27 organizations receive funding to improve transportation access, preserve community spaces and help more residents connect with their communities
ARVADA, Colo., (Nov. 9, 2026) — Colorado Gives Foundation has awarded $1,017,000 to 27 organizations working to make it easier for Jefferson County (Jeffco) residents to get around, access community spaces and connect with the people around them.
Colorado Gives Foundation focuses its work in three areas: collective wellbeing, economic freedom and vibrant communities. The Convenient Neighborhoods grant opportunity advances vibrant communities by supporting nonprofits that improve transportation, public spaces and other community resources across Jeffco.
Parks, recreation centers, green spaces, transportation options and neighborhood gathering places all play a role in helping communities thrive. They give residents opportunities to stay active, build relationships and feel connected. But these resources can only make a difference when people can safely and easily reach and use them.
“Strong communities are built around places where people can come together, build relationships and feel a sense of belonging,” said Kelly Dunkin, president and CEO of Colorado Gives Foundation. “From neighborhood parks and recreation centers to community hubs, transportation and green spaces, these resources support health, connection and wellbeing. This grant supports nonprofits working to improve access to these resources so all of Jeffco can thrive.”
Building vibrant communities
Safe, convenient transportation and vibrant community spaces can foster social connection, increase mobility and build stronger, healthier communities. By improving both the places people gather and the ways people reach them, these grants aim to reduce barriers and help more Jeffco residents participate in community life.
The funding generally supports work in three areas:
- Transportation access: Helping residents access and enroll in programs that provide free or discounted public transportation and other mobility options.
- Mobility and green space advocacy: Supporting efforts that improve neighborhood mobility, public transportation and access to outdoor green spaces.
- Community spaces: Developing and preserving parks, green spaces, recreation centers, community centers and other places where people can access programs, services and each other.
The impact we anticipate
Together, the 27 funded organizations will make it easier for Jefferson County residents to find, reach and use local resources, helping people stay connected to their communities.
More residents will have options for getting where they need to go. Grant recipients will help older adults, people with disabilities, people experiencing homelessness and other residents access transportation benefits, navigate public transit and find mobility options that work for them.
More public spaces will be accessible and welcoming. Investments in parks, pathways, recreation facilities, gardens and community hubs will help more residents use the spaces in their neighborhoods.
Green spaces and gathering places will remain part of community life. Funded projects will preserve and improve places where people can spend time outdoors, participate in activities, access services and meet their neighbors.
Residents will have more opportunities for social connection. By making it easier to reach and use community spaces, these projects can create more opportunities for people to build relationships, participate in activities and feel connected to their communities.
From transportation access to places that bring people together
The organizations receiving funding reflect the many ways that neighborhood access shapes everyday life across Jeffco.
Easterseals Colorado will establish a Transit Assistance and Navigation Program that helps Jeffco residents with disabilities and older adults access public transportation benefits through eligibility assistance, training and education.
Apex Park and Recreation District will support an accessible bridge and improvements at Apple Meadows Park, increasing mobility, access to green space and opportunities for residents to gather and connect.
Denver Urban Gardens will support programming and infrastructure upgrades at its Jeffco community gardens and food forests, expanding access to fresh, healthy food, urban green spaces and places for community connection.
Evergreen Park & Recreation District will support the development of a new Field House at Buchanan Park, a year-round recreation and gathering center designed to bring together physical activity, social connection and community life.
Read More + Meet the Convenient Neighborhoods Grant Recipients
Colorado Gives Foundation is committed to serving Jeffco and creating communities where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Learn more about the Foundation’s work in Jeffco at ColoradoGivesFoundation.org/impact-areas.
About Colorado Gives Foundation
Colorado Gives Foundation connects people, ideas and Colorado nonprofits to make good happen. Colorado Gives Foundation is a Jefferson County grant maker, investing more than $10 million annually to Jeffco-serving nonprofits committed to ensuring that all of Jeffco is thriving. We also work statewide to build the capacity of nonprofits and donors via ColoradoGives.org, nonprofit endowments and donor services. Through ColoradoGives.org, we make it easy for people to donate to the causes they care about, enabling meaningful change to help our neighbors thrive. Colorado Gives Foundation is where donors find and discover the community impact that matters most to them, which is good for everyone.
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