CHAFFEE COUNTY, CO) April 24, 2026 — The Chaffee County Community Foundation (CCCF) is pleased to announce the recommendation of grant awards totaling $196,944 to 54 nonprofit organizations through its 2026 Community Grants program.

This year, CCCF introduced a new, combined grant process — bringing together multiple funding opportunities into a single application and funding cycle. This streamlined approach replaces the previous spring and fall cycles, making it easier for nonprofits to access support while allowing for a more coordinated and impactful distribution of funding across the region.

A Collaborative Investment in Community

Funding for the 2026 Community Grants program was made possible through partnerships with the Town of Buena Vista, the City of Salida, Monarch Mountain Community Outreach, and the Sangre de Cristo Electric Association (SDCEA), alongside CCCF’s Community Grants Fund supported by local donors.

Together, these partners supported projects primarily benefiting communities across Chaffee County, with the Sangre de Cristo Electric Association’s funds supporting their service region including Custer, Fremont, Lake, and Saguache Counties.

“We’re honored to partner with local municipalities, businesses, and community investors to support the organizations that are at the heart of our region,” said Betsy Dittenber, Executive Director of CCCF. “CCCF is dedicated to making the most of your philanthropic contributions through a robust review process to ensure that funds are directed where they can create the greatest impact, while also offering valuable technical support and skill-building opportunities to help our nonprofit partners thrive.”

Thank you to our funding partners for partnering with CCCF to create local resources for local solutions: 

  • Sangre de Cristo Electric Association:SDCEA’s Community Grant Program is funded through capital credits donated back to the cooperative for charitable giving, along with contributions from members who voluntarily round up their monthly bills through the Power of Change program. This year, SDCEA provided $35,000 in grant funding to support nonprofit organizations across Chaffee, Custer, Lake, Saguache and Fremont counties. These funds do not come from regular electricity payments or SDCEA’s general fund. The community grants join SDCEA’s First Responder Grants and Matching Grants for members. 
  • Monarch Mountain Community Outreach:Monarch Mountain Community Outreach (MMCO) program is supported by contributions from Monarch Mountain, its employees, fundraising efforts, and donations from community members. MMCO contributed $25,000 in community grant funding to support local nonprofits. The community grants join MMCO’s matching donations for season pass holders and employees and the annual Impact Grant which opens July 27.
  • Town of Buena Vista: The Town of Buena Vista provides grant funding to support nonprofit organizations serving the Buena Vista community. The Town of Buena Vista contributed $58,944 in funding to support local nonprofits.
  • City of Salida: The City of Salida provides grant funding to support nonprofit organizations serving the Salida community. The City of Salida contributed $48,000 in funding to support local nonprofits.
  • CCCF Community Grants: CCCF’s Community Grants program provides funding to support nonprofit organizations serving communities across Chaffee County. The fund is supported by contributions from donors, business partners, and community members, who can give to help grow the annual grantmaking fund. The Community Grants Fund contributed $30,000 in grant funding to support local nonprofits.

For more information on these grant programs and all of CCCF’s grantmaking, visit www.chaffeecommunity.org/grants. Local businesses and individuals that would like to tap into CCCF’s philanthropy administration services — including employee giving programs — should contact Betsy at . As the national funding landscape shifts, local resources for local solutions are more important than ever before for our community to sustain the critical programs offered by our nonprofit sector. 

A Transparent and Thoughtful Grant Process

CCCF administered the Community Grants program, managing the application and review process to ensure an efficient, fair, and high-impact distribution of funds.

The process included:

  • Initial staff screening to verify eligibility, completeness, and organizational standing
  • Individual review and ranking by a volunteer Grant Review Committee
  • Three collaborative work sessions to finalize funding recommendations based on community impact and available funding

Applications were open from January 26 through February 27, followed by a comprehensive review period from early March through mid-April. This competitive application process resulted in 74% of applications being funded, with an average grant amount of $3,648. 

Recognizing Volunteer Leadership

CCCF extends its sincere thanks to the volunteer members of the Grant Review Committee, whose time, expertise, and thoughtful evaluation made this process possible. Their dedication helps ensure that funding is stewarded toward programs and organizations creating meaningful impact.

About Chaffee County Community Foundation
Founded in 2018, Chaffee County Community Foundation is a public, nonprofit organization established to promote and facilitate philanthropy in Chaffee County. CCCF acts as a catalyst to inspire positive change through the power of philanthropy to enrich the lives of all people in the county. Its work focuses on building nonprofit capacity, inspiring philanthropy, and connecting communities. To learn more, visit www.chaffeecommunity.org.

Grant Awardees: 

The organizations receiving funding from the 2026 Spring grant cycle are: 

A Church

Achieve, Inc.

Alpine Achievers Initiative

Alpine Orchestra, Inc.

Altitude Community Fitness

Ark Valley Volleyball

Ark-Valley Humane Society

Blue Elements

Boys & Girls Clubs of Chaffee County

Buena Vista Heritage

Buena Vista Singletrack Coalition

CASA of the Continental Divide

Ark Valley Preschool

Chaffee County 4-H

Chaffee County Early Childhood Council

Chaffee County Habitat for Humanity

Chaffee County Hospitality Inc.

Chaffee County Search and Rescue North

Chaffee Housing Authority

Chaffee Housing Trust

Cloud City Conservation Center

Colorado Farm To Table Inc

Colorado Theater in Non Traditional Spaces

ECHO & Family Center Early Childhood Council

Elevated Community Health

elevateHER

Foodshed Alliance

Full Circle of Lake County

Greater Arkansas River Nature Association

Guidestone Colorado

High Country Fine Arts Association

Justis Theater Works

KHEN 106.9fm Community Radio

Mini-Blessings

Mountain Valley Transit

New Caring & Sharing

Places to Age

PLFAG Buena Vista/Ark Valley

Ramps and Alleys Clubhouse

Roy Williams Foundation

Salida Aspen Concerts

Salida Council for the Arts

Salida Montessori Charter School

Salida Mountain Trails

Senior Services Solutions Plus

Shining Mountains Montessori School

Smart Bellies

Southwest Conservation Corps

St. George Episcopal Mission

Sventastik Productions

Synergy in the Service Industry

Tabor Opera House Preservation Foundation, LLC

The Alliance Against Domestic Abuse

The Friends of Chaffee County Fire Protection District, Firefighters Inc.