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Worthy Cause

Overview

During the 2017 General Election, Boulder County voters approved an extension of the .05% Worthy Cause sales tax with 79% of the vote. The 15-year initiative allocates a portion of sales tax revenue to Boulder County nonprofit human service agencies for capital projects, including the purchase of land or buildings, construction, renovation, or debt reduction. To find out more about investments made through the Worthy Cause sales tax, view the Worthy Cause program report or download the Worthy Cause program report.

Pool Funds

Worthy Cause sales tax revenues include a pool of funds to be allocated through a competitive grant process. Each year, the Boulder County Commissioners seek Capital Funding or Capital Concept Requests from qualified nonprofit human services agencies for Worthy Cause pool funds.

2026 Worthy Cause Pool Fund Application

Boulder County is now accepting applications for the Worthy Cause pool of funding. Applications are accepted online at 2026 Worthy Cause Application.

Important Dates:

July 22, 2025 – Submit questions and register for Q and A meeting no later than 4 p.m.

July 29, 2025 – Question and Answer meeting at 2 p.m. Register to receive an invitation to the meeting.

Aug. 27, 2025 – Applications must be completed in their entirety no later than 4 p.m. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.

For more information, view the 2026 Worthy Cause Request for Funding or email Carlene Okiyama at cokiyama@bouldercounty.gov.

Allocation Restrictions

Worthy cause funds must be allocated to local human services nonprofit organizations or housing authorities for use in capital projects, including building purchase, remodeling and/or debt reduction.* Through this tax, Boulder County’s taxpayers helped fund the nonprofits listed below.

*Debt reduction refers to payments toward capital debts such as mortgages and loans for construction/renovation.

Allocation Agencies

See the tables below for a list of agencies that have received Worthy Cause funding by year.

Worthy Cause IV Allocations

2025

Agency	Award
Alaya Preschool	$300,000
Blue Sky Bridge	$100,000
Boulder County Housing Authority (BCHA)	$1,000,000
Boulder Housing Partners	$450,000
Boulder Pride dba Rocky Mountain Equality	$300,000
Boulder Valley Women’s Health Center, Inc. dba Boulder Valley Health Center	$250,000
Boulder Voices for Children	$125,000
Community Cycles	$150,000
Community Food Share	$150,000
Recovery Café Longmont	$200,000
Safe Shelter of St. Vrain Valley	$350,000
TEENS, Inc.	$400,000
The Tiny Tim Center, Inc dba TLC Learning Center	$150,000
Thistle Communities	$100,000
Thorne Nature Experience	$150,000
Wild Bear Nature Center	$150,000

2024

Agency	Award
Blue Sky Bridge	$225,000
Boulder County Housing Authority (BCHA)	$750,000
Boulder Housing Partners	$600,000
Boulder Valley Health Center, Inc.	$150,000
Center for People With Disabilities	$125,000
Developmental Disabilities Center dba Imagine!	$75,000
Emergency Family Assistance Association	$75,000
Habitat for Humanity of the St Vrain Valley	$100,000
Harvest of Hope Pantry	$75,000
LEAF, Lyons Emergency & Assistance Fund	$100,000
Longmont Housing Authority	$150,000
Out Boulder County	$200,000
Recovery Café Longmont	$250,000
The Inn Between of Longmont, Inc.	$300,000
The Tiny Tim Center, Inc dba TLC Learning Center	$100,000
Thistle Communities	$500,000
Thorne Nature Experience	$150,000
Wild Bear Nature Center	$100,000
YWCA Boulder County	$75,000

2023

Agency	Award
Boulder County Housing Authority	1,750,000
Boulder Housing Partners	500,000
Boulder Shelter for the Homeless	600,000
Center for People with Disabilities	75,000
Grace Commons Church	150,000
Habitat for Humanity	150,000
Inn Between of Longmont	500,000
Lyons Emergency & Assistance Fund/LEAF	400,000
Out Boulder	500,000
Presbyterian Manor	350,000
Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence/SPAN	75,000
Studio Arts Boulder	150,000
The Old Gallery	100,000
Thorne Nature Experience	200,000
Tiny Tim Center/TLC Learning Center	350,000
Veterans Community Project	250,000
Wild Bear Nature Center	250,000
YMCA Boulder Valley	250,000

2022

Agency	Award
Association for Community Living	$150,000
Attention Homes	$150,000
Boulder County Housing Authority	$700,000
Boulder Day Nursery	$100,000
Boulder Housing Partners	$700,000
Boulder Shelter for the Homeless	$750,000
Center for People with Disabilities	$75,000
Community Food Share	$75,000
I Have a Dream Foundation of Boulder County	$75,000
Plan de Salud	$200,000
Veterans Community Project	$150,000
Voices for Children	$150,000
YMCA of Boulder Valley	$75,000

