Heart of Colorado Rural Philanthropy Days
Dear Friends:
I am your representative to the leadership team for Heart of Colorado and need your help.
The Heart of Colorado Regional Coordination began as an effort following the 2008 Rural Philanthropy Days event and involves Chaffee, Custer, Fremont, Park, and Teller counties. Participants from the event created an opportunity to sustain relationships and efforts between events by forming a Leadership Team, and hiring a Regional Coordinator to manage activities designed to serve and strengthen nonprofits throughout the five county region.
In 2009, the Regional Coordination efforts were responsible for facilitating strategic sessions for the Health and Wellness Task Force, a collaborative effort which aims to impact health and wellness issues across the five-county rural region; a successful all-day training on Common Grant Reporting for 45 nonprofit representatives; and disseminating a regional newsletter highlighting regional nonprofit efforts and news on a quarterly basis.
In addition to available funding and contributions, the purpose of this funding challenge is to collect $500 total from each county’s nonprofits, local governments and businesses to continue raising awareness and support for the Heart of Colorado Rural Philanthropy Day Regional Coordination. Efforts in 2010 are aimed at increasing and strengthening collaboration among nonprofit entities on both a regional and county level, developing projects among like-minded nonprofits for each region, and updating the appropriate entities on the current knowledge of issues and opportunities facing the Heart of Colorado Rural Philanthropy Days region.
The financial impact and success of the Rural Philanthropy Days efforts on our communities is undeniable: between fiscal years 2005-2008, the funders who attend and support Rural Philanthropy Days have invested more than $5,000,000 through nearly 400 grants to these five counties.
Heart of Colorado RPD Region fiscal responsibilities are managed by the Wet Mountain Valley Community Foundation, which is dedicated to supporting the activities and financial needs of the nonprofit organizations throughout the Wet Mountain Valley region. Funding support is sent directly to Wet Mountain Valley Community Foundation, PO Box 718 Westcliffe, Colorado 81252. The contact is Butch Gemin 719-371-6879.
Thank you for your consideration to this collaborative effort.
Marilyn Bouldin
719-539-5028
mbouldin@bresnan.net