Competitive Grants

Competitive Grants

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: El Pomar Foundation
Last Updated: December 28, 2025

Summary

El Pomar Foundation offers competitive grants on a rolling basis, reviewed four to six times a year by Trustees. Funding is available for a variety of focus areas including arts, education, health, and community initiatives. Eligible organizations must be active 501(c)(3) nonprofits operating in Colorado. Applications for capital support are capped at $100,000. Note that funded applicants must wait three years to reapply, while declined applicants must wait one year.

Overview

NOTE: We accept applications on a rolling basis, and our Trustees review them 4-6 times a year during Trustee meetings. There are no deadlines for applications, so we encourage you to apply at least 8-10 weeks prior to the Trustee meeting that best fits your grant request timing found here. Our competitive process is the primary grant making vehicle for organizations to receive funding. We are a general purpose foundation, which means the Trustees approve grants across a wide spectrum of focus areas including: arts and culture, civic and community initiatives, education, health and human services. Under our competitive process we accept applications for general operating, program and capital support. Please note, if funded through the competitive process applicants must wait three years (36 months) before submitting a new application. If declined applicants must wait one year (12 months) before submitting a new application.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Your organization is eligible to apply for a grant from El Pomar Foundation if:It is an active 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizationIts activities take place in ColoradoIf requesting capital support, your request is less than $100,000

Ineligibility

The Foundation does not accept grant applications for grant support to:IndividualsPrimary or secondary schools (K-12) – El Pomar will consider, on a limited basis, capital requests from non-publicly funded secondary schoolsOther foundations or nonprofits that distribute money to recipients of its own selectionCamps, camp programs, or other seasonal activitiesReligious organizations for support of religious programsFund research projects or studiesEndowmentsOrganizations that practice discrimination of any kindOrganizations that do not have fiscal responsibility for the proposed projectOrganizations that do not have an active 501(c)(3) nonprofit IRS determination letterCover deficits or debt eliminationCover travel, conferences, conventions, group meetings, or seminarsInfluence legislation or support candidates for political officeProduce videos or other media projects