“Many Boulder County residents aren’t originally from here and may have philanthropic priorities elsewhere. So it’s on us in the nonprofit sector to reach out to our community, and illustrate the need and the opportunity for people to get involved locally.”
To elevate awareness and ignite action around our community’s social, economic, and environmental issues, we periodically feature local influencers to enhance the stories and data analyzed in our current TRENDS Report. This month, we feature Front Range Source co-founders Leslie Allen and Ann Goldman in the following Q&A about what drives philanthropy in Boulder County. Leslie also serves as Vice Chair of the Community Foundation’s Board of Trustees, and is a TRENDS contributor.
Community Foundation: According to our TRENDS research and data-gathering, Boulder County is 44th in giving out of 64 Colorado counties – and Coloradans give less of a percentage of their incomes than our neighboring states. Why?
Front Range Source: There are lots of theories. For starters, a large percentage of philanthropic giving is religious-based – and we’re not a very religious community. In some regions of our country where religion is more prevalent – the Southeast and Utah, for example – giving to religious institutions is almost automatic. But here in Boulder, religion is less of a social force. In fact, according to a Gallup poll, Boulder is virtually tied with Burlington, Vermont, as the least religious city in the United States.
Another factor seems to be the absence of large corporate headquarters here. While we have a wonderful startup community here, those companies don’t have the tradition of corporate giving that has contributed to large corporate gifts in other cities.
CF: As a result, it seems local nonprofits face challenges unique to our area – despite widely-assumed affluence in our community. How do you explain the mismatch between wealth and need in Boulder County?
FRS: Let’s not forget that there are many generous donors in this community. But the fact is that most philanthropy is driven by local needs.
Many Boulder County residents aren’t originally from here and may have philanthropic priorities elsewhere. So it’s on us in the nonprofit sector to reach out to our community, and illustrate the need and the opportunity for people to get involved locally.
CF: TRENDS shows that more than half of Boulder County residents volunteer – more than twice the national volunteer rate. Does that help mitigate the effects of our giving gap?
FRS: In some ways, yes! Volunteers contribute substantial time and talent to help the nonprofit sector serve our community. But, just because someone volunteers doesn’t necessarily mean that they give (although many certainly do!).
There could be lots of explanations for this higher volunteer rate. We have an aging population with time to volunteer, and a wealthier, more educated population that sees volunteering as a way to make an impact.
Again, it’s on us in the nonprofit community to ask for support from potential donors and volunteers. Many nonprofits assume that volunteers give enough through their service and don’t even ask volunteers to give cash. We see that as making a decision for the donor. We say, let volunteers make their own choices about giving – ask them!
CF: So how do we help Boulder County residents understand that giving has tremendous benefits for our community and the individuals in it?
FRS: For community members and nonprofits alike, it’s more important than ever to get engaged.
On the nonprofit side of the equation, don’t assume that everyone automatically shares your passion, or knows about the important work you do. Get out there and find ways to get people involved. Gather your volunteers and donors together, take their ideas, and find creative ways to work together. When people feel part of something, they give.
On the community side of the equation, if you’re not feeling connected to your community, check in with your values and your interests, and explore ways to live those values and support those interests by donating time, talent, and treasure. After all, plenty of studies have shown that giving back corresponds to feeling better and living longer!
Learn more about civic participation and giving in Boulder County in our TRENDS Report, and discover easy and effective ways to give that make a real difference in our community.
