Coalitions & Collaboratives, Inc. (COCO) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Denver, Colorado, founded in 2014. The organization fosters conservation efforts to protect and restore natural resources, with a primary focus on forest health, resilience, and wildfire mitigation. COCO partners with nonprofits, corporations, foundations, Tribes, universities, and federal and state agencies to deliver collaborative conservation solutions across Colorado and nationally.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.1M
+123.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$973K
-31.5% YoY
Grant Count
30
-30.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$32K
-1.9% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: To advance healthy and resilient communities through collaborative conservation and restoration.
Vision: A future where ecosystems are resilient and communities thrive together.
COCO's work centers on:
- Delivering innovative solutions to protect ecosystems and build resilient communities
- Engaging and educating leaders on pressing conservation issues
- Supporting inclusive, community-driven solutions to local conservation challenges
- Mentoring place-based organizations and providing financial, technical, and staff support
- Forest health and resilience through ecosystem management programs to mitigate fuels
- Watershed organization development and fire recovery operations
Grantmaking
COCO operates as both a grantmaker and grant recipient. The organization makes grants to support wildfire mitigation and conservation efforts.
Grant Range
** Typical awards range from $5,428 to $91,629
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
COCO's grantmaking and programmatic work focuses primarily on:
- Colorado
- California
- Oregon
- National reach for select programs
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
2023 Financial Summary:
- Total Revenue: $3,362,630
- Total Expenses: $3,588,027
- Total Assets: $483,087
- Total Liabilities: $254,000
- Staff: 32 employees
2024 Financial Summary (most recent filing):
- Total Assets: $1,077,448
- Total Giving: $979,787
COCO notes that the organization is largely dependent on federal funding. The organization maintains a 95% rating (Four-Star) based on accountability and financial metrics.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,077,448 | $483,087 | $984,542 |
| Revenue | $3,743,920 | $3,362,630 | $3,153,514 |
| Expenses | $3,508,373 | $3,588,027 | $2,950,232 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $2,836 | $439 | $2,815 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
162 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Coalitions & Collaboratives Inc
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Yosemite Sequoia Rc&dc ($60,595), Eastern Madera County Fire Safe Council ($55,520), Lincoln County Emergency Management ($53,565).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| COALITION FOR THE POUDRE RIVER FORT COLLINS, CO | MITIGATION & CAPACITY BUILDING | $32,475 |
| DURANGO FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT DURANGO, CO | MITIGATION & CAPACITY BUILDING | $25,225 |
| EASTERN MADERA COUNTY FIRE SAFE COUNCIL NORTH FORK, CA | MITIGATION & CAPACITY BUILDING | $55,520 |
| EVERGREEN FIRERESCUE EVERGREEN, CO | MITIGATION & CAPACITY BUILDING | $25,200 |
| GRAND COUNTY WILDFIRE COUNCIL GRANBY, CO | MITIGATION & CAPACITY BUILDING | $38,126 |
| LINCOLN COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT KEMMERER, WA | MITIGATION & CAPACITY BUILDING | $53,565 |
| MANCOS CONSERVATION DISTRICT MANCOS, CO | MITIGATION & CAPACITY BUILDING | $31,191 |
| POWDER BASIN WATERSHED COUNCIL BAKER CITY, OR | MITIGATION & CAPACITY BUILDING | $49,649 |
| ROARING FORK OUTDOOR VOLUNTEERS CARBONDALE, CO | MITIGATION & CAPACITY BUILDING | $24,828 |
| SALMON RIVER RESTORATION COUNCIL SAWYERS BAR, CA | MITIGATION & CAPACITY BUILDING | $5,428 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Maria Brandt – Outreach & Development Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARY DAWSON | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| ERIC HOWELL | CHAIR | 2 | — |
| LISA MCVICKER | SECRETARY | 2 | — |
| MADELENE MCDONALD | VICE CHAIR | 2 | — |
| JEN KOVECSES | TREASUER | 2 | — |
| MIKE SMITH | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| MARK SHEA | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| CH'ASKA HUYHUACA | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| JAMES CALABAZA | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| JONATHAN BRUNO | CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | 40 | $129,708 |
| ESSTER DUKE | CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER | 40 | $106,139 |
Recent Activity
Recent developments and announcements
COCO actively engages in fundraising and community support efforts. The organization has launched matching gift campaigns to support general operating expenses, recognizing that federal funding delays or reductions could impact program delivery. Current priorities include maintaining staff capacity, sustaining ongoing programs, and responding to emerging community needs related to wildfire resilience, forest health, and watershed protection.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Coalitions & Collaboratives Inc fund?
**Mission:** To advance healthy and resilient communities through collaborative conservation and restoration. **Vision:** A future where ecosystems are resilient and communities thrive together. COCO's work centers on: • Delivering innovative solutions to protect ecosystems and build resilient communities • Engaging and educating leaders on pressing conservation issues • Supporting inclusive, community-driven solutions to local conservation challenges • Mentoring place-based organizations and p…
How do I apply for a grant from Coalitions & Collaboratives Inc?
COCO operates as both a grantmaker and grant recipient. The organization makes grants to support wildfire mitigation and conservation efforts. **Recent Grants Made (2023):** • Fire Adapted Colorado: $91,629 (Mitigation & Capacity Building) • Elk Creek Fire Fighter and Emergency Services Association: $75,000 (Mitigation & Capacity Building) • Del Norte Fire Safe Council: $73,686 (Mitigation & Capacity Building) **Grant Programs:** • **Action, Implementation, and Mitigation (AIM) Grants** – $75,0…
Where does Coalitions & Collaboratives Inc make grants?
COCO's grantmaking and programmatic work focuses primarily on: • Colorado • California • Oregon • National reach for select programs
What size grants does Coalitions & Collaboratives Inc award?
In 2024, Coalitions & Collaboratives Inc awarded 30 grants totaling $973K — an average of about $32K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Coalitions & Collaboratives Inc's EIN?
Coalitions & Collaboratives Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-2144690. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Coalitions & Collaboratives Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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