Community Foundation Boulder County is excited to welcome Amelia Pane Schaffner as Director of Impact Giving — a new role that represents a first step in the foundation’s work to revamp Pledge 1% Colorado.
A program of Community Foundation Boulder County, Pledge 1% Colorado (formerly known as Entrepreneurs Foundation of Colorado (EFCO)) played a founding role in the development of Pledge 1%, a global program created to catalyze startup philanthropy in partnership with Salesforce, Atlassian, and Rally for Impact. The program was created around the idea that any business, from a startup to an enterprise company, can be a force for good in its community. As Pledge 1% grew to a global program, Pledge 1% Colorado spun off and remained independent to stay connected and aligned with the needs and interests of Boulder County’s and Colorado’s startup community. Since our first pledge in 2007, more than $5.5 million and thousands of hours of volunteer support have been allocated to support nonprofits around Colorado.
“Our mission is to nurture and activate the ideas and generosity of the community,” said Faith Motter, Vice President of Development at Community Foundation Boulder County. “Boulder County is a place where big ideas take root and thrive, and our community of innovative entrepreneurs certainly helps drive that mindset. We’re honored to have partnered with numerous companies and founders across the region who are invested in giving back to their communities, and we’re excited to continue growing these and new relationships through the work of Pledge 1% Colorado.
This month, the foundation is announcing the appointment of Amelia Pane Schaffner as Director of Impact Giving at the foundation. In this role, Schaffner will lead the relaunch and growth of Pledge 1% Colorado, helping local startups and founders embed philanthropy into their companies.
“Boulder has long been a place where innovation and community go hand in hand,” said Schaffner. “Pledge 1% Colorado creates a simple but powerful invitation for founders to build generosity into the DNA of their companies and create lasting impact.”
Schaffner brings more than 20 years of experience across the corporate, startup, academic, and nonprofit sectors. Prior to joining CFBC, she worked in strategy and innovation at Accenture, co-founded Emory University’s Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, and advised founders and organizations through Lexicon Strategies. She has also served as a mentor with Techstars and on the boards of multiple entrepreneurship and community initiatives. Her work has consistently centered on building ecosystems, partnerships, and pathways for collective impact. In her new role as Director of Impact Giving at the community foundation, Schaffner will work to nurture existing partnerships, reach new and emerging entrepreneurs, and continue the foundation’s work to inspire greater generosity in Boulder County, and across Colorado.
“Startups shape the future of our communities,” Schaffner said. “Pledge 1% Colorado offers founders a way to build companies that create lasting value for both shareholders and society.”
Through the Pledge 1% Colorado, Community Foundation Boulder County aims to ensure giving is accessible to any company, regardless of size or stage. Together with our local startups and entrepreneurs, the foundation hopes to make Boulder County and Colorado one of the leading regions in the country for founder-led philanthropy and community investment.
Join us in welcoming Amelia, and stay tuned for more exciting news as pledge 1% Colorado continues to develop and grow.
