.jpg?w=768&itok=yQiGuS7T "Three children pose together for a photo in the forest.")
About the Grants
Outdoor Equity Grant Program
The Colorado Outdoor Equity Grant Program (OEGP) funds organizations and projects that improve access, representation, meaningful participation, and quality experiences for youth and their families in the Colorado outdoors. Grants of up to $100,000 are available to support non-profit organizations, for-profits, schools and school districts, federally-recognized tribes, and local governments. Grant projects decrease barriers to the outdoors for traditionally-excluded youth, provide responsible recreation experiences, create conservation opportunities, and support job and career training for low-income, racially and ethnically diverse youth, LBGTQ+ youth, the disability community, and/or American Indian and Native youth.
$8.5
Million in Funding Awarded
141
Total Projects Funded
111
Awarded Organizations
51
Colorado Counties Invested in
How our Grants are Funded
When you buy a lottery ticket, you're helping create opportunities for youth in the outdoors!
Colorado Lottery
The Outdoor Equity Grant Program (OEGP) is funded through proceeds from the Colorado Lottery. After meeting its statutory caps for operations and Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), any excess funds support the OEGP and other conservation and education needs in Colorado.
About the Colorado LotteryKeep Colorado Wild Pass
Additionally, the Keep Colorado Wild Pass helps fund educational initiatives at CPW. Support Colorado’s natural and recreational resources by purchasing yours!
Purchase a Keep Colorado Wild Pass.png?w=624&itok=dxaem-pU)
Funding Opportunities
The Outdoor Equity Grant Program funds a wide variety of outdoor recreation, education, and job training opportunities for youth, from school programs, to summer camps, to internship programs. The table below describes the types of programs funded in 2025. Please note that many projects may span more than one category.
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Outdoor Equity Grant Program Application Guide
The Outdoor Equity Grant Program invests in organizations that increase access to the outdoors for youth and families from communities that are traditionally underrepresented in outdoor recreation and conservation.
How to Apply
Check Eligibility
Eligible Applicants:
- Non-profit organizations
- For-profit organizations
- School districts
- Local governments
- Federally-recognized Tribes
Choose a Project
Program or project focus should aim to increase access to the outdoors and decrease barriers for Colorado youth (0-25) and their families and:
- Proposals should tell which inequities in accessing the outdoors the community they work with face, and how they plan to help break down those barriers.
- Projects should increase accessibility to the outdoors for Coloradans from one or more of the following five traditionally-excluded communities: low-income, racially and ethnically diverse youth, LBGTQ+, the disability community, and/or American Indians.
- Proposals should do one or more of the following: provide environmental, experiential, conservation or outdoor education; introduce stewardship opportunities; or provide job and career training.
Eligible Costs
- Programming, staffing, food, and transportation costs are eligible for funding. This includes costs associated with project planning, coordination, implementation, communication and or celebration.
- General operating grants are eligible for organizations whose mission includes conservation, outdoor recreation, the environment, or other topics aligned with the Outdoor Equity Grant.
- Costs associated with volunteer engagement and retention, e.g., prizes, awards, food, etc.
- Expenses associated with acquiring general liability, auto, and worker’s compensation insurance necessary to receive grants from CPW.
- Outdoor structures such as outdoor classrooms, playgrounds, fields, etc.
- Capital purchases (vehicle, gear, equipment, physical goods, etc)
Ineligible Costs
- Land acquisition.
- Trail projects or trail-building equipment.
- Building construction, renovation, or indoor structures.
Submit a Letter of Interest
To apply, submit a letter of interest via a form on Survey Monkey Apply. Letters of interest will ask for the following information:
- Amount requested. Must be equal to or less than $100,000
- What will this grant request support?
- A description of the youth and families you will engage, including what counties and cities youth live in.
- A description of your proposed scope of work and how it will offer responsible recreation opportunities, environmental or outdoor based education, or career pathways in the outdoor, conservation, or environmental fields.
- Explanation of how your request aligns to the priorities and needs of the youth and families you propose to work with.
Applicants who submit a letter of interest will be notified in August whether they have been selected to move forward to complete a full application.
The letter of interest period for the grant is April 18 - June 2, 2025.
Submit an Application
The most competitive letter of interest submissions will advance to the full application on Survey Monkey Apply by August 5.
In addition to the information asked in the letter of interest, you will be asked to include the following in your application:
- Your project budget.
- A budget narrative.
