Open Lands Small Grants Program

Mission and Intent | Grant Selection Criteria | Examples of Projects | Application Process | Award Selection Process | If Your Project Is Awarded a Small Grant

Loveland Youth Gardeners
Photo by Ernst Strenge

The mission of the Larimer County Open Lands Program is to preserve and protect significant open space, natural areas, and wildlife habitat and develop parks and trails for present and future generations. These open lands provide opportunities for leisure, human renewal and protection of our natural and cultural resources.

The Small Grants Program was initiated in 1997 by the Larimer County Open Lands Program. Since that time, the Small Grants Program has funded projects throughout Larimer County on an annual basis. A total of $10,000 is set aside annually for the Small Grants Program with individual projects being awarded up to $2,000 per year. As of 2008, a total of 82 projects on public and private land have received approximately $102,800 from the Small Grants Program.

Mission And Intent Of The Small Grants Program

The Larimer County Small Grants Program was an initiative of the Larimer County Open Lands Program with the intent of dispersing Open Lands sales tax dollars throughout the County for a variety of projects related to the protection and enhancement of open space on public and private lands. The Program is in accordance with the mission and intent of the Open Lands Program as outlined in the 1995 and 1999 extension of the Help Preserve Open Spaces quarter-cent sales tax initiative.

The Small Grants Program was formalized in the 2001 Open Lands Master Plan, which was adopted by the Larimer County Planning Commission and the Board of County Commissioners and subsequently incorporated into the Larimer County Land Use Code. The following section from the Master Plan describes the Small Grants Program:

The Small Grants Program will continue to provide financing to projects nominated by individuals, nonprofit organizations and others for the protection or enhancement of open space, trails, natural areas, wildlife habitat, river areas and wetlands on private or public land. Currently, $10,000 annually has been awarded for grants up to $2,000 each for these projects. Selection of a project is made if it meets one or more of the following criteria:

• Consistent with the Open Lands Master Plan
• Provides or enhances natural areas, including wildlife habitat, river areas and wetlands
• Provides linkages with existing open lands
• Provides opportunities for environmental education, outdoor recreation or nature interpretation

In addition, the intent of the Small Grants Program as established by the Open Lands Program and Open Lands Advisory Board is:

• To add to the protection and enhancement of public and private open spaces
• To empower citizens by giving them the financial support necessary to implement projects that support the mission of the Open Lands Program and meet the criteria of the Small Grants Program
• To recognize efforts of Larimer County citizens who seek to enhance and protect public and private open spaces
• To make available funding for the protection and enhancement of small scale projects on public and private open spaces
• To provide citizens direct access to Open Lands sales tax dollars
• To allow citizens to leverage dollars by providing them with the seed money necessary to begin implementation of a project
• To encourage partnerships among citizens, the County, and other groups associated with the protection and enhancement of open spaces
• To increase support and appreciation for the Open Lands Program

Small Grant Selection Criteria

North Fork Weed Coop
Photo by Ernst Strenge

The following Small Grant Selection Criteria were developed by the Open Lands Program and the Open Lands Advisory Board in 2006. These criteria will be used by the Small Grants subcommittee and Open Lands staff during an initial assessment of the grant applications to determine whether a project shall be retained for further consideration. Grant applicants should carefully review these criteria to ensure that their project meets all of the selection criteria. If you have questions about the newly revised grant selection process, please contact the Small Grant coordinator, Sue Burke, by phone (970-679-4566) or by e-mail.

Grant Selection Criteria

A proposed project seeking Small Grants funding must meet all of the following criteria to be retained for consideration:

