Boulder County Wildfire Fund Announces Final Distributions

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$6 million in investments will support three affordable housing projects prioritizing Marshall Fire Survivors

BOULDER, Colo., February 18, 2026 – Community Foundation Boulder County today announces three investments representing the final distributions from the Boulder County Wildfire Fund.

On December 30, 2021, the Marshall Fire damaged or destroyed over 1,000 homes in southeastern Boulder County, making it the most destructive wildfire in Colorado’s history. Within hours, Community Foundation Boulder County created the Boulder County Wildfire Fund to support the immediate, short- and long-term needs of the community. Thanks to over 82,000 donors, the Boulder County Wildfire Fund raised over $43 million dollars, and in partnership with a local volunteer advisory committee, the community foundation took a people-first, trauma-informed approach to the allocation and distribution of funds. Now, just over 4 years after the fire, all funds raised have been distributed.

The final distributions totaling $6 million will support three affordable housing and homeownership initiatives managed by Impact Development Fund, Pennrose, LLC and Flatirons Habitat for Humanity. These projects, ranging from single-family homes to a multi-resident senior housing development, will ensure affordable housing options are available for fire survivors to stay in their communities.

$2.5 Million to Impact Development Fund

Impact Development Fund (IDF) and its construction subsidiary, Impact Development Builders (IDB), were awarded $2.5 million to fund their Single-Family Acquisition Rehab (SFAR) program. Through this program, IDB will develop completed single-family homes listed at market appraised values based on comparable homes in the surrounding community. The program is intended to serve households between 100% and 120% of the area median income, with marketing and outreach efforts focused on reaching Marshall Fire Survivors. IDF and IDB have acquired eight single-family residential lots in Superior and plan to begin development in 2026.

“Impact Development Fund is excited to continue our partnership with Community Foundation Boulder County to support families impacted by the Marshall Fire and strengthen the community’s rebuilding efforts,” said Megan Ferguson, chief executive officer of Impact Development Fund. “This grant enabled the purchase of infill lots in Superior, allowing our team to bring together construction expertise and patient capital to deliver high-quality homes made affordable through creative financing options for middle-income families.”

IDB is a team of certified general contractors specializing in single-family construction, with a proven track record of delivering affordable housing across Northern Colorado.

We snapped this before we knew it was the Marshall Fire

$500,000 to Pennrose, LLC

Pennrose, LLC was awarded $500,000 to fund an affordable housing development providing 50 income- and rent-restricted apartments in downtown Superior. The development—named Kite Route Crossing—will offer affordable housing for individuals and households 55+ who earn between 30% and 70% of the area median income.

“Pennrose is deeply grateful to Community Foundation Boulder County for their investment in affordable housing in Superior,” said Shannon Cox Baker, regional vice president at Pennrose. “By supporting stable, high-quality housing for those most impacted by the Marshall Fire, the community foundation is not only helping rebuild structures, but restoring security, dignity and a renewed sense of home for our community’s elder residents.”

The development will also be designed for maximum fire resiliency using fire-resistant exterior materials, a building-wide sprinkler system, the creation of a protective zone adjacent to the building to provide defensible space and other features going above and beyond the 2021 IEC Code.

Scheduled to be completed in 2027, Kite Route Crossing will be the first income and age-restricted housing community in the Town of Superior and will offer preference for eligible households displaced or impacted by the Marshall Fire.

$3 Million to Flatirons Habitat for Humanity

Flatirons Habitat for Humanity was awarded $3 million to partially fund a $6 million project to build ten permanently affordable homes within the Marshall Fire burn area in Louisville, Colorado. The project is intended to serve families between 30% and 80% of the area median income and to prevent the displacement of teachers, health care workers, service employees, and other members of the community who are at risk of being priced out.

The ten homes will be constructed utilizing BoulderMOD, an innovative modular homebuilding facility run in partnership by the City of Boulder, Flatirons Habitat for Humanity, and the Boulder Valley School District.

“This $3 million commitment from the Community Foundation is truly transformational for our work,” said Dan McColley, executive director for Flatirons Habitat for Humanity. “Two million dollars is a direct investment in building these homes, and another $1 million is a community match. That match is an open door. It’s an invitation for our neighbors, partners, and donors to step in with us and make sure affordability isn’t lost in the wake of the Marshall Fire.”

Cherrywood Lane in Louisville. Credit: Chet Strange, special to ProPublica

Recovery Support Program

The previously announced Recovery Support Program will continue to provide financial assistance to Marshall Fire-Affected individuals and households across Louisville, Superior and unincorporated Boulder County who continue to face housing instability, unmet needs or property restoration challenges as a direct result of the December 30, 2021, wildfire.

“Recovery from the Marshall Fire is far from over yet,” said Tatiana Hernandez, chief executive officer of Community Foundation Boulder County. “Our support of the community continues through the Recovery Support Program and these investments to create affordable housing options for those seeking a path forward.”

All applications for the Recovery Support Program must be submitted through Impact Development Fund’s Disaster Recovery Website: https://impactdf.org/disaster-recovery

Supporting Boulder County’s Affordable Housing Goals

In addition to meeting the needs of the Marshall Fire-affected community, these projects advance the Regional Housing Partnership’s goal of ensuring 12% of all housing stock is affordable for low-, moderate- and middle-income households by 2035.

“We set an ambitious goal four years ago—to support the rebuilding of over 75% of fire-affected homes,” said Hernandez. “While most have rebuilt and our community has exceeded that goal in record time, we know that some are on a different recovery timeline. We hope these investments will offer a new, affordable option to staying local, including renters seeking to come back to the community.”

Community Foundation Boulder County will release an updated report on the Boulder County Wildfire Fund, including an outline of financial information, a summary of grants made and compiled stories of community recovery in 2026. View the Boulder County Wildfire Fund 3-Year Report for more information on the work of the Boulder County Wildfire Fund.

About Community Foundation Boulder County

Mission:

Community Foundation Boulder County nurtures and activates the ideas, generosity and leadership of the community to galvanize resources and support equitable solutions for all who live or work in Boulder County.

History:

Since 1991, Community Foundation Boulder County has addressed the evolving and growing needs of the Boulder County community head-on. The foundation has granted a total of $200 million thus far to help support the most pressing needs in our community.

Community Foundation Boulder County

1123 Spruce Street | Boulder, CO 80302

Our Tax ID (EIN): 84-1171836

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