2021

Agency	Award
Association for Community Living	$50,000
Boulder Housing Coalition	$25,000
Boulder Housing Partners	$700,000
Boulder Shelter for the Homeless	$500,000
Boulder Valley Women’s Health Center	$35,000
Bridge House	$25,000
Center for People with Disabilities	$25,000
Community Cycles	$25,000
Community Food Share	$100,000
Growing Gardens of Boulder County	$100,000
I Have a Dream Foundation of Boulder County	$100,000
Intercambio Uniting Communities	$30,000
Meals on Wheels of Boulder	$100,000
Northern Star Charities	$50,000
Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence	$50,000
Senior Housing Options	$200,000
TRU Community Care	$100,000
Urban Land Conservancy	$150,000
Voices for Children	$225,000
YMCA of Boulder Valley	$500,000
YWCA Boulder County	$25,000

2020

Agency	Award
Boulder Housing Partners	$400,000
Boulder Shelter for the Homeless	$500,000
Center for People with Disabilities	$175,000
Habitat for Humanity of the St. Vrain Valley	$50,000
Inn Between of Longmont	$250,000
Meals on Wheels of Boulder	$100,000
Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence	$50,000
TLC Learning Center	$100,000
TRU Community Care	$200,000
Urban Land Conservancy	$200,000
YMCA of Boulder Valley	$150,000
YWCA Boulder County	$271,000

2019

Agency	Award
Attention Homes	$250,000
Boulder County Housing Authority	$600,000
Boulder Housing Partners	$700,000
Boulder Housing Partners	$350,000
Boulder Shelter for the Homeless	$20,000
Community Cycles	$110,000
Growing Gardens	$50,000
Inn Between	$150,000
Lyons Regional Library District	$175,000
Meals on Wheels of Boulder	$400,000
Safehouse Progressive Alliance Nonviolence	$25,000
TLC Learning Center	$100,000
Wild Plum	$50,000

Worthy Cause III Allocations

2018

Agency	Award
Attention Homes	$750,000
Blue Sky Bridge	$100,000
Boulder County Housing Authority	$400,000
Boulder Housing Partners	$700,000
Boulder Shelter for the Homeless	$29,700
Clinica Campesina Family Health Services	$500,000
Community Food Share	$216,325
I Have A Dream Foundation	$150,000
Intercambio de Communidades	$100,000
Meals on Wheels - Boulder	$250,000
The Old Gallery in Allenspark	$100,000
Permanently Supportive Housing pool	$44,187
St. Vrain Habitat for Humanity	$100,000
YMCA of Boulder Valley – Longmont	$100,000

2017

Agency	Award
Boulder County Housing Authority	$400,000
Blue Sky Bridge	$150,000
Boulder Housing Partners	$400,000
Boulder Shelter for the Homeless	$25,000
Community Cycles	$150,000
The Family Learning Center	$50,000
Habitat for Humanity	$100,000
I Have A Dream Foundation	$50,000
Inn Between	$200,000
Meals on Wheels - Boulder	$75,000
OUR Center	$175,000
Sister Carmen Community Center	$75,000
Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence (SPAN)	$25,000
VIA	$100,000
Wild Bear Center	$50,000
YMCA of Boulder Valley - Longmont	$125,000

2016

Attention Homes ($500,000)

Blue Sky Bridge ($50,000)

Boulder Shelter for the Homeless ($100,000)

Clinica Campesina ($500,000)

Community Cycles ($50,000)

EFFA ($51,000)

The Family Learning Center ($60,000)

I Have A Dream Foundation ($100,000)

Intercambio de Comunidades ($50,000)

SPAN ($50,000)

TRU Community Care ($300,000)

Wild Plum Center ($250,000)

2015

Agape ($150,000)

Aspen Grove Preschool ($50,000)

Blue Sky Bridge ($200,000)

Boulder Day Nursery ($278,000)

Boulder Shelter for the Homeless ($62,100)

Bridge House ($300,000)

Center for People With Disabilities ($25,000)

Dental Aid ($106,215)

Ed and Ruth Lehman YMCA ($250,000)

Emergency Family Assistance Association ($200,000)

The Family Learning Center ($50,000)

2014

Allenspark Community Cultures Council ($50,000)

Boulder County Housing Authority ($350,000)

Boulder Valley Women’s Health ($35,000)

Center for People with Disabilities ($42,000)

EFAA ($400,000)

Imagine! ($49,000)

Intercambio de Comunidades ($150,000)

OUR Center ($350,000)

SPAN ($250,000)

