(DENVER) — The Colorado Disability Opportunity Office (CDOO), housed within the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE), announced today that the Colorado Disability Funding Committee (CDFC) is opening applications for two grant rounds for programs offering disability application assistance and new and innovative projects in 2026.
The CDFC provides funding for the disability community through Disability Application Assistance Grants and New and Innovative Grants. Grantees are awarded for programming focused on improving the quality of life and increasing independence for Coloradans with disabilities. The total amount of funding available is still undetermined but will be split evenly between Disability Application Assistance Grants and New and Innovative Grants. Each applicant can apply for up to $250,000 in funds — the largest grant amount ever offered by the CDFC.
The Disability Application Assistance Grant application opened on Friday, December 19, 2025 and will close at 11:59 p.m. on February 20, 2026. The New and Innovative Grant application opened on Tuesday, December 30, 2025 and will close at 11:59 p.m. on February 27, 2026.
The application process has been updated this year to align with other grants offered by CDLE. All applicants will now submit their materials through Bidnet.com. There will be a virtual pre-application conference on Tuesday, January 13, 2026 at 1 p.m. on Zoom to introduce the Disability Application Assistance grant process, review the application and answer any questions. Interested applicants are encouraged to join the virtual conference via this Zoom link.
Another virtual pre-application conference for the New and Innovative Grant application process will be held on Tuesday, January 20, 2026 at 1 p.m. on Zoom. Prospective applicants are encouraged to attend via this Zoom link. More information about the grants, applications and evaluation process is available on CDOO’s website.
About The Colorado Disability Funding Committee (CDFC)
The Colorado Disability Funding Committee is made up of 13 Governor-appointed members, with the requirement that at least seven members must identify as living with a disability or have first-hand experience working with someone who does. Members oversee the distribution of grant funds which are used to invest in new and innovative initiatives working to increase the quality of life and independence of Coloradans with disabilities, and to assist Coloradans with disabilities apply for programs such as Social Security Disability Insurance and Medicaid.
About The Colorado Disability Opportunity Office (CDOO)
Created by HB24-1360 in 2024, the Colorado Disability Opportunity Office (CDOO) is the point of contact for state agencies, private sector organizations, and the public to advance the integration and inclusion of the disability community. CDOO sits at the intersection of policy development and implementation, and HB 24-1360 ensures that CDOO staff impacts state policy by having a seat on the Governor’s policy team, coordinating cross-agency collaboration and providing funding through the CDFC to disability organizations and businesses.