Grant Applications
Routt County United Way (RCUW) Grant Cycle is Open
January 20 – February 17 by 12:00pm MST, 2023
Grant Application Information
Please complete the application as outlined below:
- Please read grant criteria below.
- If you were awarded a grant that ends this year, please complete the grant report first. This may save you time when filling out the grant application.
- Schedule a pre-qualification meeting with RCUW.
- Attend a grant application training:
- January, 19 9:00-11Am and 1:00-3:00PM ( 1st session Zoom Meeting Link Here) (2nd Zoom Meeting Link Here)
- January, 20 9:30-11:30AM and 1-3:00PM (1st Zoom Meeting Link Here) (2nd Zoom Meeting Link Here)
- Review the Supplemental Instructions.
- Review the RCUW Evaluation Rubric.
- Fill out and submit your grant application by February 17 by 12pm MST.
- RCUW Community Conversation Day with Agencies on April 12.
Our Vision
We envision a county where all individuals and families achieve their human potential through access to education, opportunities to improve financial stability, and support to lead healthy lives.
Our Mission
Our mission is to unite people, ideas, and resources to advance the common good in education, financial stability, and health.
Watch our grant application training recordings >
Grant Criteria:
Program Features
- Fund a program aligned with your core organization goals.
- Serve primarily lower-income, at-risk clients in Routt County.
- Address a RCUW community impact goal.
- Show strong program management ability by delivering, critically evaluating and improving program results.
Organizational Features
- Exhibit strong oversight by an engaged Board of Directors.
- Present a financially healthy organization with independently reviewed or audited financial statements.
RCUW only accepts requests for program funding; RCUW does not fund general operations or capital equipment at this time.
RCUW Member Organizations’ grant requests for programs that meet or exceed RCUW expectations will receive funding priority. See our evaluation rubric.
2023 RCUW Community Impact Goals:
Give children a strong start
(birth to 8 years of age)
We all benefit when every child from the earliest age has a strong developmental start. RCUW funds programs that improve developmental opportunities for lower-income, at-risk children. We seek to address the following challenges:
- Access to affordable, quality preschool and childcare
- Access to other early childhood development programs that promote literacy, kindergarten preparation or parenting skills
- Childhood food insecurity
- Need for more and better qualified preschool teachers
Provide youth a safe, healthy, and nurturing environment
(9-17 years of age)
Transitions are sometimes tough for young people, particularly at-risk youth. RCUW seeks to fund programs that support the successful transition of elementary school students into middle school, of middle school students into high school and of high school students into adulthood. Challenges that we will look to address are:
- Literacy at grade level
- Financial literacy or work/life readiness
- Food insecurity
- Bullying prevention and support for diversity
- Discouraging use of alcohol, tobacco, vaping and other drugs
- Need for student engagement and/or parental support
- Healthy behavioral boundaries
- Appropriate use of technology
Improve the financial stability of all Routt County residents in need
(families and adults 18 years and older)
With 30% of Routt County households living below the county self-sufficiency standard, many individuals and families struggle to make ends meet. Lack of savings or insurance may make other adults or families vulnerable to unanticipated, adverse circumstances. Programs that seek to achieve the following will be considered:
- Build financial skills or resiliency through adult education or counseling in household financial management or workplace readiness
- Reduce food insecurity
- Enable seniors to live in their homes longer if they wish
- Improve household financial stability
- Improve access to adult education or training that enhances job skills
Expand access to Mental Health & Crisis Services
(individuals of any age)
People who experience mental health issues or physical or emotional abuse need support and access to resources to move towards a better quality of life. To promote the social/emotional wellbeing of community members, we seek to fund programs that:
- Offer mental health education or counseling for adults or children
- Prevent suicides through education or counseling
- Address substance abuse
- Prevent domestic violence or abuse
- Respond to people in crisis
How to Apply:
Schedule a pre-qualification meeting with Routt County United Way.
The RCUW grant cycle opens January 20, 2022.
All grant applications and supporting documents are due on February 17, 2023 by 12:00 pm MST.
We have 2 different grant applications. The criteria for each are shown below.
Community Program Application
Community Programs are limited to an annual funding request in an amount not exceeding $2,500. Community programs must provide services that help lower-income Routt County residents to develop their potential or to meet their basic needs, and that align with one of RCUW’s community impact goals.
Nonprofit Organization Application
Non-profit organizations do not have a dollar limitation on the amount that they can request for their programs. Non-profit organizations must be tax-exempt, provide services to Routt County residents which address a RCUW community impact goal, and meet other key considerations (see Grant Criteria above).
All funded programs must review actual results with RCUW by completing a Grant Report. Questions should be directed to Kate Nowak:
The Community Investment Committee will review grants by impact area. Any questions for an agency will be sent on the following days with a week turnaround.
Impact Area
Early Childhood Education
Youth Success
Financial Stability/ Mental Health & Crisis Services
Questions Sent
2/28/2023
3/14/2023
3/28/2023
Answers Due
3/7/2023
3/21/2023
4/4/2023
April 12: All Day Community Conversations with RCUW Community Investment Committee.