By: Marco Dorado, Communities Lead Communities Thrive
Date: July 25, 2025

When Communities Lead Communities Thrive (CLCT) set out to launch the Colorado State Grant Database for Nonprofits, we knew the need was significant. For years, nonprofits, especially smaller, capacity-strapped organizations, have struggled to find clear, up-to-date information about state grant opportunities. CLCT Coalition member organizations also identified the need for an easy-to-use, centralized grant database, so, in the absence of a state platform, we took the lead to make it a reality.  

What we didn’t fully expect was just how difficult and fragmented this information would be to track down. Building this centralized database was not just about collecting links. It required hundreds of hours of digging through various state agency websites, subscribing to newsletters, using search bars creatively, and, in many cases, simply clicking around until something showed up. Oftentimes, it felt like finding a needle in a haystack. 

Following the launch of our database a month ago, the impact of the tool speaks for itself: over 250 unique users from all corners of Colorado have accessed our database, and it has been viewed nearly 1,500 times. Folks from across sectors have shared the resource with their networks and organizations that will benefit from having all of the state grant information in one place.

Here are five lessons we learned in the process of developing the database and why we believe it is essential that the state step up to support efforts to centralize information about grants available to nonprofits:

1. The current grant process is inefficient and inconsistent.There are no standardized processes or practices for the various state agencies to publish nonprofit-relevant grant opportunities. Some agencies have dedicated, well-organized grant pages, while others bury information under vague sections like “Community Partners” or “Programs and Funding.” In many cases, agencies reported grants in newsletters or on social media but didn’t list them on their websites, or vice versa; some agencies did not have a dedicated grants page, and we had to use their search function to find opportunities. For example, a grant was reported in a newsletter but never listed on the official grants page, and by the time we tracked it down, the deadline had passed. Another agency listed just one active opportunity that we were only able to find after extensive searching, with no clear dedicated grant section on their website. This lack of standardization makes the process of finding state grants for nonprofits inefficient for both nonprofits and state employees.

2. Outdated information was common. Application deadlines were often outdated, or the agency webpage only showed closed grants. Several agencies had grants with expired deadlines still listed on their sites, well after the closing date. Others had comprehensive lists that still included opportunities from as far back as 2022. While this may help with transparency or historical records, it makes it harder for nonprofits to find what’s currently live and fundable. We found many instances where grants were “in pilot phase,” with no clear updates on whether they’d be renewed or reopened for new applicants.

3. Some of the best information was hidden in newsletters or social media. We had to subscribe to agency newsletters, dig through Facebook pages, and even check LinkedIn for funding announcements. While a few agencies did this well (posting clearly when applications opened and explicitly stating nonprofit eligibility), others had:
   • Social media pages with outdated posts from 2016 about grant opportunities with little updates.
   • LinkedIn accounts less than a year old with no grant-related content.
   • Newsletters that referenced links that were broken or outdated.

The takeaway? If you’re not following state agency social media accounts or subscribed to various newsletter lists, you’re likely missing key opportunities, and even that doesn’t ensure grant information reaches grant-seekers.

4. Grant platforms, procurement sites, and PDFs – oh my! The format of grant listings varied significantly across agencies. Some agencies used simple, readable web pages. Others had downloadable PDFs, published dashboards on various platforms, or required sign-ups on external procurement portals like the Colorado VSS (Vendor Self-Service). This made it harder to streamline the data into one cohesive database. We found examples where:
   • An opportunity was only listed via a grant platform, not on the agency’s main website.
   • Agencies required nonprofits to be pre-registered on procurement platforms just to view grant details.
   • Listings are redirected to other agency sites altogether.

These inconsistencies in how grant opportunities are displayed add another barrier to finding grant information.

5. Some agencies do it well and offer a model for the state to follow!A few state agencies stood out for having clear, updated, and nonprofit-friendly listings, including:
   • A  user-friendly grant hub.
   • A funding directory that was relatively organized.
   • Clear eligibility criteria and social media cross-posting from their website.

These agencies often had “Subscribe for Grant Updates” features, easy-to-navigate pages, and even searchable eligibility by applicant type. Their practices and processes offer a model the state can follow in creating a centralized grant database for nonprofits that focuses on standardization of all grant opportunities and efficiency, for both grant seekers and the various state agencies!

Where We Go From Here

Building the Colorado State Grant Database for Nonprofits wasn’t just an exercise in web-sleuthing. It confirmed what many of us already know: the current process for finding and accessing state grants is disconnected, outdated, and inequitable, especially for smaller nonprofits without full-time grant writers or the time to chase down links across 20+ websites.

This database is a step toward efficiency, equity, and access. It doesn’t solve the inconsistency in how grant information is shared by state agencies, but it does create a shared starting point. We’ll continue to update the database so nonprofits can focus less on tracking down opportunities and more on delivering impact. 

If you’d like to suggest updates or share a new opportunity we missed, please emailcograntsdatabase@coclct.org.Be sure to follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram for biweekly updates on available grants. You can also sign up for our email list for monthly coalition updates on our Contact Us page. Together, we can advocate for and create a more accessible and transparent state grant ecosystem for all.