Eligible Colorado applicants include:

• Colorado destination marketing organizations (DMO’s)
• Colorado statewide tourism industry associations

The Colorado Tourism Office defines a DMO as a nonprofit organization or governmental unit that typically is the recipient of jurisdictional lodging tax revenue and serves as the lead for year-round tourism promotion and development efforts in a destination. Example DMOs may include:

• Chambers of commerce or chamber resort associations.
• Destination marketing organizations (e.g. Convention & Visitors Bureau).
• Federally recognized tribes or local government entities in Colorado.
• Lodging tax boards, committees, or panels.

The Colorado Tourism Office defines a Colorado statewide tourism industry association as a registered nonprofit trade organization that represents a collection of tourism businesses statewide within a tourism-related business sector. Associations must represent a market-ready product or experience, and be statewide (where it exists) in approach.

Ineligible applicants include:

• For-profit organizations.
• Individual attractions, museums, or businesses.
• Regional tourism industry associations.
• State or federal government entities.

Other considerations include:

• Only one application can be submitted for an individual destination.
  • Multiple organizations within a single destination should collaborate with their destination marketing organization on a single grant application.
• Only one application can be submitted per applicant unless prior approval is provided. Lead applicants can be a partner in a separate application. 
• Entities that failed to fulfill Colorado Tourism Office grant award requirements within the past twelve (12) months may be deemed ineligible.

Note: Starting in 2026, if your organization has been awarded a Tourism Marketing Grant for the past 3 consecutive years, you are required to “sit out” a year and will be ineligible to apply.

Eligible projects must be new marketing campaigns or initiatives. Grants will not be awarded to fund existing marketing efforts unless the funds are for new initiatives or outcomes or you are expanding the program into new markets or media. For FY26 the Tourism Marketing Grant will focus funding on projects that support the work of the America 250 - Colorado 150 Commission and celebrate this milestone. This includes marketing campaigns and initiatives that feature inspirational stories, highlight Colorado's diverse heritage and cultures, and share unique Colorado stories and experiences.

Eligible activities:

• Creative executions specific to the marketing campaign:
  • Creative advertising production (print, digital, out-of-home, video, social, television, OTT streaming, and radio) 
  • Content development (written, video, or audio)
  • Photography
  • Videography and post-production video editing
  • Campaign landing page or microsite
  • Audio development (radio, OTT streaming etc.)
  • Marketing collateral (print and digital brochures, visitor guides, posters, and maps)
  • Fulfillment costs
• Marketing executions specific to the marketing campaign:
  • Media placement (print, digital, out-of-home, television, social, OTT streaming, and radio)
  • Social media initiatives
  • Influencer programs
  • Public relations initiatives
  • Search engine marketing (SEM) initiatives (SEO/paid search)
  • Crowdriff Stories
  • Email newsletter development and distribution
• Tourism marketing research and data
  • Consumer focused market research
  • Visitor profile studies
  • Inclusive marketing audit
  • Digital audit
• Tourism marketing strategy
  • Inclusive marketing strategy or audit plan
  • Digital marketing strategy
• Trade shows
  • Registration and booth rental fees
  • Airfare/lodging expenses (up to 10% of the project budget)
• Website development, refresh, or restructure
  • Website search engine optimization
  • Website useability, mobile and guest experience
  • Website accessibility
• Other approved projects

Ineligible use of funds:

• Funding can not be used as a match for existing or future opportunities
• CTO paid opportunities, including advertising and co-op marketing opportunities
• General administrative costs such as personnel costs, office supplies, website maintenance costs
• Grant writing or grant management costs
• Items for resale and gift cards
• Donations, sponsorships, or charitable contributions
• Promotional giveaways, souvenirs, wearables, and gifts (SWAG)
• Pre-award cost, expenses that were paid prior to the contract execution date
• Travel expenses, except for trade show attendance, as specified above
• Food or alcoholic beverages
• Tourism-related projects that develop, enhance, or manage visitor experience in Colorado (review the Tourism Management Grant)

The applicant can financially match the project cost at a higher amount if the cost exceeds grant dollar limitations.

Applications for the Tourism Management Grant open July 8, 2025.

Apply through the OEDIT online portal by 4 p.m. on Thursday, August 28, 2025.

Although not required, applicants are encouraged to submit a brief LOI (coming soon) before completing a full application so that CTO staff can learn more about the proposed project and what the applicant hopes to achieve through grant funding. To ensure the program best meets your needs, a representative from the CTO will contact you within two weeks to discuss your LOI.

