lands, underrepresented populations, and government interests OR demonstrate a commitment to building a coalition with these interests.
Representatives of new or existing coalitions in areas that do not have a Regional Partnership OR represent an existing Regional Partnership. Please see the RPI map to determine if your coalition is eligible.
Commitment to identifying community-driven conservation and sustainable outdoor recreation values, objectives and priorities while considering opportunities to inform Colorado’s Outdoors Strategy, a collaborative vision for conservation, climate resilience, and sustainable recreation.

Eligible applicants include lead entities and/or fiscal sponsors of new or existing Regional Partnerships, including Local, County, Federal or Tribal governments, Recreation and Metro Districts, and Charitable organizations (tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code). If an entity is applying on behalf of an existing Regional Partnership, the proposal must demonstrate full support from the Regional Partnership, including a letter of support. Regional Partnerships can have concurrent grant contracts, including ones with different fiscal sponsors.

Please see the RPI map to determine if your region has an active Regional Partnership or is in an area not yet coordinating a Regional Partnership.

RPI Map

How to Apply

Step 1: Review the Grant Process

Review the Grant Process

Explore the Regional Partnerships program and criteria.
Connect with Regional Partnerships staff to share proposal concepts.
Submit a letter of intent.
If invited, submit a full application that includes a budget, timeline, and letters of support.
If awarded, implement your scope of work and meet the terms of the award:

Submit grant progress reports and reimbursement requests.
Meet any grant stipulations as outlined in the award letter.
Maintain an openness to collaborate and communicate with other Regional Partnerships, including participation in monthly Regional Partnership Leads network meetings. Typically, this is 1-2 people who are in a leadership role in the coalition.
Consistent interaction with CPW and members of the Colorado Outdoor Partnership and recommended participation in quarterly CO-OP meetings.
Recommended annual attendance at the Regional Partnerships Initiative Summit.

Step 2: Choose a Grant

Choose a Grant

Capacity Grant

$50,000 - $150,000 for one to two-year terms for newly forming collaboratives.

Funding supports Regional Partnership collaboratives that are committed to convening a broad range of outdoor interests to identify and advance conservation and sustainable outdoor recreation objectives in alignment with Colorado’s Outdoors Strategy. Collaboratives focused on areas where there are no established Regional Partnerships are a priority for this category.
Capacity, Plan Development, and Early Wins Grant

$50,000 - $350,000 for one to three-year terms to support Regional Partnership capacity and work to complete a regional conservation and recreation plan that aligns with Colorado’s Outdoors Strategy. May include early win projects that support collaboration and/or advance regional planning. This funding is for Regional Partnership collaboratives who are in the process of developing a regional plan.
Capacity and Plan Implementation Grant

$250,000 - $2,500,000 for one to three-year terms for Regional Partnership capacity and for on-the-ground projects that advance implementation of regional plans and have a significant regional impact. Funding is for existing Regional Partnership collaboratives with completed regional plans*.

Plan Implementation proposals should advance significant and/or signature aspects of regional partnership plans and need not address all priorities within the plan.

Plan implementation proposals may include multiple projects that are tied together through common outcomes and regional impact. Proposals may also include planning elements (for example, NEPA planning) that demonstrate progress toward a larger project with regional impact. Proposals that include three or more distinct projects should receive prior approval from CPW RPI staff before a full application is submitted for consideration.

*Exceptions may be considered for large-scale land acquisition opportunities and other priority time-sensitive projects from Regional Partnerships without completed plans. Having a completed and finalized plan is a priority for the RPI program. If a Regional Partnership is interested in pursuing implementation funding but does not have a final regional plan, please contact Jody Kennedy to discuss this opportunity further.

Matching Contributions

CPW encourages grant applications to include at least a 10% match and to explore opportunities for strategic project partnerships, resources, and complementary funding sources. Match can be met with cash or in-kind contributions, and CPW will consider waivers of match upon request.

Step 3: Letter of Intent

Letter of Intent

All applicants must send a letter of intent as a Word document to Morgan Anderson at [email protected] by 4 pm on July 18th, 2025.

