Raising a young child is expensive at exactly the moment a lot of parents have the least flexibility to earn more. Boulder County’s Nurturing Futures program provides unrestricted monthly cash to eligible families with young children.
The next application window opens October 5, 2026, and families selected for the 2027 program can receive $600 per month.
What Nurturing Futures Offers
Current Nurturing Futures participants receive $300 per month through December 2026.
Starting in January 2027, payments will increase to $600 per month and continue through December 2027.
That’s up to $7,200 over the 2027 program year.
The cash is unrestricted, which means there are no rules requiring families to spend the money on specific expenses.
Who Qualifies
New applicants must meet all of the following requirements:
- Live in Boulder County and remain there throughout the program
- Be 18 years old or older
- Have a child born on or after November 3, 2022, who remains under age 4 throughout the application window
- Have household income at or below 30% of the Area Median Income (AMI)
Current Nurturing Futures participants can reapply for the 2027 extension without meeting the income limit.
For this program, a household generally includes people who live together and share expenses, including dependents. Roommates or tenants who financially support themselves aren’t included in your household.
Only one application per household is allowed. A child under age 4 can appear on only one application. If two separate households share custody of the same eligible child, only the first application submitted for that child will be accepted.
If you’re trying to understand how your income compares with the limit, our Area Median Income guide can help explain how AMI works.
Could the Payments Affect Your Other Benefits?
It’s important to check how the payments could interact with other assistance you receive.
Boulder County provides information about potential impacts involving programs such as SNAP, Colorado Works (TANF), and Medicaid.
The county also recommends checking with a tax professional about possible tax implications based on your individual circumstances.
Reviewing those details before enrolling can help you understand how the additional cash could affect your household.
How to Apply
The next application window runs from October 5 through November 2, 2026.
New applicants will be able to apply:
- Online
- By phone
- At an in-person enrollment event
Current participants will receive a personal reapplication link and must reapply during the same October 5–November 2 window if they want to continue participating in 2027.
Boulder County says applicants will be notified of their status within four weeks after the application deadline, by text or email.
For application assistance, you can contact Nurturing Futures at:
Phone or text: 720-734-4999
Email: support@nurturingfutures.aidkit.org
Relief Recap
Boulder County’s Nurturing Futures program will provide eligible families with young children $600 per month from January through December 2027, for up to $7,200 during the year.
New applicants must live in Boulder County, be at least 18, have an eligible child under age 4 and have household income at or below 30% AMI. Current participants can reapply without meeting the income limit.
Applications will be accepted October 5 through November 2, 2026, with online, phone and in-person application options available.
If you’re managing other family expenses, our hardship grants roundup has more programs worth checking.
