Unify Montrose Awarded $320,000 from the Colorado Health Foundation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Unify Montrose awarded $320,000 from the Colorado Health Foundation to grow local capacity for structured, inclusive community problem solving
Montrose, CO | March 2, 2026
Unify Montrose has been awarded $320,000 in operating support over four years from the Colorado Health Foundation. This funding provides $80,000 per year and marks a major step forward as Unify Montrose moves from a volunteer-run pilot into a more formal, professional organization built to serve Montrose long-term.
Unify Montrose exists for a simple reason: neighbors rebuilding trust and solving problems together. We design small-town assemblies and structured conversations that turn everyday neighbors’ experience into clear, shared recommendations and next steps. We are independent and nonpartisan on purpose.
What this support helps us do
This funding helps Unify Montrose build capacity and access so more community members can participate and so deliberations can be run consistently and professionally. That includes:
Training and supporting local facilitators
Paying participants and facilitators for their time and expertise
Improving access to participation, including supports like childcare and interpretation when needed
Building the internal structure to sustain the work over time
Expanding the number of structured community dialogues we can host each year
Concrete examples of local impact
In the last year, Unify Montrose has hosted a middle school deliberation series focused on places for students to just be, creating space for youth voice and practical solutions shaped by lived experience. Unify Montrose has also convened ongoing community conversations connected to Code Blue and winter emergency shelter, bringing residents and local stakeholders into a structured process to understand the problem, weigh options, and identify actionable next steps.
How Unify Montrose is different
Unify Montrose is built to be a constructive alternative to town halls, surveys, and social media fights.
Nonpartisan on purpose: we do not campaign for parties or candidates. We focus on local problems, shared facts, and practical solutions.
Representative, not just the loudest voices: our processes bring a true cross-section of neighbors to the table so recommendations feel like Montrose speaking for itself.
Structured conversations with follow-through: we end with clear recommendations and visible next steps so participation leads to something real.
A tool that helps increase capacity and transparency
Unify Montrose is in close collaboration with a software tool being developed by its executive director outside of Unify Montrose. The tool, inthecommons.org, is designed to help gather community input quickly, summarize it clearly, and track how representative participation is, so community voices are captured accurately and decision-makers can see patterns without noise.
Alejandro Salazar, Executive Director of Unify Montrose, said:
“For a while, we’ve been building the plane as we fly it. Unify has been powered by an incredible group of community members, and a part-time executive director who also does software development full-time. This grant helps us finally grow up and build the plane. We can train facilitators, pay people for their time, improve access, and run more of these structured conversations without burning out the volunteers who got us here. Rural communities deserve a better way to solve problems, and we’re building it right here in Montrose.”
Get involved
• Attend: Join us on March 26 for a special session from 5–7 at The Association
• Partner: If you have an issue that needs structured facilitation, reach out to alejandro@unifymontrose.org
About Unify Montrose
Unify Montrose is a Montrose-based nonprofit designing structured, inclusive community deliberations that help neighbors rebuild trust and solve local problems together. Guided by core values like presuming positive intent, open-minded curiosity, and earning trust, Unify Montrose creates safe, respectful spaces for real listening and community-rooted recommendations.
Media Contact
Alejandro Salazar, Executive Director
alejandro@unifymontrose.org
