Grants Administration

Mission

To support and advance the City's mission by providing leadership and expertise related to the grant management lifecycle and ensuring compliance with relevant regulations.

Responsibilities

Grants Administration has responsibility for grant management across the entire lifecycle of an award. These responsibilities are broadly broken down into three main categories: pre-award, financial management, and grant compliance and reporting. Specific responsibilities for each of these areas are as follows:

Pre-Award

Identify opportunities for grant funding
Review and assist in the preparation of proposals
Maintain the City's sam.gov registrations
Coordinate letters of support for internal and external stakeholders for City sponsored grant applications
Assist with application signature by authorized agency representatives

Financial Management

Set-up PeopleSoft grant accounts
Establish and oversee grant budgets and spending
Ensure accurate and compliant accounting of revenues and expenses on grant accounts
Assist with account reconciliation and closeout

Grant Compliance and Reporting

Develop city-wide policies and procedures to guide standardized grant management
Develop and maintain internal controls to support grant compliance
Assist with agency site visits and audits
Prepare the annual Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA)
Coordinate the annual Single Audit
Create and issue subawards, with City Attorney's Office approval
Prepare MOU's for grant-related activities, with City Attorney's Office approval
Perform monitoring of subrecipients, in conjunction with managing department

View Annual Single Audit Reports

Grants.gov

The primary portal for all federal grants in the United States. Includes grants from departments like HUD, DOT, DOJ, and more.

Features: Search tools, email alerts, application submissions, grant forecasting.

SAM.gov (System for Award Management)

SAM.gov

Registration portal for eligibility to apply for federal grants/contracts.

Also Offers: Federal contract opportunities and award history.

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) & Humanities (NEH)

National Endowment for the Arts | National Endowment for the Humanities

For arts, culture, and community-based educational grants.

Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA)

DOLA

State and local government grants related to housing, infrastructure, community development.

Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade (OEDIT):

OEDIT

Offers grants related to creative industries, community revitalization, and international trade expansion for businesses.

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE):

CDPHE

Environmental Justice Grant Program: Funds projects that measure, prevent, or reduce pollution and promote environmental health in disproportionately impacted communities, and include mini grants for outreach and education projects related to water quality.

Local Community Foundations

These foundations often have regionally focused grant cycles for nonprofits and civic projects.

Chronicle of Philanthropy

Philanthropy.com

Trends, donor news, foundation activities, and announcements of new grant opportunities.

TechSoup

Techsoup.org

For technology grants and heavily discounted software/hardware for nonprofits.

Community Resource Center - Colorado Grants Guide: A comprehensive directory of funders supporting Colorado-based nonprofits.
Candid (formerly Foundation Center): Offers various tools, including the Foundation Directory Online (a fee-based directory) and Funding Information Network locations where users can access databases for free.
Colorado Nonprofit Association: Provides a list of resources for nonprofit organizations seeking funding.
GrantStation: A directory with access to grant opportunities from various grant makers.

American Rescue Plan

The City of Colorado Springs (City) has received an allocation of $76,039,132 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) to support COVID-19 pandemic response and recovery efforts in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

The City will use American Rescue Plan Act funds to make strategic investments in targeted sectors enabling our community’s strong and equitable recovery from the pandemic. Strategic priority areas were identified with consideration placed on the following criteria when identifying projects and programs:

Direct benefit to the community, particularly those disproportionately impacted by the pandemic
Business and economic recovery, including recovery of the tourism sector
Investment in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure reducing barriers to future economic development or equitable access to reliable services
Ongoing support to the public health response

The plan for the City’s use of funds was developed through a combination of community input, the City’s strategic plan, needs communicated by key stakeholders, as well as identified priorities of City Leadership. The plan promotes a broad response to the pandemic and economic recovery, incorporating support for new and existing businesses, populations of citizens disproportionally impacted by the pandemic including children, families, and seniors, community public health and safety, and other community-wide benefits.

ARPA Allocation Plan: Eligibility Requirements, Priority Areas, Community Input, Strategic Plan Alignment, Other Funding & Partnerships

More detailed information can be found in the City’s annual Recovery Plan Report. The Recovery Plan Report responds to the requirements set forth by the United States Department of the Treasury for management and reporting of the SLFRF. The City’s plan follows the required format and content requirements identified in the SLFRF Compliance and Reporting Guide issued on July 24, 2021.

2025 ARPA Recovery plan report