Funding Opportunity:

Funding Opportunity: Capital Infrastructure – Intergenerational/Family Physical Activity

The Capital Infrastructure – Intergenerational/Family Physical Activity funding opportunity will support capital infrastructure projects that are accessible, structured, safe, culturally responsive to the communities being served and affordable.

More specifically, this funding opportunity will focus on the design and construction of public spaces in high-need areas that create access, are intergenerational and encourage physical activity for individuals of all ages and abilities, especially for families with children ages 4-14. Priority will be given to projects that serve economically disadvantaged rural communities and communities of color that have no public space for physical activity or can demonstrate the need to replace existing unsafe or outdated equipment in public spaces, including playgrounds. This funding opportunity will not support freestanding equipment, athletic courts and fields, general maintenance and programming.

Proposed projects must reflect the Foundation’s cornerstones. These outline who we serve, how our work is informed and our intent to create health equity.

Have questions? We’re here to talk through your ideas and encourage you to connect with us before applying for funding. If you don’t already work with a program officer, please reach out to us by email or by phone at 303-953-3600, and be sure to note the county you work in and area of interest.

Si necesita acceder la solicitud de fondos en español, por favor contáctenos a [email protected].

Criteria

To be considered for funding, applicants must demonstrate within the grant application how the proposed capital project meets the following criteria:

Primarily benefit low-income Coloradans. We will consider the location of the project and other indicators used by your organization to determine who will have convenient access to use the space (e.g., free and reduced lunch rates for surrounding schools; average income of residents in the surrounding neighborhood).
Shovel-ready projects that demonstrate advanced planning stages for which construction can begin in a short period of time.
A plan to draw residents of all ages, especially families with children ages 4-14, to encourage physical activity and strengthen community building. If on school grounds, the space must be open to the general public during non-school hours, including evenings, weekends and school breaks.

Priority will be given to projects that:

Serve economically disadvantaged rural or frontier (as defined by the Colorado Rural Health Center) communities and communities of color that have no public space for physical activity or demonstrate the need to replace existing unsafe or outdated equipment in the public space.

Measurable Reach:

Applicants will be asked to indicate how their work will increase the number of Coloradans who have convenient access to recreational physical activity.

Examples of project elements and features we’re interested in funding

Activation: Up to 15% of funds can be used for promotional environmentally-friendly materials and events, including a one-time groundbreaking ceremony.
Community-based Planning: Funds should be used to meaningfully engage youth, parents and community members of all ages and racial/ethnic backgrounds in the planning and designing process to facilitate ownership and empowerment.
Fitness Stations and Trails: Up to 50% of funds can be used to purchase and install fitness stations and trails in combination with the purchase and installation of active play equipment for kids and equipment that encourages intergenerational physical activity and supervision.
Fixed Infrastructure: Funds can be used to purchase tangible, immovable, age-appropriate, outdoor play space equipment for diverse age groups and necessary associated surfacing.
Playground Markings: Funds can be used to support costs associated with painting the play area and public space with colorful, engaging and stimulating game and activity patterns that encourage physical activity.
Signage: Up to 10% of funds can be used to purchase and install clear and identifiable signage and information in and around the public space to provide directions to the play spaces and to encourage use of the equipment.
Weather Protection: Up to 15% of funds can be used to purchase structures for sun, rain and snow protection, including canopies and trees, to encourage intergenerational use year-round.

Examples of project elements and features that are not eligible for funding at this time

Amenities: Funds cannot be used to purchase outdoor furniture such as tables, benches, bleachers and grills; build bathrooms; construct parking lots; or provide other amenities that add comfort without significantly increasing physical activity.
Athletic Courts and Fields: Funds cannot be used to build fields, courts or pools for specific sports such as baseball, basketball, football, lacrosse, rugby, softball, soccer, tennis or swimming. The Foundation reserves the right to make exceptions for non-competitive intergenerational, family-friendly creative spaces that address health-related issues across all ages.
Freestanding Equipment: Funds cannot be used for freestanding equipment such as balls, bats, nets, jump ropes, parachutes, weights and other movable, non-stationary equipment that would require storage.
General Maintenance: Funds cannot be used for the maintenance of existing resources related to landscaping, surfacing, trash, paint, drainage, hardware, sidewalks or other maintenance in isolation from the purchase and installation of active play equipment.
Programming: Funds cannot be used for programming such as fitness classes, dog-training classes, photography classes, sports camps, festivals, movie nights and other community gatherings.

We often partner with third-party evaluators, contractors and other organizations over the course of our work with applicants and grantees. Your application and its attachments may be shared with these individuals or entities during the review process and grant cycle. All third-party organizations partnering with the Foundation have signed a confidentiality agreement and will not use or share the information for purposes outside of the scope of work specific to the grant application or grant award. If you have any concerns or would like additional information, please email [email protected] or call our senior director of Grantmaking Operations at 303-953-3600.

We encourage all applicants to sign up in our grants management system to confirm registration is complete at least a week in advance of submitting a grant application. Apply for funding by on Oct. 15, 2021.