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.
$10.5
Million in Funding Awarded
165
Grants Awarded
79,000
People Reached
56
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!
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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 2024. Please note that many projects may span more than one category.
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 Grant Interest Form
Grant Interest Forms 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.
Applicants who submitted a Grant Interest Form will be notified in August whether they have been selected to move forward to complete a full application.
The Grant Interest Form submission period for the grant was April 18 - June 2, 2025.
If you or someone in your community needs the Grant Interest Form translated into another language, please reach out to us.
Watch Before Applying
Before applying, please watch our informational webinar.
Para los solicitantes de habla hispana, el seminario web con información está traducido a español. Es un buen recurso para ayudarte a completar tu solicitud.
Submit an Application
Applicants with scopes of work that are the most competitive will be selected to complete the online application on Survey Monkey Apply.
In addition to the information asked in the grant interest form, 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 30, 2025 - June 2, 2026 |
5:00 p.m. MT. |
|
Selected Applicants Notified & Full Application Submission Period |
August 5, 2026 - September 15, 2026 |
5:00 p.m. MT. |
|
Applicants Notified of Grant Decision |
November 20, 2026 |
|
|
Award/contract process begins |
January 5, 2027 |
|
|
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.
Awarded Organizations
Bits of Freedom
Bits of Freedom from Beulah, Colorado helps children with physical, intellectual, and developmental disabilities through equine therapeutic riding, which supports balance, coordination, and sensory processing. With grant funding, Bits Of Freedom will expand access and provide scholarships so more children from underserved families can participate in equine-assisted therapy.
Southwest Conservation Corps
Southwest Conservation Corps will use grant funds to provide opportunities for young people to participate in paid conservation work and environmental education. Youth will participate in inclusive skill building experiences such as trail work, habitat restoration, and land stewardship projects across Southwest Colorado and the Four Corners region.
Friends of Youth and Nature
Friends of Youth and Nature (FOYAN) removes financial and geographic barriers to underserved youth in Western Slope communities. FOYAN offers scholarships, transportation, gear and mentored outdoor experiences across Mesa, Delta, Montrose and Ouray Counties. With outdoor equity funds, FOYAN will expand field trips, outdoor education labs and summer camps that expand outdoor education, and land stewardship.
Riverside Education Center
The funding from the Outdoor Equity Grant Program will help Riverside Education Center (REC) expand their outdoor learning opportunities for youth in Mesa County. Funding will support REC in providing accessible activities such as hiking, biking, swimming and environmental education.
Inside Out Youth Services
Inside Out Youth Services (IOYS) provides safe, affirming spaces and supportive programs for LGBTQIA2+ youth in the Pikes Peak region. They offer leadership development, mental health resources, and community building activities. Funding will support access to IOYS’ Queer Scouts program, which removes barriers so youth can have inclusive and empowering experiences in the outdoors.
Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network
With OEGP funding, Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network (CACEN) has created youth outdoor programming to support Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander children and families in connecting with nature together. Grant funds will expand access to culturally-responsive outdoor experiences for underrepresented youth.
Outdoor Equity Grant Program News
Grants
Casting Confidence: The Mayfly Project
Colorado Parks and Wildlife Invests $2 Million in Equity Grants to Provide Outdoor Experiences for Youth, bringing Total Outdoor Equity Grant Investments to $10.5 Million
Dreaming in Arapaho
Reclaiming language and culture through the outdoors.
Grants
New board member brings LGBTQ+ advocacy experience to Colorado's Outdoor Equity Grant Program
Opening the Outdoors
For many in attendance, it wasn’t just a field day — but an invitation to the outdoors.
Reaching New Peaks: Colorado Parks and Wildlife Grant Supports Blind Rock Climbers
A group from the Colorado Center for the Blind sets out on an adventure, using their other senses to explore the outdoors.
%20Photo.jpg?w=480&itok=SQROjfAH "A boy holding a fishing rod, and a man teaching him how to fish.")
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]