TEENS, Inc. ($100,000)

The Inn Between ($100,000)

Thistle ($200,000)

2013

Boulder County Housing Authority ($270,000)

Boulder Housing Coalition ($150,000)

Boulder Shelter for the Homeless ($58,000)

Clinica Family Health Services ($63,000)

Emergency Family Assistance Association ($68,300)

Family Learning Center ($75,000)

Inn Between of Longmont ($200,000)

Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence ($85,000)

Sister Carmen Community Center ($100,000)

Teens Inc. ($64,588)

Wild Plum Center ($50,000)

Women’s Health ($50,000

2012

Acorn School ($700,000)

Boulder County Housing Authority ($160,000)

Boulder Day Nursery Association ($700,000)

Community Food Share ($275,000)

Immigrant Legal Center of Boulder County ($50,000)

Safe Shelter of St. Vrain Valley ($50,000)

Sister Carmen Community Center ($100,000)

Wild Plum Center ($50,000)

Longmont YMCA ($60,000)

2011

Acorn School ($200,000)

Boulder Day Nursery Association ($50,000)

Boulder Shelter for the Homeless ($50,000)

Dental Aid, Inc. ($90,000)

Immigrant Legal Center ($150,000)

The Housing Authority for the City of Longmont ($50,000)

Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence ($50,000)

Thistle Communities ($50,000)

Wild Plum Center for Young Children & Families ($50,000)

2010

Boulder County Housing Authority ($200,000)

Boulder Shelter for the Homeless ($25,000)

Children’s House Preschool ($100,000)

2009

Boulder Valley Women’s Health ($200,000)

Boulder Shelter for the Homeless ($25,000)

Dental Aid ($123,008)

Hospice Care ($30,000)

Inn Between ($32,000)

Longmont Children’s Council ($50,000)

Longmont Housing Authority ($100,000)

Medicine Horse ($25,000)

Boulder Housing Partners ($100,000)

Boulder County Housing Authority ($200,000)

Clinica Campesina ($300,000)

Special Transit ($500,000)

Sister Carmen ($400,000)

Worthy Cause II Allocations

2008

Boulder Housing Coalition ($40,000)

Immigrant Legal Center ($48,546)

Project YES ($100,000)

Sister Carmen Community Center ($75,000)

Women’s Health ($235,000)

BCATH ($550,000)

Family Self Sufficiency ($430,000)

The Inn Between ($350,000)

The Mental Health Center ($120,000)

2007

Boulder County AIDS Project – Debt retirement, Powell Building ($25,000)

Boulder Day Nursery – Debt retirement ($25,000)

Boulder Prep High School – Purchase of current bldg., down payment ($50,000)

Boulder Shelter for the Homeless – Debt reduction ($25,000)

Boulder Valley Women’s Health – Concept: Renovation ($75,000)

Immigrant Legal Center of Boulder County – Purchase of building; down payment ($50,000)

Intercambio de Comunidades – Purchase of two suites in a building ($175,000)

Longmont Children’s Council -Debt reduction, Powell Building ($25,000 )

Sister Carmen Community Center – Concept: Purchase of adjacent land/building ($75,000 )

Thistle Community Housing – Debt reduction on office building ($50,000)

2006

Attention Homes – Renovation project ($60,000)

Boulder County AIDS Project – Debt reduction ($75,000)

Boulder Day Nursery – Debt reduction ($75,000)

Center for People with Disabilities – Concept: Accessible driveway construction ($25,000)

Imagine! – Energy efficiency upgrades ($45,000)

Boulder Shelter for the Homeless – Debt reduction ($75,000)

TEENS, Inc. – Lighting, energy efficiency upgrades ($25,000)

YWCA – Debt reduction ($75,000)

2005

Boulder County AIDS Project – Building purchase ($95,000)

Boulder Day Nursery – Debt reduction ($45,000)

Boulder Preparatory High School – Building purchase($45,000)

Boulder Shelter for the Homeless – Debt reduction ($55,000)

Dental Aid – Purchase and expansion of a building ($75,000)

Habitat for Humanity – Purchase of land for 8-home complex ($40,000)

OUR Center – infrastructure repair and renovation ($45,000)

Longmont Children’s Council – Debt reduction ($80,000)

YWCA – Debt reduction ($70,000)

2004

Boulder Day Nursery – Debt reduction ($50,000)

Children’s House Preschool – Building purchase ($25,000)

Family Learning Center – Renovation and improvements ($25,000)

Boulder Shelter for the Homeless – Debt reduction ($100,000)

Special Transit – Roof renovation ($25,000)

Tiny Tim Center – Construction of building ($25,000)

YWCA – Debt reduction ($100,000)