2026_EN_GES Community Investment Fund Request for Proposals

2026 Request for Proposals
Mission and Vision
The GES Investment Fund exists to redistribute power and resources by funding community-led programs and projects that disrupt inequity and foster generational well-being in Globeville, Elyria, and Swansea.

We envision thriving and healthy GES neighborhoods that leverage our cultures, resilience, ancestral memory, imagination, skills, and collective power to create a world where prosperity is shared.

What We Fund
We fund ideas and projects that help our community stay strong, connected, and rooted in Globeville, Elyria, and Swansea (GES). We are especially interested in projects that help prevent displacement, build community power, and address long-standing inequities in our neighborhoods.

We support big ideas and small projects—as long as they are led by or deeply connected to the GES community and are meant to benefit people who live and work here.

What We Mean by “Community Benefit”
A community benefit is anything that clearly helps people in our neighborhoods. This could mean:
- Supporting neighbors, families, workers, or youth
- Improving a block, a street, or a shared space
- Bringing people together through culture, organizing, education, or care
- Strengthening community leadership, skills, or resources
What Makes a Strong Application
Strong applications usually:
- Show support from neighbors
- Involve more than one person, group, or organization
- Explain clearly who the project is for and how it helps our communities
- Are grounded in the needs, ideas, and strengths of the GES community
We value projects that are by community, for community. You do not need to be a professional grant writer—just be clear, honest, and specific about your idea and why it matters.

Need support with your grant application?
If you have any questions about the application or need support to complete it, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at gescommunityinvestmentfund@gmail.com.

More information can be found on our website: https://www.gescommunityinvestmentfund.org

APPLICATIONS DUE APRIL 6, 2026!
Name of person completing this application*
Organization or Group name*
Email address*
Phone number*
Community-led housing support - wheelchair ramps, accessibility upgrades, shared home repairs, and safety improvements that help neighbors stay housed.Health - food access programming, mental health resources, exercise classes and clubs, flower and garden bed maintenanceEconomic Opportunity - locally owned and operated small businesses and cooperatives, efforts to support neighborhood workers, businesses courses including how to open, operate, sustain and market a businessArt - art therapy projects, spoken word poetry, supplies, community organizations, preserving history and local storytellingYouth and Elder Engagement - childcare programs, after school programming, career preparation, mentorship opportunities, recreational activities and visits to locations across the city, activity clubs (coffee, book, bike, walking) and athleticsCommunity voice - community led conversations, how to start a community based organization, civic engagement trainings, organizer trainings, leadership coursesEnvironment - programs that teach the the history of environmental racism in GES, know your rights trainings, programs that inform, mitigate, and/or improve local air, water, and soil
Do you as an individual or does your organization have an address in Globeville, Elyria, or Swansea? How long have you existed in your neighborhood? Do you have a legacy relationship to one of the neighborhoods, meaning have multiple generations of your family lived in the neighborhoods?*
HOW would receiving a grant from GES CIF have a significant impact on your organization?

Organization Questions
Registered Neighborhood Organization - groups formed by residents and property owners within a neighborhood who meet regularly and whose organizational and contact information is kept on file with the city’s Community Planning and Development DepartmentNonprofit/501c3 - a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefitBusiness - an enterprising activity engaged in commercial, industrial, or professional activitiesCommunity action committee - an organization that challenges structural and/or systemic issues in the neighborhoodsLLC - a business structure type that provides personal liability protectionCommunity group (3 members or more) - does not have any legal status, but group that consistently meets with common purpose
Share your organization's mission and vision.*
Describe how directly impacted community members are involved in your decision making processes and projects. *
OPTIONAL: Provide an organizational chart including employees and board members.

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Organization Website
Organization Social Media Page
Link to any news article

Organizational Budget
$0 – $50,000$50,000 – $100,000$100,000 – $250,000Above $250,000

Organizations above $100,000 annually
How long has your organization been in existence?*
What are your major sources of funding?*

Fiscal Sponsorship
YesNo

Fiscal Sponsor (Yes)
Who is your fiscal sponsor?*

Fiscal Sponsor (No)
Is there any reason you would be unable to receive funds directly? For example: you are not a 501c3 and do not have a fiscal sponsor, you are an informal group of neighborhood parents, etc.Reach out to gescommunityinvestmentfund@gmail.com if you need support responding to this question!*

Funding and Project Budget
Funding Levels
Upper Tier ⟶ $5,000 - $10,000
Requires a site visit/video call with grant reviewers and project manager.

Lower Tier ⟶ $5,000 and less
Upper Tier ⟶ $5,000 - $10,000Lower Tier ⟶ $5,000 and less
What is your estimated budget for this project? Please include any potential or alternative funding sources outside of the CIF and any in-kind or sweat equity sources in your estimated budget. Please provide a brief budget outline. We have provided sample budget templates for you to use on our website.*

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Site Visit Availability
Please provide your availability for a site visit during May 2026

Letters of Support
Please provide a maximum of 2 letters of support from a community member or organization that supports your proposed project.*

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Proposal Description Questions
Describe the project and how it would benefit the GES communities. (500 word maximum)*
What other partnering organizations, local small businesses, or individual community members will be involved to complete this project?*
What is your estimated timeline for planning and implementing the project? What is the expected start date of the project? *
Applicants will not be eligible for another cycle of grant funding until they have completed their final grant report to show their proposed project is complete.
Do you have past experience doing the work outlined in the proposal? Briefly share that history, or other activities you are currently involved in that support your understanding for this project. *

Principles of Integrity

I acknowledge and agree to the following by submitting this application to the GES
Community Investment Fund Grant Cycle 3:
- Mutual respect and professional engagement with CIF staff, reviewers, committee members, and community volunteers is implicit to participation in the grant review process.
- Holding community affirmation, unbiased support and personal consideration toward all reviewers and fellow applicants.
- Accuracy and truth in the application and all interactions provides the basis for a strong relationship, and we all will strive to support that principle.
- I understand that the greater good of our community requires that we elevate our interactions and seek to form a greater, longer-term and genuine relationship.
- I agree that the greatest potential of the CIF is to strengthen and celebrate our community and regardless of the funding results that my participation in this process represents that intention.
Principles of Integrity Signature

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2026 Request for Proposals

Organization Questions

Organizational Budget

Organizations above $100,000 annually

Fiscal Sponsorship

Fiscal Sponsor (Yes)

Fiscal Sponsor (No)

Funding and Project Budget

Site Visit Availability

Letters of Support

Proposal Description Questions