Brush dotted cliffs at Crawford State Park.

Grant Programs

Colorado Parks and Wildlife has several programs to help fund projects developed or led by outside (non-CPW) personnel or groups. Focus areas, eligibility requirements, matching fund requirements and other aspects vary for each program.

Brush dotted cliffs at Crawford State Park.

Brush dotted cliffs at Crawford State Park.

Brush dotted cliffs at Crawford State Park.

Grant Programs

Colorado Parks and Wildlife has several programs to help fund projects developed or led by outside (non-CPW) personnel or groups. Focus areas, eligibility requirements, matching fund requirements and other aspects vary for each program.

Making the Colorado Outdoors Accessible for All

A group of children backpacking.

Outdoor Equity Grants

Outdoor organizations focused on creating opportunities for underserved youth and their families to get involved in recreational activities and experiencing Colorado’s open spaces, state parks, public lands and other outdoor areas can apply for this grant.

A group of people try fat tire bikes on a snowy trail.

Outdoor Regional Partnerships Grants

Together, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) and Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) are funding new and existing coalitions to join a statewide initiative working to ensure that Colorado’s land, water, and wildlife thrive while also providing for equitable and quality outdoor recreation experiences.

Two CPW employees help a young girl setup her fishing pole.

Fishing is Fun Grants

The Fishing Is Fun program provides matching grants annually to local and county governments, park and recreation departments, water districts, angling organizations and others for projects to improve angling opportunities in Colorado.

A woman walking her dog

Land and Water Conservation Fund Grants

​​From parks to playgrounds, wilderness to wetlands, bicycle paths to hiking trails, the Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant (LWCF) has helped government agencies nationwide to protect valuable natural resources and provide meaningful public recreation opportunities.

Shooting Range Improvements

CPW offers two grants for shooting range (archery and firearms) improvements.

Shooting range development grants.

Shooting Range Development Grants

This grant provides matching grant funds to towns, counties, agencies, shooting clubs and others for projects to establish, improve or expand shooting ranges, including archery, across the state.

Apply for a Shooting Range Development Grant

Trail Creation and Improvements

A person riding an ATV.

Off-Highway Vehicle Grants

The Off-Highway Vehicle grants program funding improves and enhances motorized recreation opportunities in Colorado while promoting safe and responsible use of Off-Highway Vehicles (OHVs). The program is funded through the sale of OHV registration and permit fees, and some federal Recreational Trails Program (RTP) funding.

Two people ride bikes along a trail.

Non-Motorized Trails Grants

The Colorado State Recreational Trails Grant Program funds projects for trail construction, trail maintenance, and trail planning and support.

A group of people ready their snowmobiles.

Snowmobile Program Grants

This program funds snowmobile grooming operations, purchase of new groomers, repair of existing groomers, trailhead improvements and the purchase of signs and trail marking materials.

United States of America and Colorado State Flags.

Grants

Supporting Colorado Counties

Impact Assistance Grants

​Colorado Parks and Wildlife is committed to being a good neighbor in the communities where we own land in fee title for the benefit of wildlife and sportspeople. Each county in which we own land is eligible to receive an Impact Assistance Grant (IAG), which is based on the agricultural tax rate.

Supporting Land and Wildlife in Colorado

Two rock climbers prepare their ropes for a climb.

Partners in the Outdoors Grant

The Partners in the Outdoors Program is a platform for networking and collaboration to advance and balance outdoor recreation and conservation in Colorado.​ To support these efforts, Colorado Parks and Wildlife provides grant funds to assist our partners across the state who are helping to achieve this goal.​

Wetlands at San Luis SWA.

Wetlands for Wildlife Grants

The Wetlands Wildlife Conservation Program is a voluntary, incentive-based program to protect wetlands and wetlands-dependent wildlife on public and private land.​

A black bear in a tree.

Human-Bear Conflict Reduction Grants

Local Colorado communities can apply for financial resources to support efforts to reduce human-bear conflicts. Additionally, the grant program will serve to foster innovative solutions to human-bear conflict that can be replicated in other parts of the state and bolster efforts of all communities in Colorado to prevent conflict​.

A barn owl with a handler.

Wildlife Rehabilitation Grants

This grant supports wildlife rehabilitation efforts across the state. Grants are for a minimum of $1000 and require no match.

A mule deer buck by a barbed wire fence.

Landowners

Grants for Landowners

Landowners who want to protect wildlife and important wildlife habitat can request funding.

Grants

More Funding Options

Fund Matching: ​CPW resources might help your project proposal for non-CPW grants win funding.

For other outdoor recreation related grants, visit these other organizations.

    Our partners also often pursue outside funding (non-CPW) in support of wildlife or habitat work consistent with CPW goals and priorities. In certain cases, CPW resources such as personnel time, volunteer time, equipment usage or CPW land may be eligible to count as match for the outside funding, but finding an outside match for funding is a challenge. Examples of successful project funding matching include: A habitat improvement project or CPW conservation easement in which previous or planned CPW work is eligible for funding matching.

    Any allocation of CPW resources for matching funding will have to meet several requirements, including:

    • consistency with CPW priorities and state laws and requirements
    • no conflict with the resource being counted as match elsewhere
    • clear benefits to CPW's mission
    • no ongoing significant obligation or limitation on the CPW resource used as match
    • agency leadership review and approval and others

    ​If you think CPW resources might be helpful to winning funding for a proposed project, in coordination with appropriate CPW staff involved with the proposed work, please email the CPW Grants Unit to discuss the project details and find out if we can provide assistance.

    The Council on Foundations is a nonprofit membership association that serves as a guide for philanthropies as they advance the greater good.

    The Environmental Grantmakers Association's (EGA) goal is to bolster the impact of strategic philanthropy for equitable and interdependent ecosystems, healthy communities, and sustainable economies.

    The Community Resource Center (CRC) supports, strengthens, and galvanizes change-makers across the nonprofit ecosystem, working together to create a more equitable Colorado.

    Nonprofit Expert is an essential resource for all nonprofit professionals, from executive directors and board members to fundraising staff and volunteers. Whether you’re a nonprofit newbie or fundraising pioneer, this site is packed with insightful tips and best practices that will inform and inspire your mission-minded initiatives.

    A grant is one of many different forms of federal financial assistance. Federal financial assistance is a broad term to refer to the various ways the U.S. government redistributes resources to eligible recipients. On Grants.gov you will find grant and cooperative agreement opportunities from federal agencies that award grants.