Note: The SIPA GovGrants program is not impacted by the recent decision to freeze federal grant and loan payments. SIPA does not receive any federal funding. Funding committed to current SIPA GovGrants award recipients will not be interrupted, and the selection process for the current round of awards will continue as described below.
The SIPA GovGrants Program is greatly expanding SIPA’s long-standing commitment to be a government that serves government in Colorado. This program funds large-scale efforts to improve digital government service delivery at all levels of government.
Program Overview
SIPA GovGrants is SIPA’s newest and largest grant program, supporting and driving civic technology impact throughout Colorado by making government technology project grants across the state.
Through the portfolio of projects awarded under the SIPA GovGrants Program, we will be making tangible progress toward the following goals:
- Improving the efficiency and effectiveness of government service delivery to the people of Colorado
- Implementing innovative, high-impact, and scalable technology solutions that help cement Colorado’s status as a leader in civic technology
Applications will be accepted through February 21st, 2025.
Key Details
Program: SIPA GovGrants
Supporting: Civic technology innovation
Who can apply: Any Colorado government with an EGE Agreement
Grant Amounts: $25,000 and up
Application Period: January 6 - February 21, 2025
Program Email: GovGrants@cosipa.gov
What We're Looking For
The mission of the Statewide Internet Portal Authority is to provide efficient and effective services for residents through the use of modern business practices and innovative technology solutions. The SIPA GovGrants Program will serve that mission by providing funding and support to innovative government technology projects at all levels of government across the state of Colorado.
Awarded proposals under this program will have some combination of the following features:
- A strong connection to SIPA's mission: The proposal would advance the efficient and effective delivery of government services. It would produce resident-facing outcomes by implementing modern business practices through an innovative technology solution.
- A clear theory of change: The proposal has identified a clear, well-scoped problem with the status quo, and has proposed a solution with a clear theory for how it will address the problem. The strongest proposals will be backed by research or evidence of success from other similar implementations. The proposal will identify measures of success based on outcomes, not outputs.
- Demonstrated implementation capacity: The proposal demonstrates the applicant's capacity to successfully implement the proposed solution. The proposed solution would be sustainable in the long-term.
- A potential for impact proportional to the level of risk: Projects that request larger amounts of funding or that have higher implementation risks should also have the potential for a high level of positive impact. Ideal proposals will allow for the delivery of value on an iterative basis and avoid large up-front costs.
- Scalability/Replicability: The proposal offers the opportunity for even greater future impact by scaling the technology within a jurisdiction or replicating it across other governments.
Additional information about the ideal application content and the evaluation process and criteria can be found in the SIPA GovGrants Program Manual.
Who Can Apply?
The SIPA GovGrants Program is available to any Colorado government entity that is eligible to purchase products and services through SIPA. That means that any of the following Colorado government entities may be able to apply:
- State Agency
- Local Government
- Special District
- Public K-12
- Public college or university
In order to apply, an agency/institution must have an active Eligible Government Entity (EGE) agreement with SIPA. SIPA already has over 1,000 active EGE agreements in place.
How to Apply
Applications for the 2025 cycle of SIPA GovGrants are now open. Applications will be accepted until February 21st, 2025.
The SIPA GovGrants Program Manual describes the application content, application process, and the evaluation criteria that will be used to determine awards under the program. SIPA recommends that all prospective applicants review the Manual and the other GovGrants resources listed above. Then applicants may create or collect the necessary proposal documents prior to submitting an application.
Applications for the SIPA GovGrants program are collected using an online form, with the proposal substance and details submitted in attached documents. SIPA has provided an optional Applicant Worksheet if you would prefer to prepare your application by responding to a set of questions. For the current cycle, SIPA has also provide an Applicant Budget Template.
Connect with SIPA
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