STEP Program (Sustainable, Tough, Efficient, Purposeful) — Capacity Building
Who can apply: Nonprofit organizations in the Gunnison Valley seeking technical assistance; organizations apply and CFGV tentatively matches them with an advisor.

CFGV improves the quality of life in the Gunnison Valley by bringing generous donors and local nonprofits together; it inspires and connects people so everyone can thrive through engaged philanthropy, thoughtful grantmaking, strategic education, and collaborative leadership.
Community Foundation of the Gunnison Valley directs most of its recent giving to organizations serving Gunnison Valley and nearby Western Slope communities, with a heavy emphasis on health and human services. In 2025, its largest listed grant went to Six Points Evaluation and Training in Gunnison for $121,582, followed by $105,905 to Project Hope of Gunnison Valley and $95,745 to Gunnison Country Food Pantry. Those awards sit alongside grants to Gunnison Valley Mentors, Gunnison Valley Health Foundation, and Mountain Roots Food Project, showing a pattern of funding basic needs, community support, and local service delivery. The foundation also uses grants for broader community infrastructure. Recent awards include $80,000 to Hispanic Affairs Project in Montrose and $53,795 to Habitat for Humanity of the San Juans, indicating support that extends beyond a single town while staying within the region. Its publicly listed programs include community grants, academic scholarships, an early-literacy initiative, a teacher innovation grant, and a nonprofit leadership fund, which together show a mix of competitive support, donor-connected giving, and targeted program funding.
Health and human services are a major part of the foundation’s recent grantmaking. It gave $121,582 to Six Points Evaluation and Training, $105,905 to Project Hope of Gunnison Valley, and $95,745 to Gunnison Country Food Pantry, all in Gunnison. Community development is another clear theme: $80,000 went to Hispanic Affairs Project in Montrose, and $53,795 supported Habitat for Humanity of the San Juans. The foundation also funds education-related work. Recent grants include $56,300 to Paradise Place School in Crested Butte and $45,000 to Peer Kindness Inc in Montrose. Arts and culture appear as well, including $56,250 to Center for the Arts in Crested Butte, while recreation shows up through $55,600 to Telluride Adaptive Sports Program.
Typical grant size is concentrated around a $20,000 median, with the middle half of grants ranging from $8,200 at the 25th percentile to $40,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent list shows both larger institutional awards and many $50,000-to-$80,000 grants, suggesting a mix of core operating support and targeted project funding. The foundation’s structure is that of a community foundation, and its active programs include competitive community grants, scholarship funds, a teacher innovation program, and donor-request connection services. The recent grants list is dominated by 2025 awards, with a smaller number of 2023 grants also appearing.
$2.7M
$18.1M
$9.8M
$3.5M
Most grants fall between $8K and $40K, with a median of $20K.
25th Percentile
$8K
Median
$20K
75th Percentile
$40K
LAUREN KUGLER
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Grantmaking is overwhelmingly concentrated in Colorado: 98% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s top giving state. Recent recipients include Gunnison, Crested Butte, Montrose, Telluride, Delta, Paonia, Ridgway, Nucla, Naturita, and Olathe. Gunnison appears frequently, including Six Points Evaluation and Training, Project Hope of Gunnison Valley, Gunnison Country Food Pantry, and Gunnison Valley Mentors. The list also shows support reaching other Western Slope communities such as Telluride and Montrose.
Recent grants show support for health and human services, community development, education, arts and culture, and recreation. Examples include funding for service providers in Gunnison, schools in Crested Butte, arts organizations, and adaptive sports in Telluride.
The typical grant size is $20,000 at the median, with a 25th percentile of $8,200 and a 75th percentile of $40,000. The recent list also includes larger awards above $100,000.
Grantmaking is highly local. Colorado receives 98% of grants, and recent recipients are concentrated in Gunnison County and nearby Western Slope communities such as Crested Butte, Montrose, Telluride, Delta, Paonia, Ridgway, Nucla, Naturita, and Olathe.
Yes. Active programs listed on the foundation’s site, including the Community Grants cycle, Imagination Library, Gunnison Valley Giving Connection, Teacher Innovation Grant Program, Academic Scholarships, and the Nonprofit Leadership Fund, all note that they accept unsolicited requests.
Listed active programs include CFGV Community Grants, CFGV Academic Scholarships, CFGV Imagination Library, Gunnison Valley Giving Connection, the GVEF Teacher Innovation Grant Program, the Creative Community Fund, and the Pamela G. Montgomery Nonprofit Leadership Fund.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Community Foundation of the Gunnison Valley that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Nonprofit organizations in the Gunnison Valley seeking technical assistance; organizations apply and CFGV tentatively matches them with an advisor.
Who can apply: Requester must be a fund advisor of a donor-advised fund held at CFGV; recommended grantee must meet CFGV grantmaking eligibility (typically a qualified nonprofit). Final approval subject to CFGV policies and applicable laws.
