Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØ

Below is a summary assembled by the Research & Innovation Office (RIO). Please see the full solicitation for complete information about the funding opportunity.

Program Summary

The purpose of this funding is to advance health and well-being for young people ages 9 to 25 in Colorado who experience health inequities due to economic injustice, racism, and discrimination through strategic investments designed to support young people, strengthen families, and build youth-centered communities.

We work to improve health outcomes for people experiencing the greatest inequities in health, well-being, and opportunity. Recognizing that economic injustice, racism, and discrimination are major drivers of health inequity, for our Youth Health and Well-Being funding priority, we prioritize:

• Young people and families living with low incomes, defined as living below 260% of the federal poverty level, 80% Area Median Income, or TANF eligible.
• Communities of color, including individuals from various racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds not identified as white.
• Young people who identify as 2SLGBTQAI+.
• Young people who are experiencing the child welfare system.
• Young people being raised by grandparents or other kinship caregivers.
• Young people who are experiencing housing insecurity.
• Young people who are experiencing the juvenile justice system.
• Young people who are pregnant or parenting.
• Young people who are experiencing interpersonal or family violence or abuse.
• Newly arrived immigrants or refugees.
• Young people who are experiencing family separation and/or instability due to parent involvement in the justice or immigration system.
• Young people living with visible or invisible disabilities, including physical or intellectual disabilities or mental health conditions that create barriers to education, healthcare, or employment.
• Young people who are pregnant or parenting.

Review the guidance under the Funding Resources tabÌý for full details.Ìý

Deadlines

• Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØInternal Deadline: 11:59pm MST October 13, 2025
• Sponsor Registration Deadline: November 4, 2025
• Sponsor Application Deadline: November 6, 2025

Internal Application Requirements

• Focus/Strategy Area (select 1-2 that most align with your project):
  • Supporting Young People
  • Strengthening Families
  • 2GEN: Supporting Young People and Strengthening Families
  • Building Youth-Centered Communities
• Project Summary (2 pages maximum): Detail the proposed work, beneficiary population, and tie to selected strategies; address what will be done, how, for whom, and outcomes sought.
• PI CV / Biosketch
• Budget Overview (up to 1 page): A basic budget outlining project costs is sufficient; detailed OCG budgets are not required.

To access the online application, visit:Ìý

Focus Area Eligibility

Supporting Young People and Strengthening Families: The proposed work serves a minimum of 75% of young people/families who live on low incomes (at or below 260% of the federal poverty level, 80% Area Median Income, or TANF eligible) OR the proposed work explicitly centers one of Caring for Colorado’s priority populations (at least 90% of the young people or families served identify with the population centered). We recognize that many young people hold multiple, intersecting identities and may experience overlapping forms of inequity. However, for eligibility purposes, this requirement is intended to support efforts that are intentionally designed by and for a specific priority population. Therefore, multiple priority populations cannot be combined to meet the 90% threshold.

Building Youth-Centered Communities: The proposed work serves one or more of the following counties: Alamosa, Archuleta, Baca, Bent, Conejos, Costilla, Crowley, Custer, Delta, Fremont, Garfield, Huerfano, Kit Carson, Lake, La Plata, Las Animas, Lincoln, Logan, Mesa, Montezuma, Montrose, Morgan, Otero, Phillips, Prowers, Pueblo, Rio Grande, Saguache, Sedgwick, Washington, and Yuma OR the applicant is a School-based Health Center that provides comprehensive, equitable healthcare to young people (ages 9 to 25).

Limited Submission Guidelines

Organizations can only submit one application.

Award Information

The grant range from the last cycle was $60,000 (12-month period) to $300,000 (36-month period).

Evaluation Process

When making grant decisions, Caring for Colorado considers various factors, including eligibility, population served, alignment with focus areas, strategies, andÌý, as well as geography, community context, and proposed impact.