25 Stories: Building a Foundation of Connection, Resources, and Growth

In the late 1990s, Durango’s flourishing nonprofit sector arrived upon a common problem in small communities— a way to diversify support from an already tapped pool of donors and grant opportunities.

The Community Foundation was founded out of this need by a group of local nonprofit leaders, and Brian Wagner, then ED of the Durango Arts Center, joined the originating board in 2000.

His expertise in fundraising and donor nourishment was absolutely invaluable as the Foundation grew year after year.

It started small, with local families promptly opening donor advised funds and using the Foundation exactly as it was intended— creating longevity with their philanthropic contributions and streamlining their support for the

causes they deeply cared for. Since then, family funds have become a more common avenue to those wanting to give back, becoming part of the essential pillars that hold up their community.

What began as a response to donor fatigue has evolved into a thriving network of generosity — connecting people, causes, and communities for lasting good.

To see more stories about the Foundation from various community members, visit our online flipbook here!