A YEAR TO REMEMBER: Foundation closes books on Fiscal Year ‘21

The year beginning July 1, 2020 and ending June 30, 2021 is one that most of us will long remember. In the wake of great challenges came notable generosity; it was like no other. We’re in awe of the preliminary numbers that show the largest gift year in Foundation history, up from $17.85M in FY20 to $29.8M*. Noteworthy gifts include the donation of a $13 million charitable remainder trust marking the Foundation’s largest gift in history, along with developing a philanthropic partnership between the Foundation and Northeastern Junior College.

We granted $7.9M* to nonprofits during this time of truly exceptional need, which included disaster recovery efforts, along with our traditional grants to nonprofits and college scholarships.

We celebrate dollars raised for our friends and neighbors in need, from helping over 4,000 people donate to support wildfire relief in Grand, Boulder, and Larimer counties to funding food insecurity and childcare options during COVID, to establishing partnerships for watershed mitigation work.

The Foundation will close the fiscal year with over $185M* in assets under management – more than a $50M increase over last year! Thank you for the trust you’ve placed in your Community Foundation to invest donor dollars wisely to benefit Northern Colorado and beyond.

*Based on preliminary, unaudited financials.

Community Foundation of Northern Colorado 10-year growth chart. Assets under management. In 2013: 72.5 million dollars, In 2015: 90.2 million dollars, In 2017: 104.3 million dollars, In 2019: 121.3 million dollars, In 2021: 185.0 million dollars (2021 unaudited financials, fiscal year end, June 30)

Community Foundation of Northern Colorado 10 year growth chart

NoCoFires Fund grant committee awards $670,000

Three nonprofits receive funds to mitigate watershed damage

Credit: Photos courtesy William A. Cotton

The NoCoFires Fund was established last year in response to the devastating impact of Colorado’s largest wildfire – the Cameron Peak Fire. The fund raised $750,000 to mitigate the fires’ negative consequences of Northern Colorado’s two primary watersheds, the Cache la Poudre and the Big Thompson rivers.

The Fund’s grant committee announces awards totaling $670,000 to three nonprofit organizations working together to protect river health, water supply, and community safety: Big Thompson Watershed Coalition, Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed, and Wildlands Restoration Volunteers. Each of these nonprofits is actively working to support watershed recovery. Grants will help them add staff to build capacity and pay for vital materials required for watershed mitigation and environmental restoration.

These grants respond to a significant need caused by last year’s wildfires which negatively impacted water quality and river health, while the surface runoff and erosion have been causing debris flows and flooding.  Mitigation experts estimate tens of millions of dollars will be needed to fully address the impacts to wildlife, recreation, agriculture, and drinking water supplies for approximately one million people. Learn more and read the news release at https://nocofoundation.org/fires/.

Garden Party to meet and greet Kristin Todd, our new president and CEO

We welcomed 150 guests for a delightful evening at the Gardens on Spring Creek in late June. The surroundings were stunning, the weather fantastic, and the company exemplary. We truly enjoyed getting to see friends – old and new – welcome Kristin, John, and Charlie Todd to our kind and generous community.

Thank You for your Service: Richard Fagerlin and Jason Ells

We transitioned to a new fiscal year on July 1. The Foundation thanks these outgoing members of the Board of Trustees for their service to Northern Colorado:

Jason Ells: Trustee since 2015

Jason Ells: Trustee since 2015

Richard Fagerlin: Trustee since 2015

Richard Fagerlin: Trustee since 2015

Welcome Mary Ericson

The Foundation welcomes Mary as its communications officer, where she will oversee marketing and communications. Mary has a passion for the nonprofit sector, and most recently served on staff with CASA of Larimer County and The Matthews House.

Foundation is Hiring

The Foundation is seeking two full-time specialists— an Accounting Specialist and an Events & Social Media Specialist. The Foundation is also looking for two great college interns beginning fall semester— an Operations Intern, an Events and Communications Intern, and a Philanthropy and Initiatives Intern. Details at nocofoundation.org/job-opportunities.

Events

Investment Performance Briefing: September 8 (Virtual. Registration required)

Loveland Generations: September 30

Breaking Good News NoCo