Aug. 1, the Lone Cone Legacy Trust (LCLT), a local endowment fund benefiting Norwood and the Wright’s Mesa area, will be accepting applications for its 2026 Community Grants. The trust plans to distribute a record $26,000 this year.
Local nonprofits, taxing districts and community organizations with a fiscal sponsor are welcome to apply. A downloadable application form is available online at loneconelegacy.org, along with an explanation of the grant criteria. LCLT grants are focused on greater Wright’s Mesa, including Norwood, Redvale and surrounding communities. The trust gives special consideration to organizations that serve the youth of this area.
In its 13 years, the trust has disbursed $204,000 in annual grants and direct pass-through distributions. (A separate fund toward the establishment of a future swimming pool in Norwood now contains more than $462,000)
“It is such a joy to experience first-hand the generosity of the people of Wright’s Mesa, to distribute the proceeds we generate from those donations to so many effective nonprofit organizations in the area and to learn about the fabulous work each of them is doing to benefit their neighbors,” said LCLT Treasurer Emily Haight.
In a Facebook post, LCLT Secretary Sheila Grother said, “This is my absolute favorite part of my time on the LCLT board. Get your applications in!”
The application deadline is 11:59 p.m., Monday, Sept. 14, 2026. Organizations that have received grants in past years are encouraged to re-apply this time around. If they’ve been previously rejected, or have any questions about how to properly fill out an application, LCLT urges them to send an email to loneconelegacytrust@gmail.com.
The trust will announce the recipients of the 2026 Community Grants at its annual Harvest Celebration Dinner on Oct. 10 at the Livery, 1555 Summit St. in Norwood. This event is a down-home celebration of local communities and their people, featuring a buffet-style dinner prepared by local vendors, silent and live auctions, live music by the Telluride Gold Kings and dancing.
“The Gold Kings are back by popular demand,” said trust board member George Lewis, “They’re guaranteed to rock the Livery, as they have in years past.”
Tickets for the Harvest Celebration Dinner cost $50 each, or $45 if bought in pairs. They will be available at the door, from LCLT board members or online at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2026-harvest-celebration-dinner-tickets-1994477057569
Established in 2013, the Lone Cone Legacy Trust strives to bolster community and economic development in greater Wright’s Mesa. LCLT is a permanent, locally-controlled endowment fund aimed at serving the area for years to come. The organization’s official motto is, “Bringing a bright future to Wright’s Mesa.”
LCLT’s board members include Andrew Kauffmann (chair), Sheila Grother (secretary), Emily Haight (treasurer), Gretchen Wells, C.J. Watt, Jenny Wheeler, Lisa Foxwell, George Lewis and Caroline Graham. April Montgomery, of the Telluride Foundation, assisted by Dani Laine, serves as an ex-officio member of the board. The work of the trust has been made possible through the efforts of these committed volunteers as well the contributions of partner organizations, including the Telluride Foundation, which manages the fund’s investment portfolio.
The Lone Cone Legacy Trust depends on the generosity of its donors. LCLT encourages people to visit loneconelegacy.org/ways-to-donate to learn about how to contribute. For further information about the Lone Cone Legacy Trust’s history and work, community members may contact loneconelegacytrust@gmail.com via email, look for the organization on Facebook, or visit the trust’s website.
