Preparing for Application

The MSS 2022-2023 application season opens September 6th.

The Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative is releasing a request for proposals for up to $7.5 million dollars in funding for its Matching Student Scholarship program. Recipients of COSI's MSS program must match the award given by the state 1:1, generating a total of $15 million in new scholarship funds for Colorado students. Non-profit organizations - 501(c)(3) or 501 (c)(4), and their partners are eligible to apply. MSS grants will be awarded within three different categories or program models: County, Institutions of Higher Education, and Workforce.

County to provide funding for county residents at public institutions of higher education in the state. This funding is available to one applicant, specifically non-profit organizations, and institution foundations, the COSI Advisory board determines the allocation on an annual basis.
Public Institutions of Higher Education for use at the institution. This funding is available to one applicant, specifically institution foundations, the COSI Advisory board determines the allocation on an annual basis.
Workforce promotes credential and degree completion in specific high-need industries or for vulnerable populations over the next two years. This funding is competitive and non-profit organizations are eligible to apply. Application only accepted in the fall application period.

Proposal Elements

All proposals must be submitted by the date(s) indicated in the Timeline section. The proposal consists of the areas outlined below:

Intent to Apply-indicate the funds (county, IHE, workforce) for which the organization intends to apply and the general organization information and signatory details.

Application-consists of five sections and can be accessed in the portal once the Intent to Apply is completed. An Application Review is provided in this RFP.

1. Program Design

Essentials-COSI’s minimum eligibility requirements and any criteria set by the organization that a student must meet to receive a scholarship.
Scholarship Program Essentials- Any criteria set by the organization that a student must meet to receive a scholarship.
Pick The Focus- Identify the population of focus for scholarships and credential type.
Pick The Grant Timeline- identify the grant term, including start term, length, and first semester funds will be disbursed.
Pick The Award Design- Identify the award structure, weather it will be renewable or a single year award.
Grantee Goals & Objectives- provide a program summary of the scholarship program, and annual student disbursement schedule which includes the number of expected students to be served, the amount of each scholarship, how much will be disbursed per semester, and how much will be disbursed for the year.
Pick The Approach to Student Supports-student support programs that will provide the required rigor-based student support services.
Rigor-based services offered- services that MSS Scholars will receive.
Matching Funds- summary of strategies and fundraising efforts to be utilized to meet the 1:1 required match.

2. Invoice Schedule-outline of the expected (1) incoming funds received by the applicant as new matching funds; (2) payments from the State in the template provided in the online
system.
3. Reporting Requirements-acknowledgement and commitment to reporting requirements
4. Assurances- certify acknowledgment of assurances.
COSI Matching Student Scholarship 2022-2023_Request for Proposal
5. Letter(s) of Support or Resolution- Board of County Commissioners or institutional advisory board, if applicable

Click here to access the Request for Proposal for an outline of each section.

Proposal Submission

COSI encourages applicants to familiarize themselves with the requirements, process, and application process and attend the informational webinars and application support sessions outlined in the Timeline section.

Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.
Please do not contact individual staff; instead, please review the proposal and attend the application support opportunities for information and questions. See timeline for dates.
- We encourage you to view the recorded 22-23 MSS Informational video here
- Click here to view the 22-23 Informational power point slides
This RFP provides an Application Preview to help prepare the application before submitting it.

Proposals are accepted via the COSI portal.
- Complete the portal registration at any time. Click here for detailed portal registration instructions.
- If the organization has a SurveyMonkey Apply account, please use that account to apply.
- Access to the application will be available on September 6, 2022.

All proposals submitted to the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative and the Colorado Department of Higher Education are public records and should not contain confidential data. CDHE is subject to the Colorado Open Records Act and must release full proposals when requested.

Click here to apply

Request for Proposal

Click the button below for access to the COSI MSS request for proposal.

MSS Request for Proposals

Timeline

Please carefully review the application timeline as late submissions and incomplete applications will not be accepted. The COSI board will review applications twice during the 2022-2023 academic period.

County and institution of higher education applications will be accepted throughout the two application cycles
Workforce applications are only accepted in the fall application period.

Application Task	Fall 2022	Spring 2023
RFP Released	August 17, 2022
Application Portal Opens	September 6, 2022	December 5, 2022
Intent to Apply	September 18, 2022	January 8, 2023
Application Due	October 9, 2022	February 19, 2023
COSI Board Meeting Board meets to review and select awardees	November 16, 2022	March 20, 2023
Grant Award Notification Applicants are notified of the Board’s decision	December 7, 2022	April 5, 2023

Application Support

The COSI team will provide an informational webinar and application support sessions to support you in accessing the portal and completing the application. Please take time to review the full request for proposal and prepare your questions for the application webinar.

Informational Webinars and Application Support Sessions

Date

Zoom Details

Application Informational Webinar Available

Click here to access webinar

Fall Application Support Sessions

September 13, 2022, at 1:00 pm,

Application Support Session, please view the Informational Webinar above before attending the support session

Link

Phone: 669-900-6833

Meeting ID: 857 5499 6161 /Passcode: 142839

October 6, 2022, at 9 am,