Colorado Disability Funding Committee Grants

The Colorado Disability Funding Committee Grants aim to enhance the quality of life for individuals with disabilities by funding innovative programs. Under the Laura Hershey Disability Support Act, the committee invites proposals from nonprofit entities that can provide new solutions for accessing disability benefits and improving independence. With $800,000 available in this grant round, each grant will not exceed $50,000, focusing on projects that prioritize those facing significant barriers.

Disability Funding Committee Mission Statement
To maximize support for new and innovative programs benefiting Colorado's disability community by raising and distributing funds as authorized by the Laura Hershey Disability Support Act.
Under the Laura Hershey Disability Support Act, as amended, C.R.S. § 8-88-200 et seq., the Colorado Disability Funding Committee (the “CDFC”) "shall invite nonprofit entities to submit a proposal for a program to aid persons with disabilities in accessing disability benefits" and “shall accept and review proposals to fund projects or programs that study or pilot new and innovative ideas that will lead to an improved quality of life or increased independence for persons with disabilities.”.
The Committee defines "new and innovative ideas," as that term is used in C.R.S. 8-88-204, to mean novel or original concepts for improving quality of life or increased independence for persons with disabilities, whether such concepts are completely new or propose changes to existing concepts, programs, projects, products, or fields.
The Colorado Disability Funding Committee (CDFC) is created under the Laura Hershey Disability Support Act, as amended, C.R.S. § 8-88-200 et seq.  The CDFC funds grants in the following categories:
Disability Application Assistance and New and Innovative ProjectsFinancial and medical disability application assistance as outlined in C.R.S. § 8-88-203. Programs and/or projects that study or pilot new and innovative ideas that will lead to an improved quality of life or increased independence for persons with disabilities as outlined in C.R.S. § 8-88-204.The CDFC generates revenue for these grants through the sale of the rights to use unique Colorado license plates under C.R.S. § 24-30-2208 and the sale of historic license plate backgrounds under C.R.S. § 42-3-206.5.Disability Parking Education as outlined in C.R.S. § 42-1-227.The CDFC generates revenue for these grants through 50% of fines for disability parking violations throughout Colorado under C.R.S. § 24-30-2204.5.
The Colorado Disability Opportunity Office and the Colorado Disability Funding Committee will be awarding a total of $800,000 in this grant round, with each award being less than $50,000.

Eligibility

For Disability Application Assistance Grants:Nonprofit entities that meet the following criteria, pursuant to C.R.S. 8-88-203, are welcome to apply: ontain a majority of board members who are persons with disabilities, persons with immediate family members who are persons with disabilities, or persons who are care givers to a family member who is a person with disabilities, or Have a contract with an organization that meets the above criteria to assume the disability perspective. For New and Innovative Grants:For-profit, nonprofit, governmental entities, and sole proprietorships that meet the following criteria, pursuant to C.R.S. 8-88-204, are welcome to apply: Demonstrate a capability to be financially self-sustaining or otherwise be able to develop long-term independent funding Have a governing body, board, or ownership that is composed of persons with a demonstrated commitment to improving the lives of persons with disabilities. The majority of the governing body must be persons with disabilities, persons with immediate family members who are persons with disabilities, or persons who are caregivers to a family member who is a person with disabilitiesIn the case of a sole proprietorship, have an owner who is a person with a demonstrated commitment to improving the lives of persons with disabilities, who is a person with a disability, a person with an immediate family member who is a person with a disability, or a person who is a care giver to a family member who is a person with a disabilityApplicants are required to have an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) statement and demonstrate that their program will specifically advance EDI among people with disabilities in Colorado.