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.
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.
Apply for a Grant
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Non-Motorized Trails Grants
The Colorado State Recreational Trails Grant Program funds projects for trail construction, trail maintenance, and trail planning and support.
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.
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 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.
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.
Wildlife Rehabilitation Grants
This grant supports wildlife rehabilitation efforts across the state. Grants are for a minimum of $1000 and require no match.
Born to Be Wild License Plate Grant Program
The Born to Be Wild Plate grant program will award selected non-profit organizations, educational institutions, and government agencies. Projects focusing on innovative and creative marketing strategies and solutions will be prioritized to increase support for and sales of the license plate.
Oil and Gas Compensatory Mitigation Grant Program
Eligible Colorado land trust organizations can apply for financial resources to support efforts to conserve high priority wildlife habitats. This grant program utilizes funding from CPW's Senate Bill 19-181 Compensatory Mitigation Program to offset the adverse impacts of oil and gas developments on wildlife in Colorado.
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.
Small Shooting Range Maintenance Grants
Shooting ranges across Colorado can apply for funding for improvements to public and private shooting range facilities.
Landowners
Grants for Landowners
Landowners who want to protect wildlife and important wildlife habitat can request funding.
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.
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Colorado Backcountry Search and Rescue Program
Colorado Backcountry Search and Rescue organizations are 100% volunteer-based and provide search and rescue services throughout Colorado, free of charge, to those stranded, lost or injured in the backcountry. BSAR services are county-based and are authorized/coordinated by the County Sheriffs for each response incident.
Find out moreGrants
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.