Boettcher Foundation Colorado Grantmaking: Rural Catalyst Grants

The Boettcher Foundation's Rural Catalyst Grants empower Colorado's rural communities by providing funding of $1,000 to $10,000 for capacity-building initiatives. Eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofits and governmental entities can apply for support in areas like strategic planning, convening, and one-time operating costs. The foundation prioritizes organizations that enhance leadership and community collaboration, ensuring impactful projects that strengthen rural Colorado's future.

NOTE: Staff will review inquiries during the acceptance windows, typically responding within six weeks of receipt, to inform organizations if they will be invited to submit a full application. We prefer that organizations only submit one application of either grant opportunity (Rural Catalyst grant OR Community Connections grant) per cycle.
The Boettcher Foundation believes in the promise of Colorado and the potential of Coloradans because courageous leadership benefits every community in our state. By investing in people, programs, and organizations, we provide a foundation for transformational impact and community building.
These capacity-building grants range from $1,000-$10,000 and are distributed to support the following types of projects:
Strategic planning: Identifying elements of a blueprint that helps an organization accomplish its goals.Convening: Bringing people, ideas, and resources together to move forward an issue, topic, or opportunity.Short-term staffing or contractors: Supporting employees or expertise recruited for short term employment contracts to meet limited, one-time support needs.One-time operating costs: Covering expenses related to the operation of the organization or program that are not recurring, such as tap fees, application fees, public outreach, or education material expenses.

Eligibility

The Boettcher Foundation accepts grant proposals from 501(c)(3) nonprofits and/or governmental entities that have a qualified exempt purpose.Eligible Issue Areas: Current eligible areas include affordable rural housing, childcare, hiring and retaining a rural workforce, leadership pipeline and diversification, mental health, rural placemaking, and community-to-community collaboration. All applicants must have had at least one staff member, volunteer, or board member attend the Foundation’s Rural Collaborative meeting focused on one of the issue areas.

Ineligibility

Please note that the Boettcher Foundation does not fund, or prioritize funding, for the following:General operating support
Fundraising events
Foundations or funds that provide financial assistance to individuals
Organizations primarily serving animals
Capital projects at K-12 charter, public, or private schools

501(c)(3) nonprofits and governmental entities working in rural Colorado. At least one staff, volunteer or board member must have attended a Rural Leaders Collaborative meeting between 2024 and 2026. The project must be a strategic opportunity (not general operating support) in an eligible issue area. Inquiry windows: Jan 12–Feb 13 and Oct 1–30.