“Nonprofits fill the gaps in the fabric of our community, addressing unmet needs – from promoting critical initiatives, from early childhood education and funding other nonprofit organizations, to addressing the needs of the marginalized.”
When James Graham first got involved with Community Foundation Serving Boulder County in 2010, “the Fourmile Fire, and my home, were literally still burning,” he recalls. “Together with some other community leaders with mountain homes, we inquired whether the Community Foundation might be able to help those who were most hard hit and really needed assistance.
“There was a great deal of loss at the time, and leadership was badly needed. Luckily, Josie Heath [former foundation president] and the Community Foundation team immediately recognized the critical need and sprang into action.”
But giving to individuals is more complicated than giving to organizations. Continues James, “We acted extremely fast to set up a new model that allowed us to raise money – about $1M, all told – and effectively direct the funds to the people and organizations that needed it the most.
“We organized two committees – one for governance, and one for giving out grants and aid – and established a framework that has since served as a template for several other communities around the country, as they administered aid to individuals during fires and floods.”
Along the way, James – a CPA and CGMA who previously served as treasurer of the foundation’s board, and who currently serves on the foundation’s Audit & Finance and Real Estate committees – was impressed by the foundation’s responsiveness to our community’s needs. “The foundation is incredibly efficient and effective in mobilizing resources to aid and strengthen our community,” he says. “Honestly, it’s hard to communicate how much good the foundation does, in so many ways.
“The Community Foundation and other nonprofits serve an incredibly important role in society. We have government to take care of a lot of community needs, like providing roads, fire and police protection, and various ‘safety-nets.’ And businesses of different kinds provide livelihoods and purpose. But that still leaves a lot of gaps.
“Nonprofits fill the gaps in the fabric of our community, addressing unmet needs – from promoting critical initiatives, from early childhood education and funding other nonprofit organizations, to addressing the needs of the marginalized.”
Adds James, “As a convener and catalyst, the Community Foundation really knows the community’s needs, and leverages its networks and knowledge to approach critical issues in a thoughtful, deliberate, and transformative way. Great examples of this are the Boulder County Health Improvement Collaborative (BCHIC), and an ongoing forum of key stakeholders the foundation facilitated so that local leaders who are working to address homelessness and related issues would be able to more effectively collaborate.”
Further to James’ many contributions on our board and board committees, we’re also grateful for his involvement with the Pledge 1% Board of Directors. “It’s another way I can support the foundation, combining my business and professional experience to help connect entrepreneurs to philanthropy,” he says. “It’s crucial that people do what they can to help their community by supporting the Community Foundation and local nonprofits.”
