Community Partnership Grant Program
Mountain Recreation recognizes the value of recreational programs, services, and facilities to instill a strong and positive character, ensure a lifetime of health and happiness for all ages, and reduce social isolation by creating connections across the community. Recreational activities can help a person learn important life lessons, such as how to work hard, persevere, be a team player, set goals, follow rules, and stay healthy for a lifetime.
Toward this end, Mountain Recreation finds the work of many not-for-profit organizations serving the community aligned with the mission and service plan of the District. Mountain Recreation offers qualified organizations three opportunities for assistance through its Community Partnership Grants.
Applications closed August 15 this year. The Mountain Rec Board will make final decisions at the September 2025 board meeting.
As Colorado Special Districts are local government, taxpayer funds supporting Mountain Recreation were approved by voters for the specific purpose outlined in Mountain Recreation’s service plan. The donation of Mountain Recreation’s funding is limited to the approved Service Plan purpose and, therefore, grant awards may only be for programs or purposes related to recreation in Western Eagle County.
Important Information
- Program Goals
The Mountain Recreation Metropolitan District believes that everyone deserves to be healthy and happy. The District’s Community Partnership Program is designed to:
- Enrich the lives of Eagle County residents so that everyone has an opportunity to be healthy and happy through recreational opportunities;
- Grow the breadth of reach and access to recreational programs and services in Eagle County;
- Keep recreational programs and services diverse and affordable; and
- Create partnerships that enhance recreational opportunities.
- General Info
Mountain Recreation will allocate significant funding in the FY26 budget to support successful applicants with in-kind support in the form of facility use or staff support for programs and services that expand or enhance the mission of Mountain Recreation. Applicants should consider how the proposed program or service aligns with the Strategic Plan adopted by the Board of Directors of Mountain Rec (see website). Alignment with the District’s mission, vision, and strategic plan will strengthen the application and should be emphasized in the program/project narrative. In-Kind funding is available only to programs/events/services that are not conducted in partnership established with Mountain Recreation.
In-kind resources available through the grant process may include:
- Use of Mountain Rec’s owned/operated facilities
- Staff assistance (hourly basis)
- Registration/reservation services
- Child care/Camp spaces
- Eligibility
In order to qualify for the Community Partnership program, organizations must meet specific eligibility criteria. Applicant organizations must:
- Offer programs or services that are recreational in nature or conduct improvement projects that expand or enhance recreation opportunities in the District;
- Serve Eagle County, as evidenced by (1) at least 80% of program participation coming from Eagle County or (2) propose projects directly benefitting and accessible to Mountain Recreation District residents;
- Offer programs or projects that are available to everyone equally, with open participation or involvement that is not restricted by diversity factors such as race, ethnicity, religion, ability, skill, or financial ability to pay; and
- Be registered in good standing as a Colorado nonprofit organization with the Colorado Secretary of State and have 501c3 status.
- How to Apply
Applications will be accepted once per year from July 1-August 14 and be submitted to the Mountain Rec Board of Directors at their public September Board Meeting (third Wednesday of the month). Organizations wishing to apply must complete an application form found below.
Applications are due by 5pm August 14, 2026.
Awardees will be required to present to the Mountain Rec board of directors at one of their board meetings, detailing the results of the program/project within one year of grant award. A presentation is required in order to be eligible to apply for Community Partnership Grant awards in successive years.
For more information about the Community Partnership Program, please contact Anna Englehart, Superintendent of Recreation Programs.
- The Legal Stuff
Legal Disclaimer
In accordance with Mountain Recreation’s authority to adopt rules and regulations not in conflict with the constitution and laws of Colorado for carrying on the business, objects, and affairs of the board and Mountain Recreation, and its authority to exercise all rights and powers necessary or incidental to or implied from the specific powers granted to Mountain Rec by law (C.R.S. §32-1-1001(m)(n)), the Board of Directors or its designated agent(s) may approve of the payment of certain stipends to organizations for the provision of a service or facility to Mountain Recreation and/or its residents, where such service or facility is of the type that Mountain Recreation would or could otherwise provide and the provision thereof by the receiving organization defrays or eliminates the need for the District to do so, thus allowing Mountain Recreation to spend its resources on other items.