The Community Foundation Serving Southwest Colorado had an effective year in 2014, infusing more than $1.4 million into the five counties it serves.
More than $205,000 was given in grants facilitated by the foundation, and more than $1.217 million was given in grants to nonprofits from the foundation’s fund holders and Friends of the Foundation, foundation Executive Director Briggen Wrinkle said.
“The Community Foundation is here to empower people’s passions,” said Mike Hudson, president of the foundation’s board of directors. “We have spent a great deal of the past year working with philanthropists to bring value to our community through strategic grant making.”
The Community Foundation was established in the mid-1990s when a number of local nonprofits realized federal and state governments were decreasing or eliminating funding to many programs the nonprofits provided, and many donors were tiring of numerous nonprofits asking for funding or inviting them to events on the fundraising circuit. It serves several purposes, including being a donor adviser of family and business funds such as Alpine Bank and the Stilwell Family Fund, a savings account of sorts for nonprofits such as United Way of Southwest Colorado and the Durango Adult Education Center, and a fiscal sponsor for small nonprofits such as the Durango Botanical Society and Health Coalition of Southwest Colorado.
The Community Foundation serves La Plata, Montezuma, Archuleta, Dolores and San Juan counties.
The foundation announced two new grant opportunities for nonprofits in 2015, courtesy of The Payroll Department. It’s offering the 10.4.2 grant, which will award up to $10,000 to two nonprofits working in education, environment or human services.
“The Payroll Department will reward innovative, resourceful and creative programming that makes our community strong, sustainable and vibrant,” said Bryan Dear, founder and president of The Payroll Department.
The two key elements of the grants are that the organization must show a match of at least 50 percent and evidence of strong collaborations with other organizations. The funds may be used for either existing or new programs. The nonprofit does not have to be a client of the company to be considered.
Applications must be submitted online at www.swcommunityfoundation.org by noon April 30. Those fortunate enough to receive the grants will be notified the week of May 4 and have until Oct. 4 – the 10/4 of the grant name – to raise the match.
abutler@durangoherald.com
To learn more
Visit www.swcommunityfoundation.org or call 375-5807 to learn more about the foundation, how to establish a fund and the 10.4.2 grants.