The application process is as follows:

1. Verify your eligibility. If you have questions, reach out to the program manager before you start the application. 
2. Prepare your application materials by filling out this Tourism Marketing Grant Application Materials (PDF - coming soon). This document includes all application questions. 
3. Log in to the OEDIT online portal and apply through the online portal.

Supporting documents

You will need to provide:

• Completed Tourism Marketing Grant Financial Worksheet (XLS Download)
• A detailed timeline (XLS Download - coming soon) that includes all milestones and deliverables 
• Letter(s) of commitment showing evidence of required cash match – matching dollars may not come from the State’s General Fund, Federal funds, Colorado Tourism Office funds, OEDIT funds, or other grant funds. Letter(s) of commitment must be on official letterhead and state the amount of cash committed by the organization
• Project support letters – all grant applications need to include at least two letters of support from community partners or tourism industry partners in the community (other than the applicant) that will benefit from the results of the project

Additionally, nonprofit entities must provide:

• A current certificate of Good Standing from the Colorado Secretary of State

Applications are first vetted through an internal compliance review to ensure eligibility and that all required materials have been submitted. Incomplete or ineligible applications may be rejected.

The Colorado Tourism Office (CTO) will appoint a committee to review eligible applications. Grants will be awarded based on merit, availability of grant funding, and CTO final approval.

The CTO reserves the right to select and approve project proposals which best meet the objectives and requirements of the program and demonstrate the greatest potential to meet program goals and objectives.

Reviewers will prioritize applications that:

• Feature inspirational stories, highlight Colorado’s diverse heritage and cultures, share unique Colorado stories and experiences, celebrate the milestone of America’s 250th commemoration and Colorado’s 150th birthday. 
• Demonstrate industry collaboration with two or more destinations.

The committee will evaluate applications on these criteria:

• Strength of the project overview
• Strength of the project plan 
• Expected impact 
• Demonstrated need
• Capacity to implement

America 250 - Colorado 150 Activation Bonus
5 bonus points are available for projects that incorporate the America 250 - Colorado 150 brand and/or logo (Access the Logo and Brand Style Guide) in your marketing materials.

The Colorado Tourism Office reserves the right to award a different amount than is requested in a grant application, to make changes to the Grant Guidelines or to cancel the Competitive Grants Program in its entirety.

All grant awards are contingent until there is a fully executed grant agreement between the applicant and CTO. Execution of a grant agreement with CTO signifies the applicant’s acceptance of the terms and conditions of the grant agreement and the grant guidelines.

Grant funds will be awarded after the executed grant agreement effective date. Expenses incurred or obligated before a grant agreement effective date are not allowable expenses.

The Colorado Tourism Office’s goal is to provide grant funds upfront. Funds are subject to approval by the State Controller’s Office yearly, so we reserve the right to award funds on a reimbursement basis.

Grantees must:

• Complete the work tasks and meet deliverable deadlines outlined within the grant agreement
• Keep the budget updated 
• Submit reports as outlined in the grant agreement including a final report describing what was accomplished with the grant funds, a final budget, and documents for expenses incurred including invoices, expense receipts, and proof of payment
• Request and receive prior approval for any significant refinements, clarifications, modifications, or changes to the grant agreement from the Division in writing. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following: clarification or changes to the scope of work, or deliverables; changes in key personnel, including management staff or vendors; changes in the timeline; and changes in the budget. 

Project requirements:

• CTO grant funds cannot be used as a match for existing or future opportunities.
• Neither CTO grant funds nor an applicant’s cash match can be used for CTO paid opportunities including, but not limited to, advertising on the CTO’s owned social media channels, CTO co-op programs (domestic and international), advertising offerings in the CTO Media Kit (including ads on Colorado.com and the Visit Colorado Official State Vacation Guide, sponsored articles and consumer emails), and Brand USA co-op marketing opportunities when a portion of the cost is covered by the CTO.
• Prior to production, publication, placement, and/or distribution, creative assets must be approved by the CTO.
• All materials that are funded in part by Colorado Tourism Office need to include the official Colorado Tourism Office logo unless otherwise directed by the CTO.
• Grantees must submit a formal Proposal Change Form if there is a change to the grantee information or the scope of work outlined in the grant agreement.
• Unused grant funds or grant funds not used as approved shall be returned to the Colorado Tourism Office pursuant to the grant agreement.

The following table outlines the timeline for the grants

• Brand Book: This guide is your compass to navigating the intricacies and nuances of the majestic Colorado brand, ensuring we always Come to Life in a unified, consistent manner. For access to the CTO Brand Book, please reach out to Natazshya Rodriguez.
• CTO Marketing Portal: The Marketing Portal is a valuable hub where destination marketing/management organizations (DMOs) can easily access the CTO marketing information including brand assets, toolkits, and more.