For Capacity Only proposals or Capacity, Plan Development & Early Wins grant proposals fill out this Letter of Intent Form
For Capacity & Plan Implementation grant proposals fill out this Letter of Intent Form

Letter of Intent Review

Note that some Regional Partnership proposals may experience several rounds of feedback from CPW and GOCO before and during the letter of intent submission. Once the letter of intent is submitted, it will be sent to the appropriate regional CPW and GOCO staff to initiate a pre-application review for identification of potential wildlife or recreation concerns.

Step 4: Submit an Application

Submit an Application

Applicants who meet the basic grant requirements will be invited to submit a full application via an online form.

Final applications require a budget, timeline, letters of support, and a narrative description of how the collaborative is committed to advancing the Regional Partnerships Initiative criteria.

Final applications are due August 20th at 5 PM.

Additional Resources

Regional Partnerships Initiative Grant Guidelines
Regional Partnerships Key Planning Elements
CPW Staff Review Process
CO-OP Scoring Committee Review Process
Letter of Intent Form - for the Capacity and Plan Implementation Grant Category
Letter of Intent Form - for the Capacity Only Grant Category or Capacity, Plan Development, Early Wins Grant Category
Capacity and Plan Development Budget Form 2025
Capacity and Implementation Budget Form 2025
Land Acquisition Budget Form
Timeline Form 2025

Step 5: Scoring Applications & Grant Criteria

Scoring Applications

Grant applications are reviewed by regional CPW staff and the CO-OP Scoring Committee in collaboration with the State Trails Committee. Applicants will be invited to present their proposals to the Scoring Committee in late September or Early October. Applications will be scored based on selection criteria. The CO-OP Scoring Committee then makes recommendations for full or partial funding, with final approval made by CPW and GOCO leadership and the GOCO Board of Directors.

Application Selection Criteria

Building and/or sustaining a standing collaborative representing broad outdoor interests that include, but are not limited to:

Outdoor recreation user groups including motorized and non-motorized
Agriculture, ranching, and working private lands
Recreation industry or economic development
Wildlife and natural resource conservation
Hunting and fishing
Local government
Appropriate land management agencies in the region, including the Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, National Park Service, Tribes, Counties, Land Trusts, etc.

Developing or implementing a regional plan that identifies a long-term vision for conservation and outdoor recreation in the region, regional priorities, strategies, and actionable projects that align with Colorado’s Outdoors Strategy.
Application of climate-resilient conservation, restoration, and outdoor recreation data, mapping, and decision support tools to inform regional planning with the help of Colorado’s Outdoors Strategy Resources Hub.
Public outreach and engagement of broad outdoor interests, races, cultures, ages, and sectors to ensure that regional planning priorities reflect community values, experiences, and perspectives.
Regional priorities, plans, and projects (if applicable) that demonstrate collaboration with appropriate land managers, including local, state, federal, Tribal and private. Letters of support are requested as part of the application and can help demonstrate collaboration and partnerships.
Regional priorities, plans, and projects (if applicable) that demonstrate collaboration with regional CPW staff and consideration for wildlife and recreation impacts, including confirmation that CPW reviewed and was involved in developing regional plans, and, for project proposals, that staff considered alignment with Colorado’s Outdoors Strategy.
Considerations for impacts to Tribal rights for any work within the Brunot Area.

