There are dozens of community foundations in Colorado that serve as hubs for philanthropic giving in different regions of the state, urban and rural. One such funder that we have only touched on briefly so far is the Community Foundation of the Gunnison Valley (CFGV), which is based in Gunnison, Colorado and has been operating in its current structure since 2007.
For nonprofits operating in this region of the Mountain West, here are a few things to know about CFGV and its local grantmaking.
Formed from a foundation merger
In 2007, two foundations came together to create CFGV. A group of charter donors created the Gunnison Area Community Foundation in 1997, and then another group of donors created the Crested Butte Community Foundation in 2002. Now, the two organizations operate as one unit to combine their financial power and operate with a better understanding of the region as a whole.
A community grants program
CFGV has a community grants program that is broad and accessible to local nonprofits. It awards grants for arts and culture, athletics and recreation, community development, domestic animal welfare, education, the environment, health and human services, historical tradition and preservation, and collaborations among multiple nonprofits. Health and human services tends to be the largest area of CFGV grantmaking. The foundation also awards many annual grants for education and arts and culture each year.
Recent grantees include the Gunnison County Food Pantry, the Crested Butte Wildflower Festival, Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers and the Gunnison Valley Animal Welfare League. In addition to grantmaking, CFGV offers regional workshops, a nonprofit network and agency endowment opportunities. It also awards scholarships to local students.
Opportunities for general operating support
Local groups should know that CFGV is a reliable source for general operating support, to be used however a recipient chooses. An exception to this rule is faith-based organizations, which can only apply for project support that promotes no religious messages. Also, Gunnison County government and municipal entities, Western Colorado University and the Gunnison Watershed School District can only apply for project support too.
Keep requests under $7,000
The maximum amount for grants in the past has been $7,000, so nonprofits should keep all grant requests under this amount unless they speak with CFGV staff first. The grant application deadline is typically in mid-May, and applicants learn whether they’ve been approved for funding by the first of July.
A commitment to nonprofit effectiveness
Nonprofits that serve the Gunnison Valley should also look into CFGV’s STEP program, which is a capacity-building program designed to strengthen the operations of local groups. The foundation has advisors who donate hours to a “consulting bank” and allow nonprofits to apply for up to 12 free hours of consulting. Organizations can apply for one STEP session per calendar year and spread the hours out throughout the year if they wish. Fill out CFGV’s online application if your organization could use help with anything from capital campaigns to data evaluation, board development, branding, fundraising, social media and more.
Learn more about this foundation in IP’s full profile of CFGV, which is part of our Mountain States Funding Guide covering grantmaking in Colorado, Nevada, Utah and Montana.