Deadline: Not specified (process available to fund advisors; timeline governed by CFGV processing schedule).
Who can apply: Organizations or projects that fit the fund's purpose of supporting artistic and imaginative projects that strengthen the community.
Who can apply: Nonprofit organizations with a professional development opportunity that could make a significant difference for staff, especially newcomers or seasoned leaders.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SIX POINTS EVALUATION AND TRAINING | GUNNISON, CO | $121,582 | 2025 | HEALTH & HUMAN SERVI |
| PROJECT HOPE OF GUNNISON VALLEY | GUNNISON, CO | $105,905 | 2025 | HEALTH & HUMAN SERVI |
| GUNNISON COUNTRY FOOD PANTRY | GUNNISON, CO | $95,745 | 2025 | HEALTH & HUMAN SERVI |
| GUNNISON VALLEY MENTORS | GUNNISON, CO | $90,500 | 2025 | HEALTH & HUMAN SERVI |
| HISPANIC AFFAIRS PROJECT | MONTROSE, CO | $80,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY DEV |
| CASA - YOUTH AND FAMILY ADVOCACY SE | MONTROSE, CO | $72,200 | 2025 | HEALTH & HUMAN SERVI |
| GUNNISON VALLEY HEALTH FOUNDATION | GUNNISON, CO | $72,000 | 2025 | HEALTH & HUMAN SERVI |
| CB STATE OF MIND | CRESTED BUTTE, CO | $71,192 | 2025 | HEALTH & HUMAN SERVI |
| MOUNTAIN ROOTS FOOD PROJECT | GUNNISON, CO | $65,250 | 2025 | HEALTH & HUMAN SERVI |
| LIVING JOURNEYS | CRESTED BUTTE, CO | $64,100 | 2025 | HEALTH & HUMAN SERVI |
| SAN MIGUEL RESOURCE CENTER | TELLURIDE, CO | $63,705 | 2025 | HEALTH & HUMAN SERVI |
| FAMILIES PLUS | DELTA, CO | $60,118 | 2025 | HEALTH & HUMAN SERVI |
| PARADISE PLACE SCHOOL | CRESTED BUTTE, CO | $56,300 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| CENTER FOR THE ARTS | CRESTED BUTTE, CO | $56,250 | 2025 | ARTS & CULTURE |
| TELLURIDE ADAPTIVE SPORTS PROGRAM | TELLURIDE, CO | $55,600 | 2025 | ATHLETICS & RECREATI |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF THE SAN JUA | MONTROSE, CO | $53,795 | 2025 | COMMUNITY DEV |
| VALLEY HOUSING FUND | GUNNISON, CO | $50,250 | 2025 | COMMUNITY DEV |
| WEST END FAMILY LINK CENTER | NUCLA, CO | $50,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY DEV |
| HOME TRUST OF OURAY COUNTY | RIDGWAY, CO | $50,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY DEV |
| TRUE NORTH YOUTH PROGRAM | TELLURIDE, CO | $50,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| BASIN CLINIC INC | NATURITA, CO | $50,000 | 2025 | HEALTH & HUMAN SERVI |
| THE LEARNING COUNCIL | PAONIA, CO | $50,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY DEV |
| TELLURIDE FOUNDATION | TELLURIDE, CO | $50,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY DEV |
| KBUT COMMUNITY RADIO | CRESTED BUTTE, CO | $49,250 | 2025 | COMMUNITY DEV |
| TELLURIDE MOUNTAIN CLUB | TELLURIDE, CO | $45,600 | 2025 | ATHLETICS & RECREATI |
| PEER KINDNESS INC | MONTROSE, CO | $45,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| VALLEY FOOD PARTNERSHIP | OLATHE, CO | $45,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY DEV |
| KOTO FM | TELLURIDE, CO | $40,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| PARTNERS OF DELTA MONTROSE AND OURA | MONTROSE, CO | $40,000 | 2025 | HEALTH & HUMAN SERVI |
| FRESH FOUNDATION | NORWOOD, CO | $40,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY DEV |
| WEST END ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPO | NATURITA, CO | $40,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY DEV |
| NORTH FORK VALLEY PUBLIC RADIO INC | PAONIA, CO | $40,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY DEV |
| FRIENDS OF THE WRIGHT OPERA HOUSE | OURAY, CO | $40,000 | 2025 | ARTS & CULTURE |
