Human Services Commission grants

Operating since 1980, the HSC distributes that portion of county sales tax revenues dedicated to human services needs to eligible applicants. Eligible applicants are nonprofit corporations under section 501(c) (3) of the I.R.S. Code in good standing with the Colorado Secretary of State, which operate and provide human services within Garfield County. Similar government agencies are also eligible.

Applicable resolutions

Our funds cannot be granted to for-profit corporations or to individuals. See Board of County Commissioners Resolution No. 2013-44 (Rec. No. 837990) for further information.

[A] portion of the net sales tax revenues…shall be appropriated each year to purchase and fund services from qualified non-profit human services agencies and similar governmental agencies operating within and providing services within garfield county. Human services agencies shall be defined to include but not be limited to agencies which provide services deemed necessary for the health, safety, and welfare of garfield county and its residents. Source: Board of County Commissioners resolution no. 96-54.

The HSC complies with all applicable state and federal laws and does not discriminate in any manner.

2024 grant application schedule

Applications available: July 8, 2024
Applications due at County Manager’s office: August 9, 2024, 5 p.m.
Grants Allocation Committee recommendation (no later than): September 27, 2024*
Human Services Commission recommendation (no later than): October 9, 2024*
County commissioners’ final action (no later than): October 21, 2024*
Fully executed grant agreements (recipients only) due: January 31, 2025, 5 p.m.

*The Grants Allocation Committee, HSC, and BOCC reserve the right to take whatever time is necessary to make their determinations.

Funds will be distributed as soon as practicable after receipt of fully executed grant agreements in the County Manager’s Office, generally within 30 days.

2024 grant deadline

Applications must be received by the HSC Grants Allocation Committee prior to 5:00 p.m. on August 9, 2024 via regular mail, FedEx, or hand delivery to:
HSC Grants Allocation Committee
County Manager’s Office
108 8th Street, Suite 101
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

Application

Fill out the application below and we will reply to request your supplemental attachments.

Contact us by email at any point while completing your application. We will do our best to answer your questions. Review your application completely before submitting it.

The final application submitted to the HSC must include attachments in this order:

1. Completed and signed summary form
2. Use of funds summary (250 words or less, brief description on separate document)
• What does your organization do?
• How will grant funds be used?
• How will you measure success?
• Please specify word count on Use of Funds Summary document.
3. Completed community services checklist (in form)
4. Responses to selection criteria questions (narrative, on your own paper, maximum 3 pages, 12-point font, all margins one inch)
• Please provide one original application and six additional complete copies of your application. Please clearly identify the original.
• Submit your original application and six copies in one envelope and clearly indicate on the exterior of the envelope the entity submitting the application.
• No cover letters or tables of contents will be accepted. Cover letters and tables of contents submitted with applications will be discarded and not considered.
• No double-sided printing will be accepted.
• Applications that are bound and those that use dividers or tabs that prevent the HSC from easily photocopying or handling the applications will be rejected. Do not bind applications or use dividers or tabs.
• The Garfield County Board of Commissioners is the sole decision-maker for grants awarded through the HSC. The Grants Allocation Committee reviews applications and makes its recommendations to the HSC, which in turn makes its recommendations to the commissioners.
• All materials or statements in whatever form (written, oral, or otherwise) issued by the HSC in conjunction with the 2024 grant cycle are limited to the cycle.
• The Grants Allocation Committee is responsible for all activities regarding the distribution of funds through the 2024 grant cycle and may solicit information from any source as needed in conducting its work.
• The Grants Allocation Committee reserves the right to issue or not to issue supplemental statements regarding these instructions or any aspect of the grant program on an as-needed basis, and to perform any and all due diligence that may be required in the discharge of its obligations. Applicants may be required to provide additional information or to participate in pre-award interviews, as needed.

Attachments

• Copy of IRS determination letter as to 501(c)(3) status
• Colorado Secretary of State Certificate as nonprofit corporation in good standing
• List of current board of directors and officers
• List of all major contributors ($5,000 and above) and amounts contributed, highest to lowest
• Year-end financial statements for fiscal year most recently ended
• Approved budget for current fiscal year

Selection criteria

All applicants must respond to the following questions in no more than three (3) pages. The three-page limit applies only to your answers to these questions, not to the summary form, use of funds summary, community services checklist, or attachments. Twelve-point font or greater and one-inch margins (top, bottom, left and right) required. No double-sided printing.

In a separate document, please answer every question, restating in full the question you are answering. Number all questions. Number all pages. Do not reduce the font size of the questions below 12-point font.

General questions

 •  Which human services needs within Garfield County does your organization serve?
 •  Please describe your community agency partnerships and summarize the purpose of those partnerships (e.g., increased capacity in terms of number served; increased ability to provide more comprehensive services, etc.).
 •  Please identify known organizations that provide the same or similar services to yours within the same service area. Explain how the services you provide are unique; or, why there is a need in our community for this potential duplication of services.
 •  Briefly describe/summarize the key positions in your organization and provide a brief summary of required qualifications for any new staff who are hired into those positions for the purpose of this grant.
 •  Please describe how volunteer resources are utilized within your organization. What role(s) do they play, and what is their level of involvement?

Service recipients and metrics

 •  Quantify the service level you provide to the citizens of Garfield County. How many Garfield County clients were served in your last full fiscal year in the program(s) for which you are requesting funds? What are the projections for the current year and for 2024?
 •  What are the emerging issues and trends affecting your clientele or service delivery? How will this change your approach to service provision and/or delivery, if at all?
 •  Attach a logic model that highlights desired goals and outcomes to be achieved with Garfield County funds in the coming year. If your organization has not yet developed a logic model for this funding cycle, please use this logic model template.

Funding and leveraging

 •  Describe your income stream(s), including fundraising efforts. If you are the local chapter of a national entity, explain how much funding it provides.
 •  Has your organization had a deficit budget within the last 3 years? If so, how did you fund the deficit? What plans have you made to eliminate future deficits? Does your organization have a fund balance/reserve that is equal to or greater than 6 months of operating expenses? If so, how do you plan to use this reserve?