1. The proposed project must be in accordance with the mission of the Larimer County Open Lands Program, which states:
   "The mission of the Larimer County Open Lands Program is to preserve and protect significant open space, natural areas, and wildlife habitat and develop parks and trails for present and future generations. These open lands provide opportunities for leisure, human renewal and protection of our natural and cultural resources."
2. The proposed project must meet one or more of the Small Grants criteria
   • Provides or enhances natural areas, including wildlife habitat, river areas, and wetlands
   • Provides linkages with existing open lands (Linkages may be either trails or wildlife habitat.)
   • Provides opportunities for environmental education, outdoor recreation, or nature interpretation
3. Proposed projects must be land or water-based and be associated with protected land.
4. To the extent possible, the Larimer County Open Lands Program will strive to distribute grant dollars throughout County.
5. Small Grant monies are for project implementation only and may not be used for salaries and/or project planning expenses.
6. Government agencies including local, state, and federal agencies may not receive Small Grant funding. However, an individual, private group, or non-profit organization may apply for a Small Grant as a contributing partner or lead organization with an agency.
7. Projects receiving Small Grant funding may be on publicly owned land, including lands owned and managed by Larimer County. However, the project applicant must be a private individual or group or non-profit organization and may not be a government agency. In order to be considered for a Small Grant, the applicant must include a letter of support from the managing agency in the application.
8. Projects located within city or town limits are permissible under the Small Grants Program.
9. Small Grant funds will not be given to institutions (e.g. a university) or for-profit businesses for projects that occur on property owned and managed by the institution or business. However, a private group or organization may apply for a Small Grant on behalf of these establishments. In addition, funding may be granted if the proposed project is located on land not owned and managed by the institution or business.
10. School groups or other organizations that may have changes in personnel or policies that may affect the long-term care and maintenance of the proposed project will typically not be funded.
11. Tools and other equipment (e.g. GPS units, weed sprayers, etc.) will only be funded by the Small Grant Program if an acceptable justification of why these items are required for the project including why the tools or equipment cannot be obtained by other means (e.g. borrowed, rented, etc.). In addition, a disposition plan for the tools and/or equipment following their use must also be provided with the application. Requests for funds to purchase tools and/or equipment that will be donated to a public agency or organization after their intended use will be looked upon more favorably. If an acceptable justification and/or disposition plan are not included in the application, these items will not be funded.
12. Transportation expenses will not be funded by the Small Grants Program.
13. All affected land owners must agree in writing with the project prior to the grant application.
14. Projects must have a minimum match of 50% of the requested Small Grant dollar amount. The match may be from in-kind services, private dollars, and/or other funding sources (e.g. other grants).
15. Regular, on-going maintenance efforts will not be funded by the Small Grants Program.
16. A multi-phased project may be funded over multiple years. Requests for new funding will be partially dependent on past project accomplishments. If money received in previous funding years has not be spent at the time of the new request, new dollars will not be granted to the project until that money has been spent on its dedicated purpose. A project applicant must submit a complete application during each grant cycle that funds are being requested.
17. Projects that include planting and/or habitat improvement must use native and/or non-invasive, drought-resistant plant species that are appropriate for the selected environment.
18. Providing public access and/or benefit are important features of a project that would be looked upon more highly by the Small Grants subcommittee, but is not required to receive Small Grant funding.
19. All projects will be monitored one (1) year following project initiation and may be monitored again in Years 2-5, dependent on the opinion of the subcommittee and Small Grants coordinator. Multi-year projects will be monitored annually until the final year of funding at which time it will be determined by the subcommittee and Small Grants coordinator whether additional monitoring is necessary. If a project is found to be in unsatisfactory conditions by the subcommittee and Small Grants coordinator, the grant applicant will not be eligible to receive future grants awards.
20. A long-term maintenance plan shall be included in the Small Grant application.

Following an initial screening of proposed projects, a pre-grant selection site visit will be conducted by Open Lands staff and the Open Lands Advisory Board subcommittee members to all project sites that meet the above criteria.

Examples Of Projects

Front Range Community College
Exotic Species Removal
Photo by Ernst Strenge

Examples of projects that may receive small grant awards include providing, enhancing, or restoring wildlife habitat, riparian areas, forests, prairies, and/or wetlands on public or private land; creating, improving, or connecting trails within or to an open space; creating and installing interpretive signs; developing and implementing environmental or outdoor education programs; or improving recreational opportunities at an open space. The Open Lands Program strongly encourages applicants to submit new creative ideas as well.

If you are unsure whether your project fits with the mission and intent of the Small Grants Program, contact the Small Grant coordinator, Sue Burke, by phone (970-679-4566) or by e-mail to discuss further.

Note: The grant selection process is highly competitive and not all grant proposals will be funded by the Small Grants Program.

Application Process

How to Acquire an Application

A Small Grant Program application can be obtained by one of the following methods:

1. Download an application and supporting documentation:
   • Application Information
   • Budget Worksheet: PDF version or Excel version
   • Example Budget
   • Financial Terms Disclaimer (IMPORTANT! This details tax ramifications for applicants who apply as individuals rather than as an entity.)
2. Contact Sue Burke by phone at 970-679-4566, by e-mail, or by mail at:

   Small Grants Program
   c/o Sue Burke, Grants Coordinator
   Larimer County Parks and Open Lands
   1800 S. County Road 31
   Loveland, CO 80537

3. Pick up an application packet at Larimer County Parks and Open Lands Department's Bison Visitor center (1800 S. County Road 31, Loveland)

Application Timeline

• Applications are due on Friday, November 21, 2008, by 3:00 p.m. Applications may be mailed to the Small Grants Program or hand delivered to the Bison Visitor Center (1800 S. County Road 31, Loveland, CO 80537)
• Review of applications will be completed by Open Lands staff and the Open Lands Advisory Board between December 2008 and February 2009
• Following an initial screening of proposed projects, a pre-grant selection site visit will be scheduled with all grant applicants whose proposed projects meet all of the Small Grant Selection Criteria. These site visits are mandatory and will be conducted by Open Lands staff and the Open Lands Advisory Board subcommittee members. Final selection of grant awards will be determined following site visits to all projects.
• Proposal acceptance letters (including contracts) will be sent to grant recipients in February/March 2009. Letters will also been sent at this time to those applicants who have not been selected to receive a Small Grant.
• Awards will be granted at the March meeting of the Open Lands Advisory Board, usually the fourth Thursday of the month.

