Support House Bill 26-1274: State Agency Payments to Grant Recipients

Reforming the state’s reimbursement-based grantmaking system is a key priority within the Communities Lead Communities Thrive (CLCT) Funding the Frontlines Policy Agenda. Developed after conversations with dozens of nonprofit leaders across the state, the Agenda is focused on removing structural barriers that make it harder for community-rooted nonprofits to access and manage state grant funding.

Earlier this year, CLCT released From Patchwork to Policy: Standardizing Advance Payments from the State to Colorado Nonprofits, a white paper exploring how inconsistent reimbursement practices create barriers for nonprofit partners across the state. Now, that research is translating into action.

Colorado’s nonprofit organizations are essential partners in delivering public services – from housing and behavioral health to food access, workforce development, environmental protection, and immigrant support. Yet the way the state pays nonprofits for this work often creates unnecessary financial strain.

House Bill 26-1274 offers a practical, bipartisan solution to strengthen the state–nonprofit partnership – without creating new mandates or new costs.

Why This Matters

Permissive advance payments:

• Improve service delivery – Programs can launch on time
• Expand access – Small nonprofits compete on impact, not balance sheets
• Reduce administrative strain – Fewer delays and workarounds
• Protect public dollars – Prevent service disruptions and staff turnover
• Advance equity – Reduce structural barriers for community-rooted organizations

When nonprofits are financially stable, communities benefit.

How You Can Get Involved

House Bill 26-1274 will only move forward with strong, visible support from nonprofit leaders, service providers, and community partners across Colorado. If your organization has experienced delays or challenges under the current reimbursement system, your voice matters.

Here’s how you can help:

✔ Sign On In Support: Add your organization’s name through our endorsement form to help demonstrate broad statewide backing for this common-sense reform. You can view a list of endorsing organizations below.

✔ Share Your Story: Legislators need to hear real examples of how reimbursement delays affect service delivery. Even a short paragraph describing your experience can make a difference. Fill out the endorsement form or reach out to share your organization’s challenges with a reimbursement-based state grant system, and we can help you get the word out!

✔ Contact Your Legislators: Reach out to your Representative and Senator to express support for HB 26-1274. Personal outreach from trusted community organizations carries significant weight. You can find your state legislators by clicking here.

✔ Spread the Word: Use our toolkit to share information about the bill with your board, staff, and peer organizations. The more nonprofits understand the opportunity this bill presents, the stronger our collective advocacy will be.

Moving from Patchwork to Policy

For years, nonprofits have navigated inconsistent policies and unpredictable reimbursement timelines. From Patchwork to Policy laid out the case for standardizing advance payment authority statewide. House Bill 26-1274 turns that recommendation into action.

By expanding proven authority across state government – without mandates, new costs, or weakened oversight – this bill modernizes Colorado’s grantmaking system and ensures public dollars reach communities when they are needed most.