Expand your pool of donors
Gunnison Valley Giving Connection
CFGV is thrilled to announce that our Gunnison Valley Giving Connection “grant catalog” is now open to receive fundraising requests from nonprofits and other charitable entities that serve Gunnison County. Our Community Grants program can’t meet every funding need for charitable activities in the Valley, so we created this program to allow community members to easily find and connect with opportunities to fund worthy causes.
The Giving Connection offers three different broad categories of grants:
NOW—Didn’t see that coming…
Emergent organizational needs not anticipated in your budget.
THRIVE—So all may thrive…
Creative approaches to bridging, bonding, and helping all community members below and thrive.
WISH—Imagine what we could do with…
Moonshot ideas, dream pilot projects, facility/equipment upgrades, etc.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why submit a request for funding?
Fundraising can be challenging! We created this program to help you connect directly with local donors across the community, with a much smaller fee compared to what other crowdfunding platforms may charge. Plus, donations made through CFGV are tax-deductible for your donors.
How is this different from CFGV’s Community Grants cycle?
While Community Grants is a foundational program at CFGV, it does have some restrictions that limit the funding that can be awarded. The Giving Connection program is ongoing – requests can be submitted anytime, whereas Community Grants operate on one annual cycle. The Giving Connection does not have a specific amount limit or match requirement, though there is no guarantee that the amount requested will be raised. The Giving Connection is also open to additional types of entities that are not eligible for Community Grants.
Is my organization/group eligible to apply?
If you are a 501(c)(3) organization or government entity, you are eligible to submit a request to the Giving Connection. Other entities carrying out charitable work are also eligible, though additional reporting may be required. Individuals are not eligible. Organizations may submit two requests per calendar year.
What kinds of projects or programs are qualified for the Giving Connection?
The Giving Connection is geared more towards one time needs or projects, rather than ongoing general operating support. Requests need to demonstrate their fit with one of the three categories (Thrive, Wish, Now), serve a charitable purpose for the Gunnison Valley, and be submitted by an eligible entity.
How do I submit a request?
Requests are submitted online. You will first submit a brief, emailed letter of intent and then, if deemed eligible, be invited to submit a full application.
Does it matter if my organization has a current CFGV grant, has been denied funding, or has never received funding through Community Grants?
No! None of these situations are requirements or disqualifications.
When does my organization receive funds raised through the Giving Connection?
Requests are kept on the Giving Connection until the funding goal is met or for three months, whichever comes first. Once the request is removed from the site, CFGV will disburse the full amount funded within ten business days.
NOTE: You and your organization are responsible for the majority of marketing, publicity, etc for your Giving Connection campaign. CFGV does some marketing for the Giving Connection, but the success of your campaign is largely reliant on your organization’s efforts to connect with donors.
Application Instructions
STEP 1: Email CFGV using the form below to indicate your interest in applying, and which of the three categories your request falls under.
STEP 2: If staff determines your organization and project are eligible, you will receive an invitation email with a link to the online application.
STEP 3: Fill out the application. Application asks for:
- Short description of funding request (think along the lines of a title for your project)
- Long description (provide a paragraph giving more details of the need you are requesting funding to fulfill. Be specific, but try to keep it brief, around 150 words. Note: CFGV staff reserve the right to make minor changes to descriptions for grammar, clarity, etc, without consulting with the organization. Any questions about changes to content will be discussed with the organization prior to any changes are made.) **This is what potential donors will be looking at, so write it with them in mind, not CFGV. You are not applying for funding from CFGV, you are appealing to your fellow community members to pitch in to a worthy cause.**
- Fundraising goal amount
- Photo (please use your organization’s logo if you have one, or other relevant image)
- Website (link to website or social media)
- Contact name
- Contact email
- Contact phone
- PDF attachment (please attach a budget for the amount requested, and any other documents you think are pertinent to your request)
STEP 4: Submit!
STEP 5: Wait to hear back from CFGV staff (within ten business days). Staff may have questions or request modifications to your request to better demonstrate your need for funding.
NOTE: The online application does not currently have a save or download function, so we recommend using this word document to draft and edit your responses under Step 3 prior to final submission of your application
Reporting
There are currently no official reporting requirements for 501(c)(3) organizations. Other entities may be required to submit some financial reporting to confirm funds raised were used for the purpose described for the Giving Connection. We also require that you keep records and copies of all fundraising materials for a period of X years. We also encourage the submission of photos and/or testimonials about the impact your Giving Connection campaign had for your organization.
Fundraising Guidelines
To make the best use of an opportunity with the Gunnison Valley Giving Connection (Giving Connection), an organization may want to undertake some form of marketing or promotion for their campaign, which might include, but is not limited to, things such as social media posts, emails, or flyers.