Application Requirements

• Thoroughly read all Small Grants Program information and grant selection criteria to ensure the Small Grant Program is appropriate for your proposed project. If you have questions about the program or application, call or e-mail Sue Burke (970-679-4566).
• Submit an original application and 4 copies by 3:00 p.m. November 21, 2008. Applications may be hand delivered at the Bison Visitor Center (1800 S. County Road 31, Loveland) or mailed to:

  Small Grants Program
  c/o Sue Burke, Grants Coordinator
  Larimer County Parks and Open Lands
  1800 S. County Road 31
  Loveland, CO 80537

Award Selection Process

High Plains Environmental Center
Photo by Ernst Strenge

Following the application deadline, the Small Grant coordinator will review all applications to ensure that they are complete and meet all of the Small Grant Selection Criteria. Applications that are not complete or do not meet all of the Small Grant Selection Criteria will be eliminated from consideration.

Following the initial screening of proposed projects, a mandatory pre-grant selection site visit will be scheduled with all grant applicants whose proposed projects meet all of the Small Grant Selection Criteria. These site visits will be conducted by Open Lands staff and the Open Lands Advisory Board subcommittee members. At the site visit, the applicant will show the location of the proposed project and discuss the details and benefits of the project and why they think it should be funded.

A "Small Grant Program Project Score Card" will be utilized by each Small Grant subcommittee member and the Small Grants coordinator to assess each grant application. The scores of each subcommittee member and the Small Grants coordinator will be combined to determine the top scoring Small Grant applications.

Once the Small Grants subcommittee finalizes their recommendations for projects to fund, the Small Grants coordinator will present the recommendations to the Open Lands Advisory Board. The Open Lands Advisory Board will make the final selection of grant awards.

Note: The grant selection process is highly competitive and not all grant proposals will be funded by the Small Grants Program.

If Your Project Is Awarded A Small Grant

Once a project is selected to receive a Small Grant award, a contract (i.e. Small Grant Award and Contract Conditions) and Declaration between Larimer County and the grant recipient will be prepared by the Small Grants coordinator and sent to the grant recipient for review and signing. These items will provide the amount of the grant award, what specific items may be purchased with the Small Grant funds, the timeline for project completion, monitoring and reporting requirements, and other conditions. The contract and Declaration must be signed by both parties before the award may be granted.

The Small Grant awards will be presented to award recipients at the March meeting of the Open Lands Advisory Board, the last Thursday of the month. The Larimer County Board of County Commissioners will award the grant checks at the ceremony.

Small Grant award recipients must keep track of all project expenditures (including in-kind services and donations) and must save and submit all receipts for items purchased with Small Grant funds. A Final Report (which will include a summary of the project, before-during-after photos, and a financial summary with copies of all receipts) is due to the Small Grant Program upon project completion. Failure to submit the Final Report will result in automatic disqualification for future Small Grant awards.

A site visit will also be conducted following project completion, and follow-up monitoring visits may occur in subsequent years depending on the level of monitoring required for a particular project. Larimer County Open Lands' staff and Open Lands Advisory Board members will conduct the site visits with the award recipients.

Past Small Grant Applicants

"My 100 neighbors and I strongly support the leadership efforts of the Larimer County Open Lands Program to preserve open spaces in Larimer County. The Small Grants program provides important incentives to enlist private landowners as partners in preserving and managing open spaces at a minimal cost to the taxpayers." Bob Streeter, Trapper's Point Home Owners Association
	"This type of project is perfect for giving the kids something to do on a Saturday morning that is both meaningful and lasting." Master Naturalist Kathleen MacRill, Trees, Water and People
"By the end of the summer, our students had grown like the seeds they planted." Joann Wride, Loveland Youth Gardeners
	"Having completed the shelter to this point has greatly enhanced our ability to provide a comfortable, albeit rustic, camping and retreat opportunity for other organizations and individuals who wish to enjoy the scenic beauty and peaceful privacy that Blue Moon Mountain Ranch can now offer them." Linda Best, Blue Moon Mountain Ranch