Community Enrichment Grants
The Community Enrichment Grant (CEG) is a competitive Adams County grant program that provides financial support to nonprofit organizations, school districts, and special districts to operate programs and services that improve the health, well-being, and self-sufficiency of underserved, marginalized, or vulnerable Adams County residents.
Grant funds must be used to directly serve Adams County residents, and funding requests must be based on the actual cost to deliver services through the proposed project.
The Community Enrichment Grant is a competitive funding opportunity, and demand typically exceeds available resources. In recent years, approximately 25% of submitted applications have been recommended for funding.
Applications are reviewed by a Community Advisory Committee, which makes funding recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners (BoCC). Funding decisions are based on alignment with county priorities, application quality, and available funds.
Funding Priorities
Funding priorities for the Community Enrichment Grant are established annually by the BoCC and may change from year to year based on community needs, available resources, and county priorities.
For 2026, funding priorities are organized into two funding tiers:
Tier 1: Safety Net & Basic Needs
Tier 1 supports projects that provide immediate, tangible assistance to help individuals and families meet essential day-to-day needs and promote stability. Eligible projects may include direct assistance such as transportation support, physical or behavioral health-related needs, emergency assistance, clothing, hygiene products, baby supplies, school necessities, and other basic household items.
- Total Available: $200,000
- Award Size: $25,000–$50,000
- Eligible expenses may include:
- Program staff costs (generally up to 15%) for projects where staff support program operations but are not the primary method of delivering services
- Personnel costs above 15% may be allowable for programs where the service itself is delivered primarily through professional staff time (e.g., counseling, victim advocacy, or intensive case management)
- Essential goods and services that promote stability
- Short-term safety-net assistance
Tier 2: Food Security
Tier 2 supports projects that exclusively focus on direct food provision to address food insecurity. Funding is intended for programs that purchase food, distribute meals or food boxes, operate or expand food pantries, or otherwise deliver direct food assistance to individuals and families.
- Total Available: $600,000
- Award Size: $50,000–$150,000
- Eligible expenses may include:
- Program staff costs (generally up to 15%) for food distribution or pantry operations where the primary cost is food purchases or supplies
- Purchase and distribution of food or meals
- Food pantry operations and meal delivery
Please Note: Update to Program Staff Cost Guidance
Based on early feedback from applicants and partners, Adams County has clarified how program staff costs may be requested for projects where staff time is the primary method of delivering services. While most projects remain subject to the 15% personnel cap, programs where the service itself is delivered primarily through professional staff time may request higher personnel costs when clearly justified.
Examples and additional details about this update are available in the Community Enrichment Grant solicitation materials.
For 2026, the BoCC has identified school-based food access and support programs as a key area of emphasis.
Projects that do not focus on school-based delivery remain eligible and competitive for funding.
Applicants are encouraged to review the funding priorities, guidance materials, and scoring matrix available in the Files section of the Adams County Open Solicitations page.
2026 Schedule
- Application Open: Monday, Feb. 23, 8 a.m.
- Application Close: Monday, March 30, 4:59 p.m.
- Committee Review: April and May
- Presentation of Recommended Awards: June
- Award Notifications and Presentation of Awards: July
Eligibility
Eligible applicants include:
- Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status
- School districts
- Special districts (e.g. library, water, or fire districts)
To be eligible, proposed projects must:
- Directly serve Adams County residents
- Align with the selected funding tier and current year priorities
- Consist primarily of direct program or service costs
- Be feasible to implement within the grant period
- Comply with all applicable County requirements and grant guidelines
Funding requests must be based on the actual cost to serve Adams County residents through the proposed project.
Application Requirements
- One application per organization will be accepted per funding cycle.
- Applications must be complete and submitted by the published deadline.
- All required forms and attachments must be uploaded through the county’s grant management system.
- Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.
Additional Requirements
- Applicant organizations must be in good standing with the State of Colorado.
- Organizations with prior-year CEG awards must be current on all required reports.
- Funds must be used only for eligible expenses outlined in the program guidelines.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted through the county’s online grant management system (Euna Solutions) via the Adams County Open Solicitations page.
Supporting documents, including funding examples, application materials, and the scoring matrix, will be available on the solicitation page once the application opens. Applications submitted by email, mail, or other methods will not be accepted.
Application steps:
- Visit the Adams County Open Solicitations page and select the Community Enrichment Grant solicitation.
- Review the solicitation details, instructions, and supporting documents.
- Create a free Euna Solutions account or log in to an existing account.
- When the application opens, click Apply within the solicitation.
- Complete and submit the application through the portal by the stated deadline.
Questions or Accessibility Needs
For questions or clarification regarding eligibility or program requirements, please contact the SPARC Grants Team at grants@adamscountyco.gov.
If you need application materials, language assistance, or support in an accessible format, please contact us, and we will work with you to support your needs.