TELLURIDE FOUNDATION: 2012 GRANT APPS DUE MONDAY

24 Oct TELLURIDE FOUNDATION: 2012 GRANT APPS DUE MONDAY

Telluride Foundation to award approximately $900,000 to local and regional nonprofits

The Telluride Foundation’s annual Community Grant application is due 5 p.m., Monday, October 29, 2012. The Foundation is the largest funder on the Western Slope of Colorado and encourages nonprofit and community organizations serving the people who live or work in San Miguel County to apply.

Since 2000, Community Grants have provided regional nonprofits with essential funding to improve their capacity and services in the community.

“The Telluride Foundation is integral to sustaining One to One,” said Executive Director, Vivian Russell.  “The Foundation is our largest funder and without it, there would be no youth mentoring program in San Miguel County.”

“The Telluride Foundation is our largest funder,” said Kathleen Merritt, Executive Director, Mountain Munchkins Childcare Center. “The Community Grant we receive supports our scholarship fund for working families. Their generous support has been instrumental in keeping children in our program and increasing their school-readiness. It has been tough over the last two years due to the economic downturn; but thanks to the Telluride Foundation, we’ve been able to provide quality care and education and in turn, enable 120 parents to be in the workforce.”

The Foundation has awarded over $8.5 million in Community Grants and over $20.2 million in total grants since 2000. Last year, the Foundation awarded $901,200 in Community Grants to 70 regional nonprofits and expects to award a similar amount this year. Grant sizes vary from $40,000 to $2,000 and are essential for operating for many of the nonprofits in the community.

“Support from the Telluride Foundation is critical to MountainFilm’s success and represents one of our largest annual grants. Many of the very special things we do at our festival, such as our coffee talks, art exhibits, the “Reading Frenzy” book signing, our ice cream social and the outdoor theater in Town Park are free and open to the public. Without the continuing generous support of the Telluride Foundation, we simply could not afford these programs that are all, in large part, aimed at more fully involving and inspiring the entire Telluride community,” said MountainFilm’s Executive Director, Peter Kenworthy.

The Board and donors of the Telluride Foundation believe in the great work of the local community groups and nonprofits,” said Paul Major, president, Telluride Foundation, “We work hard to support the organizations, and it is rewarding to see the positive measurable impact these organizations bring to the Telluride region.”

Programs director April Montgomery is available to answer questions and assist with the electronic grant application process.

“The Foundation’s application process went entirely electronic in 2010. We are continually trying to improve our application process, making it easier on the grantees, our grant reviewers, and the environment.”

Qualified nonprofit organization serving individuals who live or work in San Miguel County and whose programs and activities are consistent with the mission of the Foundation are eligible to apply for a Community Grant from the Telluride Foundation. Applications are processed by Foundation staff and reviewed by the Grants Committee. This year, the Grants Committee is chaired by Dan Tishman and  comprised of seven Foundation board members.

After receiving the Grants Committee’s recommendations on awards, the Board of Directors makes the final decision on awards in December at the bi-annual meeting. All organizations awarded grants must submit a report that tracks outcome based measures of the grant.

Complete grant guidelines and a link to the application are available on the Foundation’s website at www.telluridefoundation.org.  

Providing annual grants to local groups is one of the activities of the Foundation which supports the Telluride region’s arts, education, athletics, environmental, and charitable causes. According to a 2011 nationwide community foundations survey, the Telluride Foundation ranked as fourth most active grant maker. Such rankings demonstrate that, compared with its peer community foundations, the Telluride Foundation is focused on investing its funds into the community to meet the immediate needs of the community. They also highlight the high level of gifts generously given to the Foundation and the community by its donors. The Foundation also provides year-round support for local groups in the form of capacity-building and technical assistance, including skills training workshops and seminars and Executive Director Breakfasts.

About the Foundation:

The Telluride Foundation exists to create a stronger Telluride community through the cultivation and promotion of philanthropy. It is a nonprofit, apolitical community foundation that provides year-round support for local organizations involved in arts, education, athletics, charitable causes, land conservation and other community-based efforts through technical assistance, education and grant making. As a grant maker, the Foundation awards grants to qualified applicants that serve the people living and/or working in the Telluride region for the purpose of enhancing the quality of life within the region. For more information on the Telluride Foundation, visit www.telluridefoundation.org.