UWYV GRANTS

United Way of the Yampa Valley (UWYV) Early Childhood Education (ECE) Grant Cycle 2026

The United Way of the Yampa Valley (UWYV) is excited to announce this year’s Early Childhood Education (ECE) grant application cycle. We look forward to supporting worthy programs that provide pre-school tuition assistance and fee reductions for ECE services to children of ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) families and households. We adopt an earnings threshold of 400% of the Federal Poverty Level to define ALICE households, but provide program directors some discretion if they encounter a family with dire needs.

Please prepare the application using this form locally on your computer and email it to us as a PDF file together with agency financial information requested in the application (e.g. IRS Form 990).

Grant applications for all other UWYV Pillars will be made available this summer, with submissions due one month later and grant award notifications issued in the fall.

The 2026 Grant Schedule

  • March 4-March 10, Pre-qualification Meeting Signup
    On March 4th we will send a link to a Google Sign Up for you to sign up for a time to attend a pre-qualification meeting on March 11th.

  • March 11, Pre-qualification Meetings
    Attendance at these meetings is not required if your program received a grant from UWYV last year, but they provide an opportunity for you to introduce updates to your program and to ask questions. Attendance is required if you are applying for a program that was not awarded a grant last year. These meetings can be attended via Zoom or in person and will last no more than 20 minutes. Let us know if this date does not work and we will work with you to make other arrangements.

  • April 15, ECE Grant Applications Are Due
    All ECE Grant Applications, including agency financial information, must be completed and emailed to Jennifer Bruen at director@UnitedWayYV.org and Chick Corrado at cncorrado@comcast.net.

  • May 7, Grant Application Questions Sent to Authors
    Any questions posed by the UWYV grant application review team will be sent to the applicants.

  • May 14, Responses to Questions Sent to UWYV
    Responses to questions posed by the grant review team are due. Responses are to be emailed to Jennifer Bruen and Chick Corrado.
  • July 13, Grant Award Letters Sent to Applicants
    Grant award letters will be sent to all applicants no later than this date.

Grant Criteria

UWYV only accepts requests for program funding; UWYV does not fund general operations or capital equipment at this time. UWYV also does not have the resources to fund sports or sports enhancement programs.

Grant requests for programs that align with UWYV Board priorities and meet or exceed UWYV expectations will receive priority funding. See our evaluation rubric.

  • Fund a program aligned with your core organization goals.
  • Serve primarily lower-income, at-risk clients in Routt, Moffat, and/or Rio Blanco County.
  • We are proud to launch the inaugural ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) Report for Colorado. This report provides crucial data and is now required for UWYV grant funding.
  • The report highlights that 37% of Colorado households work but struggle to afford necessities. ALICE households—essential workers like cashiers, childcare providers, and janitors—often earn too much to qualify for aid but not enough to make ends meet, leaving them one emergency away from crisis.
  • Grant applicants are encouraged to review the ALICE Report and demonstrate how their programs will directly and positively impact ALICE households.
  • Addressing their needs is vital to building stronger, more resilient communities.
  • Address a UWYV community impact goal.
  • Show strong program management ability by delivering, critically evaluating, and continuously improving program results.

  • Exhibit strong oversight by an engaged Board of Directors.
  • Present a financially healthy organization.
  • Be a tax-exempt organization eligible to accept charitable donations.
  • Pre-schools and childcare providers must have a Colorado Shines rating of 1 or higher.

2026-2027 UWYV Community Impact Goals:

Give children a strong start

(birth to 8 years of age)

We all benefit when every child has a strong developmental start from the earliest age. UWYV funds programs that improve developmental opportunities for lower-income, at-risk children. We seek to address the following challenges:

Access to affordable, quality preschool and childcare
Access to other early childhood development programs that promote literacy, kindergarten preparation, or parenting skills
Childhood food insecurity
Need for more and better qualified preschool teachers

Provide youth a safe, healthy, and nurturing environment

(9-17 years of age)

Transitions are sometimes challenging for young people, particularly at-risk youth. UWYV seeks to fund programs that support the successful transition of elementary school students into middle school, middle school students into high school, and high school students into adulthood. Challenges that we will look to address are:

Literacy at grade level
Financial literacy or work/life readiness
Food insecurity
Bullying prevention and support for diversity
Discouraging use of alcohol, tobacco, vaping and other drugs
Need for student engagement and/or parental support
Healthy behavioral boundaries
Appropriate use of technology

Improve the financial stability of Northwest Colorado residents in need

Many individuals and families struggle to make ends meet. Programs that seek to achieve the following will be considered:

Build financial skills or resiliency through adult education or counseling in household financial management or workplace readiness
Reduce food insecurity
Enable seniors to live in their homes longer if they wish
Improve household financial stability
Improve access to adult education or training that enhances job skills

Expand access to health & crisis services

People who experience mental health issues or physical or emotional abuse need support and access to resources to move towards a better quality of life. To promote the social/emotional wellbeing of community members, we seek to fund programs that:

Offer mental health education or counseling for adults or children
Prevent suicides through education or counseling
Address substance abuse
Prevent domestic violence or abuse
Respond to people in crisis
Provide dental and in-home health services in underserved rural areas
Provide general health services in underserved areas of Moffat and/or Rio Blanco County

Get Support

If you or someone you know in Routt, Moffat, or Rio Blanco Counties needs support, United Way of the Yampa Valley is here to help.

From housing assistance and food security to mental health services and childcare resources, we connect individuals and families with vital programs that strengthen our community. Whether you’re facing financial hardship, seeking healthcare, or looking for educational opportunities, local resources are available to provide guidance and relief.