COMMUNITY FUNDING
The Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger invests in local communities to increase healthy food access, advance food justice, and support community-owned food systems across Colorado. Since becoming an organization in 2019, the Blueprint has invested a total of ~$17.6 million in 1,580 grant awards to 554 different organizations through 2023.
As part of our commitment to equity, we provide accessible funding opportunities and distribute grants to support community-based organizations, particularly those traditionally overlooked for funding, who are leading day-to-day work in their local areas and neighborhoods.
Our grant initiatives are intentionally designed to minimize barriers, with only limited requirements to encourage, instead of deterring or disqualifying, interested applicants. As part of this equity-centered process, we ensure shared opportunities for community members to lead decision-making around around grant program development and distribution of funds. We also continuously evaluate our grant distribution programs to ensure they are effective, efficient, and equitable.
Community Food Grants
Annual program — 2024 funding cycle; application closed September 6, 2024
In Spring 2024, the state legislature’s Joint Budget Committee allocated $3 million in funding for food assistance over the next five years through House Bill 2024-1407. This means that the Food Pantry Assistance Grants and Food Bank Assistance Grants have been recombined, similar to their structure prior to 2023. It’s now officially known as the Community Food Grants program.
The newly combined program supports all qualifying emergency food assistance providers with funding, specifically the procurement and distribution of healthy, culturally relevant foods in Colorado communities, while also championing local agriculture.
Microgrants to Increase Healthy Food Access in Local Communities
Second round of funding — new microgrant partners announced in April 2024
The Blueprint’s Microfunding Project Team launched a new microgrant initiative in 2023, awarding $30,000 to community members and grassroots organizations during its first round of funding.
With support from the Colorado Community Health Alliance, they recently pledged a total of $24,000 to support small projects that aim to increase the number of Coloradans who can access affordable, nutritious food in their communities.
Colorado’s COVID-19 Emergency Hunger Relief Fund
Past opportunity — no longer active
In March 2020, the Blueprint was approached by a collaborative of Colorado funders to develop and administer the Colorado’s COVID-19 Emergency Hunger Relief Fund in response to acute hunger that emerged in our communities as a result of the pandemic. While not established to operate as a funder, the Blueprint saw this as an opportunity to ensure available funds were invested into communities hardest hit by COVID as well as bridge the gap and create connections between philanthropic and community organizations.
Through nine rounds of funding, the Blueprint distributed a total of $5.3 million to 536 organizations.
Looking for more funding options? We also share other grant opportunities — ranging from local to international — in our bi-weekly newsletter. Please sign up to stay informed!