Innovation & Collaboration Incubator
The Innovation & Collaboration Incubator is a benefit for paid members of The Collaborative. It is a series of Collaboration Sessions as well as Grant Funding.
ELIGIBILITY
Open to all three paid levels of The Collaborative Membership:
- Full Level
- Associate Level
- Cultural Partner Level
Awarded organizations from the first pilot year are ineligible and unable to apply for the grant in the second pilot year.
WHO CAN APPLY?
This grant is for Collaborative member to member collaborations.
Collaborative member orgs may apply by naming at least one or more other Collaborative member orgs. Cross-tier collaboration is highly recommended.
Find a list of eligible 2025-2026 Members Here.
Feedback on proposals will not be given to any application.
Purpose
Encourage membership collaboration and engagement across all tier members to develop innovative programs that serve and expand program access to communities in the 7- SCFD counties.
Create learning opportunities for all members through facilitated collaboration sessions with grantees sharing project development process: mid-grant and end of grant through presentation/panelist discussion.
Goals
To Serve the Public in the 7-SCFD Counties
Encourage Membership Collaboration and Engagement Across All Member Tiers
Create Learning Opportunities For All Members
Preference given to projects that:
- Uniquely expand access and serve populations of the SCFD 7 County District
- Engage in New Partnerships or New Projects
- Innovative Programs
- Merge Different Disciplines (ex. Arts and Science)
- Serve Historically Marginalized Communities
- Collaborates Across Tiers
Grantees will share process: Mid-year and End of Year presentation/panelist discussion
GRANT GUIDELINES
Grant Budget Total:
$50,000 (FY Sept 2025-Aug 2026)
Funding Source:
Using a portion of the Collaborative’s Unrestricted Assets
How (in Pilot Year #2):
Simple Application and Peer-Committee Review. Application will require a simple budget plan.
Geographic:
Program delivery must take place in one or more of the 7-SCFD Counties (Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas and Jefferson Counties)
How many projects will get funded?
To be determined based on scope of projects submitted during the pilot year; Threshold of up to $10,000
Timeline
- March 16, 2026 - Application Opens
- March 18, 2026 - First Information Session (Virtual)
- March 31, 2026 - Second Information Session (Virtual)
- April 14, 2026 - Grant Office Hours (Virtual)
- April 20, 2026 - Grant Closes
- April 28, 2026 - Collaboration Sessoin
- April/May 2026 - Review Committee Convenes
- May 20, 2026 - Collaboration Session
- June 1, 2026 - Grantees Announced
- May 2027 - Projects Completed
Learning Opportunity on May 15, 2026
Hear from the 2024/25 Grant Recipients at their final grant report panel about their projects, partnerships, and process around collaboration.