We know that COVID-19 is impacting all of Colorado, and we at the Buell Foundation are working to be responsive to changing needs while being true to our mission. Our priorities haven’t changed; we are committed to ensuring that children under age five can thrive and teen pregnancy prevention education is delivered. We know that our grantees have different needs, and we hope to be able to accommodate many of those needs. Our number one priority is that the programs that we’ve been funding are continued into the future.
At this time, the Buell Foundation will not be accepting applications for major capital projects or playground projects.
We are grateful for your partnership. We know that your work is more important than ever, and we want to say THANK YOU for all of the essential support that you provide your community. We know that all of this distancing can be isolating. Program Officers are happy to schedule time to talk on the phone, but please coordinate as all of our schedules are different.
Below is guidance for flexibility being offered to our partners. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to your Program Officer. Contact information can be found here.
New Funding Opportunity for Current Grantees: Licensed, Nonprofit Child Care Centers ONLY
The Buell Foundation has a long history of supporting child care and early learning centers in Colorado. Given the current COVID-19 pandemic, this industry is struggling more than ever before and requires support to stabilize and reopen for services. This grant opportunity is available for licensed, nonprofit child care centers that have received an operating or program related grant from the Buell Foundation in the last two years. The intention is to support centers that are currently closed or operating at less than 25% of normal capacity to reopen for the summer session. These funds are intended to be one-time in nature and will support the initial activities or costs to reopen the center; they are not intended to be ongoing operating funds. A priority for the Foundation continues to be access to quality care for those children the farthest from opportunity. Priority will be given to centers targeting children from low-income families.
For current grantees with open grants
We will allow an extension or modification of your current grant to meet your organization’s needs to ensure that programming will be sustained moving forward. This might mean infrastructure improvements to deliver services remotely (computers, internet, costs for new technology), to pay for essential employees or to support organizational costs such as rent.
We can’t predict how our current challenges related to COVID-19 will impact organizations moving forward. At this time, we are offering flexibility for up to 25% of current grants. If you need additional changes, please work with your Program Officer.
If funds are not going to be spent on contracted deadlines, we will allow extensions up to three months. Deadlines for required grant reports will be extended proportionately.
All extensions and modifications must be approved by a Buell Program Officer. In order to receive approval, please communicate the following key pieces of information via email:
- Grant Number, which can be found in your contract
- When you received funding and for what purpose
- How much money is unspent in your current grant
- Your requested change and your reason/rationale for that change, no more than one to two paragraphs
- A new end of contract date if you are seeking an extension
For May Reapplications (note that there is separate guidance for Early Childhood Councils below)
- Application deadline is extended to May 15, 2020 by 5:00 p.m.
- Applications should be submitted by email to Norah Lovato— nlovato@buellfoundation.org . The subject line should include your organization name and May 2020 Grant Application (e.g., ABC Organization May 2020 Application).
- Emails received after this date and time will not be accepted.
Note: if you are planning on significantly changing your scope, please reach out to your Program Officer and know that a full application will be required.
Since you’ve received funding in the past and we’ve already formed a partnership, we are asking you to complete an abbreviated application:
For Early Childhood Councils
- Application deadline is extended to May 15, 2020 by 5:00 p.m.
- Applications should be submitted by email to Norah Lovato— nlovato@buellfoundation.org . The subject line should read Council Name Application 2020 (e.g., ABC Council Application 2020).
- Emails received after this date and time will not be accepted.
While our process is temporarily changing, priorities for councils have not changed. Our primary interest is ensuring a robust system of councils that covers the entire state. We will ask you to break out your request by type of service: infrastructure/systems building, workforce/professional development, quality improvement, increased access to child care and direct services. Ask for what you need with the caveat that we don’t expect to be able to make major changes in the amounts we are funding. At this critical time, we are very interested in the unmet needs identified by councils across the state and your best ideas about tackling challenges in your region.
Since you’ve received funding in the past and we’ve already formed a partnership, we are asking you to complete an abbreviated application.
Below, please find the abbreviated application packet. Submit all required documents in the application as well as the completed interim report.
For new applicants
- Applications are due on May 15, 2020 by 5:00 p.m.
- Full application packet required. Templates and guidance can be accessed on our Guidelines & Application Page.
- Applications should be submitted by email to Norah Lovato— nlovato@buellfoundation.org . The subject line should read Council Name Application 2020 (e.g., ABC Council Application 2020). Guidance for submitting your application by email can be found here.
- Emails received after this date and time will not be accepted.
Resources
- Information from the Office of Early Childhood’s recent Town Hall, click here.
- Early Milestones Colorado has compiles a list of resources here.