2026 Colorado Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program

Application Information:

This application is for the Colorado Urban and Community Forestry (UCF) grant program 2026 grant cycle through the Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS). For more information about the grant, including the Request for Applications and Supplemental Information, visit the Colorado UCF grant program webpage.

CSFS UCF staff will try to review applications as they are submitted for any large errors before the application due date (September 21, 2026). Projects with missing information or needing more details will be returned with requests for an updated application. There are no guarantees that staff will be able to catch errors if submitted after September 10, 2026.

 

Important Information:

• Successful applicants that receive a Colorado UCF grant may be subject to a USDA Forest Service audit at the end of the grant cycle period in 2029.
• This is a reimbursement grant. Monthly reimbursement requests can be made.
• No more than 10% of the total grant budget may be used for administrative costs.

 

Key Elements for a Successful Project Application:

• At least 90% of all newly planted trees must be alive and in good condition at the conclusion of the project. Grantees will collaborate with the CSFS on an inventory of newly planted trees.
• Applicants are highly encouraged to budget for a minimum of 25% of trees to be replaced within their budget.
• Applicants must budget irrigation in proportion to the number of trees planted.
• All removals of trees that show any living canopy must be replaced with another tree. Trees that are completely dead or are hazardous as found by an ISA Certified Arborist do not need replacement.
• Applications will be evaluated using a point-based scoring system. Each evaluation criterion identifies the maximum number of points available, and the total score will be the sum of the points earned across all criteria.
• Applications should be less than 5,000 words in length (adding all narrative boxes together).

 

Applicant Eligibility:

Nonprofit organizations and local government entities including, but not limited to, municipalities, counties, cities, schools, and tribal agencies or programs are eligible to apply for the Colorado UCF grant funding. Priority consideration will be given to projects serving communities with less than 20% tree canopy cover, a criterion that includes most communities throughout Colorado.

Organizations that have previously received funding through this grant program are eligible. However, if the project is within the Denver city limits, grant funds must be used on private property only.

In addition, applicants must be able to function as the fiscal agent or have a designated fiscal agent, and nonprofits must be registered and in good standing with the Secretary of the State's Office.

Have you registered for your System for Award Management (SAM) Unique Entity ID with the federal government?

Visit www.sam.gov to register for your Unique Entity ID. There is no cost to receive the ID number. Any organization without a SAM cannot be awarded a grant.

In 2022, the Unique Entity Identifier used across the federal government changed from the DUNS Number to the Unique Entity ID (generated by SAM.gov). Find answers to Frequently Asked Questions.

Group Structure and History

• Explain the type of group or organization applying for the grant.
• State who the group includes, the organizational structure of the group and any other qualifying material that legitimizes the group.
• Explain the group’s history of tree planting experience, if applying for funds for a tree planting project.

Who will be the project's primary point of contact?

• The grant requires a point of contact to ensure project success.
• Explain who the person will be, their title, how the organization will ensure the person has adequate time to coordinate the project, and how this person will be funded.

Urban Forest Conditions and Access (10 points)

• Explain how this project will improve the conditions of your current community forest.
• Describe the community's tree cover (priority will be given to projects serving communities with less than 20% tree canopy cover).
• Explain how this project will address needs that would not otherwise occur without grant funding.

Examples:

• Do you have emerald ash borer or mountain pine beetle in your community? What impacts are they having?
• Do you have low canopy? (under 20%)
• Do you have high temperatures that you are mitigating with shade?
• Do you have extensive unmanaged vegetation within the wildland-urban interface?
• Do you have many dead or hazardous trees?

Project Outcomes (20 points)

• Clearly describe your anticipated outcomes.
• Show how the outcomes have measurable results (how many, how much, etc.).
• Describe how project data will be collected and maintained.

Examples:

• Number of trees planted, removed and/or pruned
• Projected increases in canopy percentages
• Capacity building to support more tree planting
• Number of residents educated in fire mitigation

Project Implementation (15 points)

• Include sufficient detail about your project’s activities by season (spring, summer, fall and winter).
• Include a description of who is responsible for completing the work.
• Describe if your project coordinator is internal staff or a contractor (internal staff is preferred but not required).
• For planting projects, describe how you will interact with communities, neighborhoods and/or volunteers to adhere to community preferences and needs. 
• For planting projects, specify your planned planting materials and stock and how you will ensure survival, maintence and watering of newly planted trees.
• If proposing work on private property, describe how property owner permissions will be obtained and documented as part of project implementation.

Project Timeline (10 points)

• Clearly describe the project's timeline to ensure it is reasonable and specific. 
• Provide a specific timeline with beginning and end dates that show the project is achievable in two years with preference of completion within 18 months.

Plan for Maintaining Capacity (15 points)

• Document your plans for making this project’s implementation sustainable long-term.
• State your long-term (5-7+ years) goals for the project.
• Describe how you will maintain the success of your work without additional federal and state financial support.
• What additions to your program do you plan (e.g., personnel, equipment, etc.)?

Priority Emphasis Areas

Explain how your project fits in one or multiple of these emphasis areas. More points will be gained by including as many areas as possible. There is a maximum of 30 points possible.

 

• Increase and diversify Colorado’s urban tree canopy (4)
• Support community engagement and local capacity building (3)
• Develop or expand urban forest management plans and inventories (4)
• Support urban wood utilization and green workforce development (2)
• Improve long-term tree survival and sustainable management (4)
• Reduce wildfire risk through strategic vegetation management (3)
• Support tree removal where public safety is threatened (4)
• Address emerald ash borer and mountain pine beetle impacts (4)
• Promote strategic pruning and resilient tree planting (2)

Fillable Budget Instructions

1. Download the 2026 Detailed Budget Form spreadsheet and read the budget instructions on the Overview tab.

2. Click on the Detailed Project Budget tab at the bottom of the spreadsheet. Fill in the blank budget sheet. Refer to the Example Budget tab and instructions on the Overview tab for guidance.

3. Save your budget and upload the file with your completed budget into the Budget Submission box below. If you need more room for your project's budget, please feel free to edit the form to accommodate your project.

For help, please contact csfs_ucf@colostate.edu.

 

Provide a budget narrative below. Include the following:

• Describe in detail each line item listed in the budget.
• Clearly explain how specific project costs were estimated and calculated. 
• Explain hourly labor rates, and value staff time at their actual salary (not billable rate).
• State terms of any contracts known at time of application.
• Optional - break out budget by year.