Ingenuity Grants Application Guidelines

The Big Goal

Ingenuity Grants encourage people to get involved in their community as they plan and execute ingenious, innovative, and/or creative projects that have significant potential to enhance the quality of life in the Pikes Peak region. We especially encourage projects that increase charitable giving through support of these ideas.

Focus Areas

Food and Community
Projects with this focus will include ideas related to nutrition, health, fitness and wellness. These projects should create greater access to healthy, locally-grown foods, and should bring people together to celebrate and learn about healthy food. Ideally, projects will educate and involve people in activities that promote overall well-being. We also encourage projects that engage children in first-hand experiences that promote health and wellness.

Economic Strength
Projects with this focus will create and/or promote economic stability and entrepreneurship, especially among young people. Ideally, these projects will strengthen local businesses and local organizations and encourage economical actions such as sharing, networking, trading, bartering, and more.

Arts, Music, and Cultural Resources
Projects with this focus  will encourage people to seek, experiment, design, create, explore, and dream about the future of our community. Examples include projects that encourage the arts, music, craftsmanship, and high-quality design. Ideally, projects will engage people in new ways in their community while fostering innovative solutions for problems and new ideas for opportunities. Again, we encourage projects that engage children in first-hand experiences.

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The Application Process

Who can apply?

Any person(s) in the Pikes Peak region (El Paso and Teller Counties).

What comes first?

Before you submit your great idea, identify two project partners that can provide consultation and support for the design and implementation of your project. One partner should be a local nonprofit organization, and the other partner should be a local for-profit business.

It’s important to have these partners to ensure that there’s a broad base of support for the project, and that more of our community members are invested in the project’s success. If you are unclear about what kind of organizations qualify as project partners, call us!

When do I apply?

We accept applications on a rolling basis at any time during the year.

What’s the range of grants available?

Grants will generally be between $500 and $5,000 as determined by our Ingenuity Grants Advisory Committee.

How do I apply?

First, talk to your project partners. Here’s what you should ask from them:
-  They should help you brainstorm, discuss, and provide feedback about your project before you send it to us.
-  They should provide ongoing guidance and expertise for the life of the project.
-  They should help you recruit and retain volunteers if you need them.
-  Non-profit partner only: They should be prepared to serve as the fiscal sponsor for the project. The grant will be made to the non-profit partner, which will then pay the project’s expenses.

Important Note: Please make sure your project partners know that they are not required to provide financial support or matching funds for the project. While this would be helpful, it is not a requirement.


Next, write about your project… please fit everything on one page!
-  What do you propose to do?
-  How will it impact our community?
-  Why is it needed or wanted?
-  How much money are you requesting, and how does that relate to the full cost of the project?
-  Imagine that the project is over: tell us how you will know you’ve been successful.


Then, tell us about yourself and your partners:
-  Your contact information - address, phone, email.
-  A brief statement that describes your life experience and expertise related to your project idea. If you have a resume, you can send it along.
-  Contact information for your project partners, and what expertise you think they can provide for your project. Please include the Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) for your nonprofit partner, since they will be handling the financial part of the project.
- A draft budget showing what your project might cost.


Finally, send it to us via email.

What happens then?

Our committee will read and discuss your proposal. If they think your project has great potential, they will schedule a time to meet with you in person. They will then decide whether or not to choose your project, and we will get in touch with you to let you know their decision.

If my project is selected, what should I expect?

-  We will help you tell the community about your ideas, your project, and what you  are achieving.
-  We will expect you to be an active participant in PPCF’s TLC  (The Learning Community), an online learning network that functions as a think tank and social network for you to share information, tell people about your work, and encourage people to get involved. Don’t worry: if you're not social media-savvy, we’ll show you how to use TLC!
-  After working on your project for one year, we will meet with you to figure out how to sustain, expand, change, end, or replicate your project in the future.

After my project is underway, what else should I be thinking about?

-  What is actually happening during the project?
-  Is it unfolding the way you thought it would, or have there been surprises?
-  How have you handled those surprises?
-  What positive impact is your project having on our community?
-  How are you measuring the project’s success?


To connect with us, please call (719) 389-1251 or email ingenuity@ppcf.org.