In its seventh round of grants, Gov. Jared Polis and the state’s COVID-19 Relief Fund gave $3,875,700 to 140 community-based organizations serving those disproportionately affected by the pandemic.

Recipients of this round of grants include the Black Business Initiative, Colorado Association for School-Based Health Care, Developmental Disabilities Center and several food banks, youth centers, schools and homeless shelters.

“Coloradans can be proud of how communities and individuals have stepped up to help each other,” Polis said.

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“This wonderful fund has gone above and beyond to support community-based organizations, diverse populations and innovative projects that will help our state.”

Grant recipients were chosen by the COVID-19 Relief Fund review and allocation committees which used community data and surveys to determine which of Colorado’s communities were the most in need.

Of the distributed grants, 80% are serving low-income communities, 67% are serving children and 56% are serving communities of color.

“Each gift represents the same urgent intent to help Coloradans. Through this round of funding we are once again able to meet those needs,” said Christine Benero, president and CEO of Mile High United Way, a donor to the fund.

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Through the seven rounds, 1,002 grants totaling $23.6 million have been distributed across the state. Over 4,400 applications were received from 2,476 organizations, with $109.9 million requested.

More than 12,00 individual donors have contributed $23.6 million to the fund. Top donors include the Buell Foundation, the Denver Broncos, Lockheed Martin, Newmont, Pinnacol Assurance, the Colorado Trust and the VF Foundation.

The Colorado Health Foundation is the largest donor, providing $3.75 million to the COVID-19 Relief Fund.

“The need to support critical services in Colorado communities disproportionately impacted by the crisis was clear,” said Karen McNeil-Miller, president and CEO of the Colorado Health Foundation. “We are grateful for the opportunity.”