Five Colorado Springs nonprofits are among 83 organizations statewide to be awarded grants from an inaugural philanthropic program of The Colorado Trust.

The foundation fielded more than 600 applications statewide for the competitive grants that focus on community resilience initiatives, said Julian Kesner, vice president of communications for the Denver-based trust.

The private foundation was established in 1985 using proceeds of the sale of assets from the PSL Healthcare Corp.

Health equity has been an overarching issue for the foundation since 2012, Kesner said, and that has not changed.

But a new strategic plan enacted this year identified “the most pressing social determinants of health that need some work in Colorado,” he said.

Three issues rose to the top: food, housing and mental and behavioral health.

“It’s obvious to everyone living in Colorado that these are widespread challenges that are important to address,” Kesner said.

Recipients, who represent all 64 Colorado counties, were selected based on programs that are “working to respond effectively to community disruptions resulting from economic downturns, social turbulence, public health crises or a lack of coherent or effective public policy,” according to The Colorado Trust.

“There was a standardized scoring rubric with a host of variables that staff looked at, and there were a lot of really strong applications,” Kesner said.

Sixty-one percent of grantees are new to the foundation, he added.

• Locally, more safe housing is coming for men and women who are victims of domestic violence or partner violence and sexual assault.

Kingdom Builders Family Life Center received $346,192 to help the organization provide housing assistance and wraparound services primarily to Black women and children fleeing abusive situations.

The money pays for up to six months of free housing assistance for domestic and sexual assault survivors and their children in the organization’s communal living center or individual scattered apartments and homes.

“We were amazed to find out we were selected,” said Lisa Jenkins, founder and CEO of Kingdom Builders Family Life Center.

“There often are limitations on when survivors of domestic violence and sexual violence can leave that abuse, and having that opportunity to provide that support, we can provide the resources for them to leave and never look back,” she said. “This grant combined with other grants is a game-changer for us in how many survivors we can help.”

• The $354,999 grant that Inside Out Youth Services received is funding a host of services for LGBTQ+ youth ages 13 to 24.

The organization is using the money for expanding “culturally responsive behavioral health care for LGBTQ+ youth via partnerships,” along with strengthening youth leadership and peer support networks, implementing trauma-informed prevention and intervention programs, advocating for youth rights and resources, and enhancing community connections for youth as a mental health protection strategy.

• Solid Rock Community Development Corp., which is building an affordable housing complex on land that Solid Rock Christian Center sold to the entity, received $350,000 to fortify its food programs. New developments include increasing the number of distribution days of free food for needy residents, more sales booths at farmers’ markets and additional outreach to homebound residents.

The organization also will build a sustainable aquaponic farm on its site in southeast Colorado Springs, increase food education programs and strengthen a coalition working to address food insecurity.

The Rev. Benjamin Anderson, pastor of Solid Rock church and executive director of Solid Rock Community Development Corp., said construction to build the aquaponics project will begin in a few months.

• Another effort focused on food insecurity, Food to Power, was awarded $353,457 to help pilot and evaluate five new programs and expand its three established programs.

The organization’s existing work to overcome barriers to obtaining fresh food in neighborhoods includes redistributing surplus food from cafeterias, grocery stores and home gardens; creating an urban farm, Hillside Hub, where vegetables are grown, compost gets made and classes are offered; and education through project-based youth internships, community workshops and events.

• And Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8 received $345,340 to expand its food pantry and add two distribution sites in the city of Fountain. Its reach on Fort Carson Army post also will increase. The pantry’s growth will focus on accessibility, nutritious food, education and new locations.

Grant funding for recipients began July 1 and runs through 2026.