Colorado Plateau Foundation

Capacity Building Grants (Annual Grant Cycle)

Who can apply: Applicants must be Native-majority-led organizations in which Native people hold at least 51% of governance and staffing roles. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofits, Tribal governments with IRC 7871 designation, and organizations with a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor. Work must serve tribal communities in or with demonstrated cultural, historical, or ancestral ties to the Colorado Plateau and address a CPF priority area. CPF does not fund individuals, non-Native majority-led organizations, for-profit businesses, or hosted fundraising events.

Deadline: Annual cycle opens in July; applications are due in mid-August.

Rapid Response Grants

Who can apply: Applicants must be Native-led organizations serving Tribal nations on the Colorado Plateau and working in one of CPF’s four priority areas. Organizations must be Native-controlled, with a majority of governing board and staff members being Native. Eligible entities include 501(c)(3) nonprofits, Tribal governments with IRS 7871 status, and organizations with a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor. Past CPF recipients must be current on required grant reports. The request must address an unforeseen urgent circumstance requiring action within days or weeks. Individuals, businesses, non-Native majority-led organizations, existing staff salaries, completed expenses or activities, land acquisition, research, scholarships, capital campaigns, literary or film projects, fundraising events, and conference attendance fees are ineligible.

General Operating Grants

Who can apply: Limited to returning CPF grantees that have demonstrated consistent community benefits and partnership with CPF over time. Applicants must otherwise meet CPF’s Native-majority-led organizational and geographic eligibility requirements.

Deadline: Considered through the regular annual grant cycle; applications are due in mid-August.