El Pomar Trustees approved $275,000 allocated to 20 nonprofit organizations and government entities in the Southwest region at the foundation’s February trustees meeting.
Through the foundation’s grant-making process:
• A Safe Place in Pagosa Inc. received $5,000 for general operating support; competitive.
• Aspire Medical Services and Education (Pagosa Springs) received $10,000 for counseling program; regional council.
• The Boys and Girls Club of La Plata County, Inc. (Durango) received $10,000 for youth programming; regional council.
• Build Pagosa Inc. received $50,000 for Regional Workforce Center; competitive.
• The Community Foundation serving Southwest Colorado (Durango) received $10,000 for CAUSE Internship; regional council.
• The Cortez Fire Protection District received $7,500 for radios, personal protective equipment and accessories; Wildland Fire Fund.
• Healthy Archuleta Inc. (Pagosa Springs) received $10,000 for youth mental health programming; regional council.
• Manna-The Durango Soup Kitchen received $5,000 for food security programs; regional council.
• Montezuma County Historical Society Inc. (Cortez) received $7,500 for youth programming; regional council.
• The Montezuma School to Farm Project (Cortez) received $20,000 for youth programming; regional council.
• The Pagosa Community Initiative received $25,000 for youth programming; regional council.
• Pagosa Peak Open School received $10,000 for after-school programming; regional council.
• Pine River Shares (Bayfield) received $10,000 for food security initiatives; regional council.
• RezDawg Rescue Inc. (Lafayette) received $15,000 for Ute Mountain Ute Reservation mobile veterinary clinic; Hambrick Fund.
• San Juan County Public Health Service (Silverton) received $15,000 for the Silverton Food Collective; regional council.
• Silverton Family Learning Center Inc. received $20,000 for general operating support; regional council.
• The Southern Ute Indian Tribe (Ignacio) received $15,000 for the Boys and Girls Club of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe; regional council.
• The Good Samaritan Center (Cortez) received $5,000 for food security programs; regional council.
• The Powerhouse (Durango) received $15,000 for a new child care center; regional council.
• United Way of Southwest Colorado (Durango) received $10,000 for Montezuma County Team UP; regional council.
Founded by Spencer and Julie Penrose in 1937, El Pomar Foundation has an established legacy of general-purpose grant making. The competitive process remains the foundation’s primary vehicle for organizations to receive funding.
Additionally, over the last 87 years, El Pomar has either developed or been entrusted with the stewardship of a number of other funds, as well as presenting merit grants in each region recommended by trustees and regional council members. Competitive applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
In an effort to increase impact and establish connections across the entire state, the Regional Partnerships program was established in 2003. Each of the foundation’s 11 regional councils advises El Pomar trustees and recommends grants to help support its communities.
The Southwest Regional Council recommends grants in Archuleta, Dolores, La Plata, Montezuma and San Juan counties. Council members are regional leaders in the business, nonprofit and public sectors, and provide firsthand information about current needs in their own communities.
The Freda Hambrick Fund supports nonprofit organizations that prevent cruelty to animals, provide direct care and medical assistance, and offer educational programs for the proper care of and attention to animals within the state of Colorado.
The Wildland Fire Fund assists with immediate emergency needs of volunteer firefighting agencies and first responders throughout the state of Colorado.
To view a full listing of El Pomar’s funds and grant-making areas, please visit https://www.elpomar.org/grant-making/.
El Pomar Foundation is one of the largest and oldest private foundations in Colorado. El Pomar contributes approximately $25 million annually through grants in the areas of arts and culture, civic and community initiatives, education, health, and human services, as well as community stewardship and leadership development programs to support Colorado nonprofit organizations.
