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Colorado Health Foundation – Community Funding

Amount

$50,000 – $150,000 (estimated range for Community Funding awards).

Deadlines

Cycle 1 deadline Feb 15 2026 (MT); decisions expected May 2026.

Cycle

Biannual cycles; SungateKids is targeting Cycle 1 2026 with prep beginning Dec 2025.

Effort & Priority

Effort: 7  |  Priority: Worth Exploring
Expected success: Medium.

Why It Matters

CHF is a leading statewide health equity funder. A Community Funding grant can stabilize SungateKids’ behavioral health services, support bilingual clinicians, or back integration with community mental health partners.

Positioning

  • Center the proposal on trauma-informed behavioral health for children impacted by abuse—aligns with CHF’s mental health priorities.
  • Demonstrate how services reduce health disparities (e.g., access for Medicaid/uninsured families, culturally matched therapists, rural outreach).
  • Highlight cross-sector partnerships (AllHealth Network, county public health, school districts) to show systems-level collaboration.
  • Consider requesting multi-year support to mirror CHF’s emphasis on sustainable change.

Preparation Checklist

  • December: confirm which CHF priority (likely Mental Health & Well-Being) and gather updated community health data.
  • January: secure partner statements demonstrating integrated care pipelines.
  • Draft narrative in early February tying outcomes to CHF metrics (resilience, access, community voice).
  • Budget for program expansion components CHF can underwrite (e.g., clinician FTE, telehealth tools, transportation assistance).

Success Factors

  • Provide disaggregated outcome data (race/ethnicity, geography) to evidence equity impact.
  • Show community engagement—caregiver advisory input, survivor-informed program design.
  • Describe evaluation methods (clinical assessments, longitudinal follow-up) that demonstrate improved well-being.
  • Outline sustainability plan leveraging VOCA, VALE, and philanthropy to extend CHF investment.

Risks & Mitigation

  • Competitive pool: CHF receives statewide requests—anchor the narrative in unique CAC expertise and measurable health outcomes.
  • Equity scrutiny: Ensure narrative reflects community voice, language access, and culturally specific supports.
  • Capacity: Confirm staff bandwidth to manage CHF reporting and relationship stewardship.

Key Resources