- A timeline of your project.
- An explanation of how your organization incorporates justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion into all aspects of your programming and youth opportunities An explanation of how you incorporate community input into your outdoor opportunities.
The application period for the grant is August 5 - September 30, 2025.
Scoring Applications
This is a highly competitive program. Historically, less than 18% of grant applications are selected for funding.
Outdoor Equity Grant Program Board
The Outdoor Equity Grant Board is an independent, decision-making body that sets direction for the grant program, reviews applications and awards grants.
Proposals are reviewed by the Outdoor Equity Grant Program Board and scored based on the following selection criteria:
- A deep understanding of the community being served and barriers youth and families face in accessing the outdoors.
- Efforts to instill a sense of wonder, excitement, and responsibility for the environment.
- Organizational commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in outdoor recreation, conservation and environmental education.
- Incorporation of community input into project goals and outcomes.
- Demonstrated need and commitment to diverse voices and perspectives
Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the Outdoor Equity Grant Board are committed to improving access, representation, meaningful participation and quality experiences for youth and their families in the Colorado outdoors. Our goal is to build the Colorado of our future through strategic investments that improve the lives and well being of youth and their families.
In July of 2023, OEGP Board adopted the following values:
- Opportunities for the Community: We value opportunities that respect the community’s ability to define their own priorities so they can obtain the resources to achieve their goals.
- Opportunities for the Families and Youth: We value opportunities that instill a sense of wonder, excitement, and responsibility for the environment in Colorado youth and families. Our hope is to fund and support diverse organizations that provide outdoor education and recreation experiences to underserved youth and families
Grant Timeline
Key Topic |
Date |
Time |
|---|---|---|
|
Letter of Interest Submission Period |
April 18, 2025 - June 2, 2025 |
5:00 p.m. MT. |
|
April 30, 2025 |
10 -11:30 a.m. MT. |
|
|
Selected Applicants Notified & Full Application Submission Period |
August 5, 2025 - September 30, 2025 |
5:00 p.m. MT. |
|
Informational Q&A Session |
August 26, 2025 |
10 - 11:30 a.m. MT. |
|
Applicants Notified of Grant Decision |
December 15, 2025 |
|
|
Award/contract process begins |
January 5, 2026 |
|
|
Funds disbursed by |
March 31, 2026 |
Meet the Grant Recipients
Awarded organizations make a significant impact by providing access to outdoor recreation, environmental education, and conservation opportunities for underserved communities. These featured grant recipients represent some of the diverse and impactful projects supported by the OEGP across the state.
Mountain Pride
Mountain Pride focuses on creating an inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ youth, particularly within marginalized communities, including low-income, racially diverse, and disabled youth in Eagle County. During the summer of 2024, Mountain Pride hosted its first summer camp which provided a safe, inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ youth with dedicated staff and diverse outdoor activities.
Wilderness Workshop
Wilderness Workshop’s Defiende Program engages the Latinx community in Western Colorado through free, bilingual outdoor events and educational opportunities, connecting participants with public lands for recreation and learning. Every summer, Wilderness Workshop offers bilingual programming that connects Latinos to public lands through outdoor events, hikes, rafting, and mountain biking.
Panadero Ski Corporation
The Panadero Ski Corporation brings new life to the former Cuchara ski area to provide year-round, accessible outdoor recreation for all community members, regardless of background, skill level, or age. They will focus on providing free ski and mountain biking camps to area youth during school holidays.
Greater Arkansas River Nature Association
The Greater Arkansas River Nature Association (GARNA) fosters conservation and offers educational programs and experiences that encourage stewardship of the Upper Arkansas Valley’s natural resources. Through community collaboration, they aim to inspire responsible use of the environment and focus on leaving a lasting legacy of conservation in their communities.
Vibe Tribe Adventures
Vibe Tribe Adventures gives Black and Indigenous youth and youth of color access to outdoor recreation and conservation, throughout communities in Colorado, focusing on empowering youth through activities, training, and mentorship
San Juan Mountains Association
San Juan Mountains Association provides outdoor education and conservation programs for low-income, diverse youth in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains region. Through various programming, including "Activity Fridays," youth summits, and conservation corps, they engage students in environmental science, help them build connections to the outdoors, and foster long-term relationships with nature.
Contact
Please email any questions about the Outdoor Equity Program grants to:
Outdoor Equity Grant Program Manager
- Andrea Kurth
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife
- [email protected]