Nonprofit Resources

The Community Foundation inspires hope, leadership, and generosity in our community by bringing economic stability, professional development, and collaboration to the nonprofit sector. As a community facilitator, we coordinate with nonprofit professionals throughout Colorado to provide opportunities that:

• Increase efficiency, sustainability and success for nonprofits in Southwest Colorado
• Build relationships and facilitate networking between nonprofit professionals
• Create opportunities for peer discussion around best practices
• Enhance relationships across county and geographic boundaries

UPCOMING Board Development Trainings in Cortez, Durango and Pagosa Springs

Take your nonprofit board to the next level with our popular board trainings offered by Illene Roggensack and Stacy Beaugh of Third Sector Innovations and Strategic By Nature.

For Board Members:  register for an intensive three-part training series on nonprofit board best practices. This series is designed for board members of nonprofit organizations in Southwest Colorado and will cover topics such as board expectations and rigor, board evaluation, board relationships, productive meetings, and quality decision-making. The entire series will be offered in three locations:  Cortez, Durango and Pagosa Springs in October and November. Cost for the full series is $60. 

Click here to register for board member trainings in CORTEZ

Click here to register for board member trainings in DURANGO

Click here to register for board member trainings in PAGOSA

Week 1:  It’s a Great Job & Somebody’s Gotta Go It

The roles, responsibilities & rigors of serving on nonprofit boards:  board performance and outcomes; expectations & governance; board & staff relations

Week 2:  Bold Boards, Big Bang

Building a nonprofit board with the right people & the right relationships:  identifying, recruiting & on-boarding; successful board retention

Week 3: The Devil is in the Details

Ensuring the nonprofit board is on point:  board self-assessment & organizational audit; running a productive meeting with good decision-making

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For Nonprofit Staff:  register for a three-hour workshop, Board Not Bored, addressing board recruitment and retention, on-boarding and orientation, retreats and evaluation. All staff who register will have a second “bonus” opportunity, at no cost, to meet for an informal Q&A session with the trainers. Ask those burning questions and learn from your peers who are tackling similar challenges. Cost for staff training is $30.

Click here to register for staff trainings in CORTEZ

Click here to register for staff trainings in DURANGO

Click here to register for staff trainings in PAGOSA

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Our presenters

Illene Roggensack is a principal in both Third Sector Innovations and Strategic By Nature, based in Grand Junction, Durango and Littleton, CO, offering assistance with and guidance in planning, organizational development, board and staff leadership, fundraising and marketing to meet the outsourcing and training needs of a breadth of nonprofit and governmental entities and collaborations. The heart of the firms’ efforts is in assisting small- and mid-sized organizations. Illene’s expertise comes from more than three decades as an executive director, fundraising director, board member, volunteer and consultant. This experience is coupled with an MBA and recognition as a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE). As an active volunteer, Illene served two years as President for the Colorado Nonprofit Association, one year as President for the Grand Junction Lions Club, and in recent years has founded four Giving Club and Guys’ Giving Club organizations in both Grand Junction and Montrose. More information:  www.thirdsectoronline.com.

Stacy Beaugh, president of Strategic By Nature, has been a leader in nonprofits, natural resource and outdoor recreation initiatives for 15 years, most recently as Executive Director of RiversEdge West (formerly Tamarisk Coalition). Stacy’s educational portfolio includes a Master’s in Public Administration from University of Colorado Denver and a Bachelors of Art in art and environmental studies from Illinois Wesleyan University. She is also an alum of the Center for Creative Leadership Nonprofit Executive Leadership Program. Her volunteer experience includes a leadership role on the Colorado Riverfront Commission and Treasurer of Many Rivers Brewing Public Benefit Corporation. She is currently based in Durango, CO. Strategic by Nature provides expertise and support to organizations striving for impact and effective outcomes around land and water resources, and outdoor recreation endeavors. Strategic by Nature is a venture of Third Sector Innovations, drawing on more than 33 years’ experience working with nonprofits and stakeholder groups on the West Slope, throughout Colorado and beyond. Services available include those in the arenas of strategic planning, meeting/process facilitation, executive coaching, board/leadership development, marketing and fundraising, and special project implementation. 

These trainings are sponsored in part by the Regional Leadership Committee of Southwest Rural Philanthropy Days.

The Community Foundation is a proud Regional Champion for ColoradoGives!

What is ColoradoGives…and what is Colorado Gives Day?

ColoradoGives is a year-round online giving platform that makes it easy for donors to search for nonprofits and donate online.  Hosted by the Community First Foundation in Arvada, CO,  Colorado Gives features more than 2,500 Colorado nonprofit profiles.

Colorado Gives Day, scheduled for December 10, 2019, is an annual giving initiative that celebrates philanthropy statewide and inspires donors to “give where they live” through online donations. In 2018 $35.1 million was donated statewide in just one day, making Colorado Gives Day the state’s largest one-day giving event.

