What is responsive grantmaking? Responsive grantmaking means that the grants the foundation gives support community-identified needs rather than foundation identified programs. Projects fitting within broad funding parameters may be considered for funding.

What is strategic grantmaking? Through strategic, or initiative-based grantmaking, a foundation solicits projects that fit within defined objectives to achieve specific outcomes.

Does Caring for Colorado give responsive or strategic grants? Both. The vast majority of Caring for Colorado funds are distributed through a responsive grantmaking process. The foundation currently has one initiative, the Oral Health Improvement Program. The goals of this initiative are to strengthen the oral health safety net and prevent oral disease in children.

How do you define "health" in your grantmaking? Caring for Colorado defines health broadly and uses the World Health Organization’s definition that health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Therefore, the foundation funds broadly in health issues including oral health, mental health, physical health, prevention, and access to care.

What are your funding priority areas? The foundation has broad funding categories: Community Health, Enabling Informed Health Decisions, Infrastructure and Oral Health. For more information see the "Funding Priorities" section of this website.

What is your funding range? Our responsive grants have ranged from approximately $2,000 to $200,000. Our average grant is $50,000.

Do you fund multi-year projects? Yes. The longest period of time that we have funded a project is three years. Each year of funding in a multi-year project is contingent upon progress being made in annual objectives.

How do I know if my organization is eligible to apply? Only non-profit or governmental agencies are eligible to apply for a grant from Caring for Colorado.

Once I submit a grant application, how long before I know if my grant is approved? It generally takes 4 months from the time the grants are due until final decisions are made.

If I apply to Caring for Colorado for a grant and am turned down am I eligible to re-apply? Yes. We encourage organizations that are re-applying to contact the foundation before submitting a proposal to discuss how to make it as competitive as possible.

If I currently have a grant from Caring for Colorado, how long do I have to wait before I can submit another application? We have no restrictions on how often an organization can apply to the Foundation.

How was the Foundation endowed? When Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Colorado, a non-profit corporation, was sold to Anthem Insurance, a for-profit corporation, the proceeds of the sale endowed the Foundation.

How much money does the Foundation distribute annually? The Foundation gives approximately 5% of its assets each year. In the first three years of grantmaking, an annual average of $5 million have been committed in grants.

How is the Caring for Colorado Board of Directors determined? The Governor of Colorado appoints the Board of Directors. Nominations for the Board are submitted to the Governor by a Community Advisory Committee that is comprised of a representative from each congressional district in Colorado.