Great Outdoors Colorado - GOCO Strategic Plan

GOCO’s Approach to Grant-Making

The Board will develop an operations plan which will include revising and expanding the general framework under which it awards grants.

Actively pursuing projects

Since 1994, GOCO has attempted to be responsive to regional needs through its grant application process. However, there remain communities in the state that are not benefitting from and resource needs that are not being addressed by GOCO funds.

GOCO will more actively work with local governments, state agencies, nonprofit organizations and the private sector where these gaps and needs exist. Once they are identified, GOCO can help provide technical assistance that will result in planning, partnerships and competitive proposals. Without this more proactive approach, certain areas of the state and resource types will not benefit from GOCO’s funds and significant opportunities will be lost forever.

Overarching criteria

As they have since 1994, GOCO applications will require project sponsors to meet several of the following funding criteria. However, the Board will always consider special circumstances that prevent an applicant’s projects from meeting all criteria:

Partnership, leveraging, and matching requirements: Due to the pressures of growth, a real estate market where prices have increased faster than GOCO dollars, and high demand for GOCO dollars, GOCO will continue to place an emphasis on project sponsors forging strong partnerships that result in maximum leveraging of resources. Providing matching resources – both cash and in-kind – will continue to be a requirement.

Integration: GOCO will continue to encourage that, where feasible, projects integrate as many components of GOCO’s four funding categories as possible. The Board will also strive to see that GOCO’s programs complement efforts of other state agencies, federal agencies, local governments, special districts, nonprofit organizations, the private sector and volunteers.

Planning: Because projects funded outside the context of a plan are more likely to yield fewer results in the long run, projects need to be part of some overall community, regional, or statewide plan. A higher priority will be placed on projects where plans are in place for the immediate and proximate areas and jurisdiction that are consistent with the objectives of the proposed project.

Environmental Education: When feasible, the project should provide access to and opportunities for environmental education.

Project sustainability: Sponsors need to demonstrate that they are financially able to complete and have viable plans for the operation, maintenance, and management of projects.

Impact: The project addresses a local or statewide need and benefits a local community, a region, or the state.

Environmental impact: The project should avoid, minimize, or mitigate any negative impacts to wildlife and wildlife habitat and, where possible, should provide beneficial impact to wildlife and wildlife habitat.

Funding through the Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation and the Division of Wildlife

The Constitutional Amendment provides that over time, one quarter of the Trust Fund’s investments be made through DOW and one-quarter through DPOR. The Great Outdoors Board will continue to work with the Divisions to fund projects that accomplish mutual objectives outlined in long-range plans.

In addition to requiring that half of the money be invested through the Divisions, the Amendment also has a "no substitution” clause; Great Outdoors Colorado funds cannot substitute for funds that would otherwise be appropriated by the General Assembly to the Department of Natural Resources and its Divisions. As a general matter, the Board will fund parks and wildlife projects that had not been initiated prior to the passage of the GOCO Amendment.