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The
Catalog For Giving – Boulder County
Background Information
Established in New York City in 1994, The Catalog for Giving brings
public attention to small, community-based, grassroots organizations
providing services to disadvantaged children and youth.
A primary philosophy underlying national The Catalog for Giving
efforts is that the most highly effective solutions to the problems
facing today’s troubled youth are often located right in the
communities where they live. In addition, a supporting belief of
The Catalog for Giving is that many individual donors are eager
to help and want to know that their charitable contributions will
"make a difference" – particularly in their local
communities. Too often, however, it is time consuming and difficult
to identify such small local programs.
The format of The Catalog is designed to celebrate the work of small
nonprofits, to reach an audience they might not reach individually,
and to raise awareness and funds to support their efforts.
The Catalog for Giving – Boulder County,
1st Edition
In 2001, the Brett Family
Foundation and the Community
Foundation Serving Boulder County worked together to bring The
Catalog for Giving to Boulder County. Like other communities across
the country, Boulder County has many small, little-known groups
that creatively address issues facing children and youth, but have
a difficult time finding financial support and other necessary resources.
The two collaborating foundations sent out a request for proposals
early in 2001. A committee of local community members reviewed the
applications, selected organizations for site visits, and ultimately
chose 12 organizations for participation in The Catalog for Giving
– Boulder County, 1st Edition. The evaluations included staff
interviews and financial reviews. Special consideration was given
to the uniqueness of the program, its fundraising capabilities,
and impact on the community.
The organizations included in the first edition were:
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Boulder
County Early Childhood Connections
Boulder County Partners
Boulder Day Nursery
Boulder Prep High School
Colorado Therapeutic Riding Center
Colorado Youth Program
Institute for African American Leadership
OUR Child Care Center
Parenting Place
Teens, Inc.
Voices For Children
The Women’s Wilderness Institute |
A
photographer and writer visited all 12 sites in an effort to capture
the work of the organizations. The final product arrived in October
2001. During the 16 months from October 2001 through December of
2002, more than 10,000 Catalogs were distributed throughout Boulder
County, raising more than $95,000 for the participants.
The Catalog for Giving website, www.cfgbouldercounty.org,
is also available to provide the history and mission of The Catalog,
information about the participating organizations, and links to
each of its affiliates.
Donors can choose to fund a specific program featured in The Catalog
or distribute a contribution equally among all the groups. Because
the Brett Family Foundation paid for all design (web and print),
copywriting, photography and printing expense and the Community
Foundation covered staff, facilitation and most of the distribution
expense, 100% of the donations were passed on to the participating
organizations.
The Catalog for Giving – Boulder County,
2nd Edition
The Brett Family Foundation and the Community Foundation Serving
Boulder County are excited to announce plans for the production
of a second edition of The Catalog for Giving – Boulder County.
We will distribute requests for proposals (RFP) through the mail
and over the Internet. The Catalog’s website, www.cfgbouldercounty.org,
will also have a copy of the RFP letter
and application (in PDF
format).
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While organizations that were chosen for inclusion in The Catalog’s
first edition are eligible to apply for the second edition, we encourage
applications from all organizations that meet the criteria listed
below and on the RFP. Applications are due at the office of The
Community Foundation Serving Boulder County, 1123 Spruce Street,
Boulder no later than Friday, April 11th, 2003.
The selection process for the second edition will be similar to
that of the first edition, with a committee of community members,
selected site-visits, staff interviews and financial reviews.
To qualify for consideration, programs must:
- Be
located in and provide direct services to disadvantaged youth/children
within Boulder County;
- Have
an independent IRS letter of 501(c)(3) determination;
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Operate with an annual budget between $25,000 and $1 million;
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Not be part of a national organization;
- Have
no paid full-time fundraiser or development officer on staff
We
plan to celebrate the release of The Catalog for Giving – Boulder
County, 2nd Edition prior to Thanksgiving of 2003.
Contacts for The Catalog for Giving – Boulder County:
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