$25,000 in donations to Custer County Organizations by El Pomar Foundation

Through an allocation of its Colorado Assistance Fund (CAF), the El Pomar Foundation and its Trustees have approved $1,750,000 in grants to be distributed to nonprofits around Colorado before the end of 2023. This activation of CAF was in response to nonprofit organizations across Colorado facing a multitude of growing challenges, including workforce shortages, declines in donations, high inflation, economic uncertainty, and continued impacts of COVID-19 causing high leadership/staff turnover and burnout. The funds are intended to support nonprofits for things such as staff well-being and development, organizational strategic planning, program assessments, and other operational needs to bolster nonprofit staff and leadership across Colorado.

This is the 10th time El Pomar Foundation has activated its Colorado Assistance Fund. In the past, CAF was activated in five phases between 2008-2012 during and in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, and again in four phases in 2020 and 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since its first activation, CAF has now distributed nearly $10.4 million in grants to nonprofits.

“With the higher cost of operations and the domino effect of inflation impacting charitable giving, along with a variety of workforce challenges, we know that nonprofits are experiencing more of an uphill climb right now,” said Kyle H. Hybl, El Pomar President and CEO. “Many organizations are asking critical operational questions and re-strategizing to adjust to the current landscape, so we wanted to proactively support these efforts.”

During this most recent activation of CAF, recommendations came from El Pomar’s Trustees, staff, and regional council members around the state. In total, 182 grants were distributed in 45 counties across Colorado. Please find below a list of CAF grants distributed to nonprofits in the Central Peaks region encompassing Chaffee, Custer, Fremont, and Park Counties.

• Achieve, Inc. (Buena Vista) – $5,000

• Boys and Girls Club of South Park, Inc. – $6,250

• Boys and Girls Clubs of Chaffee County – $5,000

• Chaffee County Community Foundation – $5,000

• Chaffee County Hospitality, Inc. – $5,000

• City of Cañon City – $15,000 (public pool feasibility study)

• Crystal Mountain Center for Performing Arts (Westcliffe) – $5,000

• Custer County Community Sharing Center, Inc. – $5,000

• Family Crisis Services, Inc. (Cañon City) – $10,000

• Guidestone (Salida) – $5,000

• LifeBridge, Inc. (Bailey) – $6,250

• Park County Senior Coalition (Fairplay) – $6,250

• South Park Food Bank (Fairplay) – $6,250

• Valley Assisted Living, Inc. (Silver Cliff) – $5,000

• Wet Mountain Valley Community Foundation, Inc. (Westcliffe) – $5,000 (Custer County Kids Council Boys and Girls Club feasibility study)

• Wetmore Community Library – $5,000

To view a full listing of El Pomar’s funds and grant-making areas, please visit our website at https://www.elpomar.org/grant-making/.

El Pomar is one of the largest and oldest private foundations in Colorado, contributing approximately $25 million annually through grants in the areas of health, human services, education, arts & humanities, and civic & community initiatives, as well as community stewardship and leadership development programs to support Colorado nonprofit organizations. Spencer and Julie Penrose founded El Pomar in 1937 with the mission to enhance, encourage, and promote the current and future well-being of the people of Colorado.

– Press release by El Pomar Foundation