Currently, for the winter months, it is costing over $13,000 per month to pay the bills. With less spent in the summer months, we need to budget for approximately $145,000 a year. In 2021 and 2023 MLI received two sizable grants from on the Colorado Health Foundation. Unfortunately, this grant money is now nearly completely depleted. In June 2025, we completed a complex grant application with the Colorado Health Foundation for $80,000 for the winters of 2025/26 and 2027/28. If approved later in 2025, this will account for 55% of our estimated budget, meaning that we will still need to raise the rest. As of May 2025, (even with some small amounts coming in), we would not have been able to meet financial demands necessary to take us through to the next winter season. To this end, a separate fundraiser was initiated to raise $25,000 to cover the shortfall until (hopefully), the CHF grant materializes. We are pleased to say that this additional goal has been achieved, but fundraising remains of paramount importance.
The board will be making every effort to publicize our organization and apply for other smaller grants plus other sources of income and assistance. This includes reaching out to local churches, other non-profits, the City of Montrose and the general public. However, the current climate for obtaining funds and uncertainty in the stock market is making things difficult. Nevertheless, the MLI board is 100% committed to ensuring that the services we provide will continue to be available. We also hope that local churches will support our mission. Some already do but other organizations like Shepherd’s Hand need funds too. One thing is certain. Peoples’ lives are at stake. We cannot let them down.