| BLACK CANYON BOYS & GIRLS CLUB INC | MONTROSE, CO | $40,000 | 2025 | HEALTH & HUMAN SERVI |
| TELLURIDE THEATRE | TELLURIDE, CO | $35,000 | 2025 | ARTS & CULTURE |
| WEST ELK HOCKEY ASSOCIATION | GUNNISON, CO | $33,600 | 2025 | ATHLETICS & RECREATI |
| GUNNISON WATERSHED SCHOOL DISTRICT RE-1J | GUNNISON, CO | $32,902 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| CRESTED BUTTE NORDIC | CRESTED BUTTE, CO | $31,200 | 2025 | ATHLETICS & RECREATI |
| COLORADO CANYONS ASSOCIATION | GRAND JUNCTION, CO | $30,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENT |
| THE PINHEAD INSTITUTE INC | TELLURIDE, CO | $30,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| GUNNISON ARTS CENTER - AGENCY | GUNNISON, CO | $29,247 | 2025 | ARTS & CULTURE |
| GUNNISON ARTS CENTER | GUNNISON, CO | $25,800 | 2025 | ARTS & CULTURE |
| TELLURIDE AIDS BENEFIT | TELLURIDE, CO | $25,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY DEV |
| PALM ARTS INC | TELLURIDE, CO | $25,000 | 2025 | ARTS & CULTURE |
| TELLURIDE ACADEMY | TELLURIDE, CO | $25,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| BLUE SAGE CENTER FOR THE ARTS | PAONIA, CO | $25,000 | 2025 | ARTS & CULTURE |
| TELLURIDE ARTS | TELLURIDE, CO | $25,000 | 2025 | ARTS & CULTURE |
| AH HAA SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS | TELLURIDE, CO | $25,000 | 2025 | ARTS & CULTURE |
| MOUNTAINFILM LTD | TELLURIDE, CO | $25,000 | 2025 | ARTS & CULTURE |
| LAKE CITY ARTS COUNCIL | LAKE CITY, CO | $25,000 | 2025 | ARTS & CULTURE |
SIX POINTS EVALUATION AND TRAINING
$121,582HEALTH & HUMAN SERVI
PROJECT HOPE OF GUNNISON VALLEY
$105,905HEALTH & HUMAN SERVI
GUNNISON COUNTRY FOOD PANTRY
$95,745HEALTH & HUMAN SERVI
GUNNISON VALLEY MENTORS
$90,500HEALTH & HUMAN SERVI
HEALTH & HUMAN SERVI
CB STATE OF MIND
$71,192HEALTH & HUMAN SERVI
LIVING JOURNEYS
$64,100HEALTH & HUMAN SERVI
SAN MIGUEL RESOURCE CENTER
$63,705HEALTH & HUMAN SERVI
FAMILIES PLUS
$60,118HEALTH & HUMAN SERVI
PARADISE PLACE SCHOOL
$56,300EDUCATION
TELLURIDE ADAPTIVE SPORTS PROGRAM
$55,600ATHLETICS & RECREATI
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF THE SAN JUA
$53,795COMMUNITY DEV
VALLEY HOUSING FUND
$50,250COMMUNITY DEV
WEST END FAMILY LINK CENTER
$50,000COMMUNITY DEV
HOME TRUST OF OURAY COUNTY
$50,000COMMUNITY DEV
TRUE NORTH YOUTH PROGRAM
$50,000EDUCATION
BASIN CLINIC INC
$50,000HEALTH & HUMAN SERVI
THE LEARNING COUNCIL
$50,000COMMUNITY DEV
KBUT COMMUNITY RADIO
$49,250COMMUNITY DEV
PEER KINDNESS INC
$45,000EDUCATION
VALLEY FOOD PARTNERSHIP
$45,000COMMUNITY DEV
PARTNERS OF DELTA MONTROSE AND OURA
$40,000HEALTH & HUMAN SERVI
FRESH FOUNDATION
$40,000COMMUNITY DEV
WEST END ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPO
$40,000COMMUNITY DEV
NORTH FORK VALLEY PUBLIC RADIO INC
$40,000COMMUNITY DEV
FRIENDS OF THE WRIGHT OPERA HOUSE
$40,000ARTS & CULTURE
TELLURIDE THEATRE
$35,000ARTS & CULTURE
WEST ELK HOCKEY ASSOCIATION
$33,600ATHLETICS & RECREATI
GUNNISON WATERSHED SCHOOL DISTRICT RE-1J
$32,902EDUCATION
CRESTED BUTTE NORDIC
$31,200ATHLETICS & RECREATI
COLORADO CANYONS ASSOCIATION
$30,000ENVIRONMENT
GUNNISON ARTS CENTER - AGENCY
$29,247ARTS & CULTURE
GUNNISON ARTS CENTER
$25,800ARTS & CULTURE
TELLURIDE AIDS BENEFIT
$25,000COMMUNITY DEV
PALM ARTS INC
$25,000ARTS & CULTURE
TELLURIDE ACADEMY
$25,000EDUCATION
BLUE SAGE CENTER FOR THE ARTS
$25,000ARTS & CULTURE
TELLURIDE ARTS
$25,000ARTS & CULTURE
AH HAA SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS
$25,000ARTS & CULTURE
MOUNTAINFILM LTD
$25,000ARTS & CULTURE
LAKE CITY ARTS COUNCIL
$25,000ARTS & CULTURE