In our 5-county region, we saw some incredible increases on Colorado Gives Day from 2016 to 2018 with the introduction of our Regional Platform:

·         139% increase in participating nonprofits (from 28 in 2016 to 67 in 2018)

·         84% increase in # of donors to SW CO nonprofits (from 473 in 2016 to 872 in 2018)

·         117% increase in # of donations to SW CO nonprofits (from 734 in 2016 to 1,592 in 2018)

·         88% increase in amount donated in our region (from $143,595 in 2016 to $270,611 in 2018)

What is the Community Foundation’s role as a Regional Champion?

As a Regional Champion, the Community Foundation leads the local effort to strengthen online giving in Southwest Colorado. The Community Foundation spearheaded a regional online platform (swcogives.org) specifically for Southwest Colorado, making it easier for donors to find nonprofits in our region and give locally.

Additionally, the Community Foundation coordinates marketing efforts to promote ColoradoGives and Colorado Gives Day, as well as provides support and professional development as local nonprofits build and plan their campaigns.

Why should my nonprofit participate in Colorado Gives?

Benefits of participating in ColoradoGives include:

• Access to an inexpensive online giving platform
• Inclusion in an additional Southwest Colorado platform, making it easier for donors to find your organization and donate online
• Collaboration with other Southwest Colorado nonprofits
• Local support and professional development opportunities
• Added visibility to your campaign through the Community Foundation’s marketing efforts
• Minimization of operational costs and staff time (Community First Foundation handles gift processing and receipts)

How do I get started with ColoradoGives?

1. Determine if your nonprofit is eligible by reviewing the ColoradoGives Eligibility Requirements

2.  Enrollment for new nonprofits runs March through August. Complete and submit your ColoradoGives profile for review by August 31. (More info about the review process here)

3. If approved to participate, invest $100 with the Community Foundation for a ColoradoGives Regional Platform participation fee. The fee guarantees your nonprofit’s inclusion on swcogives.org. All fees will be pooled to coordinate a regional marketing campaign, for the benefit of all nonprofits on swcogives.org.

4. Attend as many monthly Lunch & Learn meetings as necessary to ensure your organization’s success.

Upcoming Cohort Meetings for swcogives Participants:

Meeting dates will be announced this summer.

An Organization Fund is a long-term fund held and managed by the Community Foundation on behalf of a nonprofit organization. It provides consolidated investment management, speed, convenience, and guidance for donors. Donors always receive assurance that money will be managed into the long term. After discussions with the organization about objectives for the Fund, we would recommend a financial goal.

For more information on Organization Funds, please see our Organization Fund Fact Sheet.
Current Organization Funds

The Community Foundation serving Southwest Colorado supports the nonprofit community through various partnerships and initiatives, as well as provides an opportunity for certain organizations that want to provide charitable services to their community, but need additional support.

To learn more about Fiscal Sponsorship and the application process, please take a look at our Fiscal Sponsorship Packet.

Current Fiscal Sponsorships

• All Forward Adventures
• Bear Smart
• Café au Play
• Cancer Coalition of Southwest Colorado
• Daybreak Solar Project
• Dumpster Beautification Project
• Durango Creative District
• New Face Productions
• Pine River Shares
• Community Health Action Coalition (CHAC)
• Southwest Rural Philanthropy Days

Southwest Colorado Index

The Southwest Colorado Index is intended to assist nonprofits and funding entities across the region by accurately gauging the overall economic, social and environmental health of the communities in Archuleta, Dolores, La Plata, Montezuma and San Juan Counties (Region 9).
The separate reports of the Index, which are provided courtesy of community sponsors, can be found below.  Nonprofits may find this information and data helpful in their grant writing.
Previously called the Pathways to Healthier Communities Indicator Report, the Index was first published by Operation Healthy Communities Inc. (OHC) in 1996. After OHC produced five editions of the Indicator Report in 2006, the Region 9 Economic Development District of Southwest Colorado took over publication.

• Economic Health & Diversity
• Housing
• Livable Wages
• Energy & Conservation
• Transportation
• Healthcare
• Education & Early Childhood Care

• Board Source inspires and supports excellence in nonprofit governance, as well as board and staff leadership.
• Blue Avocado is the bimonthly newsletter of American Nonprofits, a membership organization that provides practical financial information and support to U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, staff, stakeholders, and volunteers.
• The Colorado Nonprofit Association is the voice of Colorado’s nonprofit community, offering its members a variety of services and technical assistance on starting and managing nonprofit organizations.
• The Colorado Grants Guide is a comprehensive directory of funding sources published by the Community Resource Center. For information, call (303) 623-1540 or visit CRC’s website.
• Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), Colorado Chapter enables people and organizations to practice effective fundraising through ethical standards, education resources, and networking.
• Auditors used by Southwest Colorado nonprofits