FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Boettcher Foundation Announces Awardees for 2022 Pilot Grant Program
Catalyst Grants to Serve Rural Nonprofit Organizations and Communities
DENVER, December 22, 2022 — The Boettcher Foundation is excited to announce the initial grantees of a pilot program designed to support nonprofit organizations tackling some of the top issues facing rural Coloradans.
The capacity building grants, awarded to 14 organizations, were created for nonprofits to request a strategic injection of funding to impact one of the following issue areas — housing, childcare, rural workforce, or leadership pipeline challenges.
One of the grant recipients is Montezuma Leadership Network (MLN), a grassroots effort to create leadership training and professional development opportunities for business, nonprofit, and government professionals in Cortez and the surrounding areas.
With its Catalyst Grant support, MLN will expand its course offerings and develop a five-year strategic plan.
“In May of 2022, a handful of emerging leaders in Montezuma County came together to discuss the almost total disappearance of leadership training opportunities and programs in this small rural community,” said Nancy Schaufele, founder of MLN. “With the help of the Boettcher Foundation, (MLN) is poised to become a foundational part of this community in providing leadership pathways and opportunities for our business, nonprofit and governing leaders.”
Those eligible for the Catalyst Grants were participants in Boettcher’s Rural Leaders Collaborative, a network of cross sector leaders from across Colorado who convene quarterly to advance the leadership in their organizations, communities, and regions. Launched in 2021, the collaborative includes rural superintendents, college presidents, elected officials, and nonprofit community leaders, among others.
“We are thrilled to be able to offer this innovative grant to our rural communities,” said Katie Kramer, president and CEO of the Boetcher Foundation. “The capacity-building nature of these grants helps to address a short-term need that can have long-term impacts.”
Another organization receiving a Catalyst Grant is Hugo Main Street, an economic development nonprofit with a mission to engage Lincoln County in the creation of a vibrant main street.
With its support, Hugo Main Street will develop and launch a new Junior Main Street Program to involve youth at Genoa-Hugo School through entrepreneurial training and civic revitalization efforts.
“We are so excited that this grant award will support our junior Hugo Main Street programming,” said Gillian Laycock, manager of Hugo Main Street. “The goal of Junior Main Street is to provide a platform for the youth in our community to learn new leadership and economic development skills and abilities that will equip and inspire them to stay living locally, grow to become community leaders, understand local, small-town economics and entrepreneurship, and how each of these components contribute to our towns economic revitalization.”
The Boettcher Foundation received 65 eligible inquiries for the Catalyst Grant Program. In 2023, the program will continue across two grant cycles. Here is the full list of organizations funded this year, the counties where they are located, and the respective grant amounts.
- Hugo Main Street (Lincoln), $7,500
- Integrated Community (Routt), $7,500
- Holyoke Community Childcare Initiative (Phillips), $7,500
- Boys & Girls Club SLV (Alamosa), $7,500
- CSU Foundation (Larimer and Logan), $7,500
- Community Foundation of Gunnison Valley (Gunnison), $7,500
- Valley Housing Fund (Gunnison), $7,500
- Early Childhood Council of Archuleta County (Archuleta), $7,500
- Ignacio Creative District (La Plata), $10,000
- La Plata Family Centers Coalition (La Plata), $7,500
- Kids at Their Best (Morgan), $7,500
- Montezuma Leadership Network (Montezuma), $7,500
- Paradox Community Trust aka Telluride Rural Homes (San Miguel), $7,500
- Roaring Fork Leadership (Pitkin), $7,500
About the Boettcher Foundation
At the Boettcher Foundation, we believe in the promise of Colorado and the potential of Coloradans because courageous leadership benefits every community in our state. By investing in people, programs, and organizations, we provide a foundation for transformational impact and community building.
