To: Board of County Commissioners
Through: Michelle Halstead, Director, Commissioners' Office
Prepared By:
prepared
Daniela Villarreal, Management Analyst, Commissioners' Office
end
presenter
Presenter: Daniela Villarreal, Management Analyst, Commissioners' Office
end
Subject:
title
3:00 PM *Aid to Agencies 2026 Grant Recommendations
end
Purpose and Request:
recommended action
The purpose of this study session is to provide funding recommendations for the 2026 Aid to Agencies competitive grant program for approval by the Board of County Commissioners as part of the 2026 budget.
end
Alignment with Strategic Plan: Good Governance - Understand and respond to community needs, interests, and values.
Background and Discussion:
Established in 2008, the Aid to Agencies (A2A) program was created by the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) to provide financial support to nonprofit organizations that address critical service gaps across Arapahoe County. The program is funded through the County's General Fund.
Over time, A2A has evolved to reflect changing community needs and fiscal conditions. Most recently, the program operated with a total budget of $2,079,500, structured around two primary funding mechanisms:
* Safety Net Funding: Annual allocations to core service providers that deliver essential programs the County could not otherwise offer.
* Competitive Grants: Merit-based funding opportunities for eligible nonprofits through an open application and review process.
In 2024, budget constraints necessitated a temporary pause of the Competitive Grant program and a reduction in Safety Net allocations. Following the passage of Ballot Measure 1A, the County restored full Safety Net funding and used the opportunity to reassess and strengthen the overall program framework.
Framework Revision and Program Alignment
Through a collaborative process involving the Commissioners' Office, Human Services, and Community Resources departments, staff ...
Click here for full text