Microgrants to Increase Healthy Food Access in Communities
(Second Round of Funding)

 

The Blueprint’s Workgroup 2/3: Healthy Food Access in Communities 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 working to increase the number of Coloradans who can access affordable, nutritious food in their communities. 

The Microfunding Project Team is excited to announce that eight grassroots organizations will receive funding support beginning Spring 2024. Each will receive $3,000 to bolster their efforts to increase access to nutritious, affordable food in their local communities. Learn more about the funded partners and their projects.

This second round of microgrant funding prioritized initiatives spearheaded by community members residing in select counties, with a particular focus on efforts led by people of color and budgets under $50,000. The counties include Boulder, Broomfield, Clear Creek, El Paso, Gilpin, Jefferson, Park, and Teller.

Application & Funding Timeline

The online application is now closed. It became available on Friday, March 15, and was open through Sunday, March 31. We cannot guarantee funding for all applicants. Awarded grantees will be notified by Monday, April 8. If awarded funding, you will receive funding by Friday, April 26.

You do not need to be a 501(c)3 organization to apply; however, if you’re applying as an individual or a business, you will need to submit a W9 at the time of application and the funding will be considered taxable income.

Here’s what type of information may be requested as part of the application:

  • Project, business, organization, or farm name

  • Your contact information

  • Your community (city/town and county)

  • Brief history of your project, business, organization, or farm (2 - 3 sentences)

  • Leadership of your organization (3 -5 sentences)

  • Impact of work on your community to increase equity and access nutritious foods (3 - 5 sentences)

  • Annual budget

  • How you will use the microgrant (3 - 5 sentences)

  • Requested funding amount

  • Biggest challenges that your community faces (3 - 5 sentences)

  • How you will receive the funding if awarded

  • Agreement to fulfill the requirements below

  • Anything else you would like to share

All funding decisions will be made by community leaders from the Microfunding Project Team of the Blueprint’s Workgroup 2/3: Healthy Food Access in Communities.

Eligibility & Requirements

We will prioritize small, grassroots projects directly led by community members in specific counties, with an emphasis on initiatives spearheaded by people of color. These $3,000 grants will be prioritized for community-led projects and organizations with budgets under $50,000. The projects must increase access to affordable, nutritious food on a community level.

The work must carried out in one or more of the following counties (in alphabetical order):

  • Boulder County

  • Broomfield County

  • Clear Creek County

  • El Paso County

  • Gilpin County

  • Jefferson County

  • Park County

  • Teller County

The Blueprint defines community as those who are the most impacted by inequities as a result of policies and procedures and have historically been left out of the decision-making process. A grassroots organization is an organization primarily made up of folks advocating for a cause to spur change at local, national, or international levels. These groups take a bottom-up approach, which allows the group to define their own goals and how to achieve them.

Examples of work and organizations we are looking to support include (but are not limited to):

  • No-cost farmers’ markets or produce/farm stands

  • Pop-up food markets

  • Farmers, producers, or community gardeners with a commitment to creating greater food access and sovereignty

  • Small grocery stores or retailers that sell produce

  • Mobile food markets

  • Low-cost produce/farm stands

  • Food rescue efforts

  • Culturally specific responses to food inequity

  • Community organizing strategies to increase community-based food systems leadership

Some examples of costs that could be covered with this funding include (but are not limited to):

  • Staff time or volunteer stipends

  • Irrigation or farm equipment

  • Farming or community gardening supplies

  • Seeds or food-producing plants

  • Workshops or trainings

  • Technology, such as point-of-service equipment

  • Equipment such as shelving, refrigeration, freezers, and produce preparation equipment

  • Food purchases that are nutrient-dense and culturally sensitive

You do not need to be a 501(c)3 organization to apply; however, if you’re applying as an individual or a business, you will need to submit a W9 at the time of application and the funding will be considered taxable income. 

Anyone receiving funding will be required to do the following: Sign a contract, as well as submit 2 - 3 photos and a final report on the grant’s impact and how the funds were spent by December 2, 2024.

If you have additional questions, please contact Dolores Ramirez of the Blueprint by email or text at (303) 720-1945.