CORE Fund- Conservation, Outdoor Recreation, and Environment Grant

The Conservation, Outdoor Recreation, and Environment (CORE) Grant, initiated by the Western Colorado Community Foundation, supports impactful projects in conservation and outdoor recreation across western Colorado. Launched in 2019, it funds initiatives like the Outdoor Wilderness Lab and the Colorado Water Trust's river flow projects. With a commitment to enhancing community resources, the CORE Fund aims to foster environmental stewardship and recreational access for residents in the region, ensuring the sustainability of natural landscapes and community health.

Western Colorado Community Foundation
It operates in a seven-county region, including Delta, Eagle, Garfield, Mesa, Montrose, Ouray, and Rio Blanco Counties.
Initially starting with committed citizens but limited funds, the foundation now oversees over 330 charitable funds and nearly $170 million in total assets. Annually, it distributes $6.6 million in grants and scholarships to benefit the region.
The mission of the Western Colorado Community Foundation is to promote charitable giving, build and manage charitable funds for community good, and provide grants, scholarships, and other resources to benefit the residents and communities of western Colorado.
Our Community Foundation launched the CORE Fund in 2019 with support from a generous group of founders and friends passionate about the three focus areas: conservation, outdoor recreation, and the environment. Given the broad spectrum CORE covers and WCCF’s finite resources, we work with our non-profit partners to support programs and projects with high-impact for the people and places of western Colorado. Some recent examples of funded projects include: the Outdoor Wilderness Lab (OWL) western Colorado’s only outdoor school that offers outdoor experiences through science-based curriculum to all D51 6th graders; the Colorado Water Trust’s work to keep flows in the Colorado River above the confluence with Gunnison River; and Citizens for Clean Air biochar study that aims to keep carbon in the ground and reduce harmful burning practices.