For 26 years, the Small Grants for Community Partnering Program has awarded grants to communities throughout Larimer County using a portion of the Help Preserve Open Spaces sales tax for outdoor neighborhood and community-based projects.
The program was created by Larimer County's Department of Natural Resources (LCDNR) to provide the community with direct access to open spaces sales tax dollars to support outdoor community projects and to nurture community partnerships for lasting impacts across the region.
LCDNR invites new and returning non-profit organizations, HOAs, K-12 schools, and community-based organizations to apply for seed or capacity-building funding to develop and enhance natural landscapes, provide nature-based environmental education opportunities, provide access to nature for those experiencing barriers, provide opportunities for people to connect with the land through local agricultural food production, or conduct research on county open spaces.
The program supports a wide range of community-based projects including but not limited to xeriscape gardens, outdoor classrooms, wetland restoration or improvements, removal of invasive species, community garden improvements, environmental education signage, lake/pond shoreline improvements, nature-based workshops, and educational training, and more!
The 2025 Grant Cycle is now OPEN.
All applications must be received through the online form by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, October 11, 2024. Applicants may request up to $4,000 per project, limited to one application per grant cycle. The program will consider seed or capacity-building requests only. General operating requests are not eligible for funding.
To get started, review the recommended steps to apply!
Step 1: Download and review the 2025 Grant Guidelines & Instructions document
Step 2: Download and review the 2025 Budget Worksheet and 2025 Budget Worksheet Example.
Step 3: Start coordinating the required project materials, documents, and letters, as needed.
Step 4: Complete the application narrative sections and the budget worksheet (in Word and Excel, respectively)
Step 5: Start your online application (save, as needed) and upload all required attachments.
Step 6: Submit your application by the deadline.
Apply for a 2025 Grant!
2025 Program Webinar Recording (08.29.2024)
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**For questions about the program or applying, please get in touch with the Small Grants Program Coordinator, Jenn Almstead, at jalmstead@larimer.org.