Plan Implementation Grants: Additional Criteria

The applicant has a final regional plan* that demonstrates support of diverse perspectives, sectors, and communities (rural and urban); incorporates climate-resilient conservation, restoration, and outdoor recreation data, mapping tools, and/or decision support tools, and drives meaningful actions for the outdoors.
- *Exceptions may be considered for large-scale land acquisition opportunities and other priority time-sensitive projects from Regional Partnerships without completed plans. Having a completed and finalized plan is a priority for the RPI program. If a Regional Partnership is interested in pursuing implementation funding but does not have a final regional plan, please contact Jody Kennedy to discuss this opportunity further.
The regional partnership can demonstrate that the project advances the regional plan with clear outcomes and evaluation metrics. The project may be conservation and/or recreation focused; however, the proposal should demonstrate consideration for long term conservation and recreation outcomes explaining how both objectives are being advanced in the region even if the proposed project is advancing just one of these areas.
The Regional Partnership can demonstrate broad support for the project from conservation, recreation, private lands, and government entities including state and federal land managers, and Tribal managers for projects within the Brunot Area.
The proposal demonstrates compliance with NEPA or presents a clear plan for how NEPA will be conducted including necessary agreements, partners, and timeline.
The applying Regional Partnership has an established structure with guidelines for decision making and membership that ensures conservation, outdoor recreation, working lands, local government, and state and federal land managers are engaged.
Proposals that cover multiple jurisdictional boundaries and consider landscape scale geography, such as connections to wildlife corridors and/or to regional trail networks/recreation sheds may be given preference.
Applicants are encouraged to consider other conservation and recreation planning priorities in addition to Colorado’s Outdoors Strategy, including SCORP, CPW HCCP, SWAP, Herd Management, and Basin Implementation Plans.
Applicants are encouraged to consider other local and regional use plans, including county master plans and U.S. Forest and natural resource management plans.

Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate consideration for long-term sustainable funding, including diversified funding sources to support the partnership and plan implementation.

CO-OP Scoring Committee Members

As a statewide cooperative, the CO-OP advises on the Regional Partnerships Initiative, established by Executive Order B 2020 008. Committee members are selected based on balancing outdoor interest areas/sectors and availability.

Colorado’s Cattlemen’s Association
Colorado Counties, Inc
Colorado Off-Highway Vehicle Coalition
Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office
Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Colorado Wildlife Federation
Colorado Youth Corps Association
Department of Natural Resources
Great Outdoors Colorado
The Nature Conservancy
United States Forest Service
Safari Club International

Grant Deadlines

Key Topic	Date	Description
Applications Open	June 25th
RPI Grant Webinar and Q&A	July 3rd at 11 AM	Webinar Recording
Letter of Intent Due	July 18th at 4 PM
Application Due	September 2nd at 5 PM
Application Presentations	September 29th & 30th
Awards Announced	December 16th
Grant Agreements Finalized	Mar 2026

REGIONAL PARTNERSHIPS INITIATIVE

Current Outdoor Regional Partnerships

Eagle County Community Wildlife Roundtable
Eastern Grassland Coalition
Central Colorado Outdoor Partnership
- Envision Recreation in Balance Partnership (Chaffee County)
- Gunnison Sustainable Tourism and Outdoor Recreation (Gunnison County)
- Lake County Outdoor Alliance
Grand PLACES 2050
Metro Denver Nature Alliance (Metro DNA)
Montelores
NoCo Places
Northwest Colorado Outdoor Coalition
Ouray Regional Recreation and Conservation Alliance (ORRCA)
Pikes Peak Outdoor Recreation Alliance
Outside 285
Pagosa Area Recreation Coalition
Routt Recreation and Conservation Roundtable
Roaring Fork Outdoor Coalition
San Luis Valley Great Outdoors
Southeast Colorado Recreation Outdoor Alliance Movement
Southwest Colorado Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Roundtable
Spanish Peaks Outdoor Coalition
Summit County Outdoor Coalition
West Slope Outdoors Alliance
Wet Mountain Valley Outdoors

About the Outdoor Regional Partnerships

Learn more about Outdoor Regional Partnerships and related plans for conservation and recreation.

Annual Report

This report highlights the Regional Partnerships Initiative’s progress in 2024, including the ongoing CPW grant program and coalitions’ engagement to build a collective and community-driven vision for Colorado’s outdoors.

Download the Annual Report

StoryMap

Local collaborations in support of thriving people, landscapes, and wildlife statewide.

Explore the StoryMap

Colorado’s Outdoor Strategy

The Strategy is a collaborative vision uniting public and private partners and stakeholders to advance conservation, outdoor recreation, and climate resilience across the state.

Learn more