December 2008
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As Our Partner…
When you entrust Community First Foundation with endowed or non-endowed funds, you are eligible to enjoy the following opportunities:
• Strengthening Partners Grants
• Educational seminars
and workshops
• Mentoring
• Quarterly e-newsletter
Nonprofit Preservation Initiative
Nonprofit Preservation is the Foundation's ground-breaking initiative designed to support the long-term future of nonprofit organizations. Comprised of Endowment Challenge Grants, Strengthening Partners Grants, GivingFirst and other programs, the initiative seeks to strengthen the community by ensuring vital services continue well into the future.
Quick Links
CommunityFirstFoundation.org
Nonprofit Portal
GivingFirst.org
Foundation board
Foundation staff
Funds for Nonprofits
Strengthening Partners Grants 2009
As part of the Nonprofit Preservation Initiative, Community First Foundation has committed $300,000 for a select group of nonprofit organizations to obtain consulting services that focus on executive leadership development. The Foundation will fund up to $5,000 per organization for consulting services on executive leadership development. Grants are open to all 501(c)(3) organizations that have established a fund at Community First Foundation and complied with all previous grant requirements from the Foundation prior to noon on Wednesday, December 31, 2008. Application deadline is 3:00 pm Monday, March 2, 2009.
Orientations for Endowment Challenge Grants
2008 - 2010
Nonprofits participating in our latest Challenge Grant offering are encouraged to attend a New Partner Orientation. This meeting will help you understand the program logistics, meet our staff and learn about the support we offer. We suggest at least one member per organization attend.
New Partner Orientation Dates:
Tuesday, January 13,
10:00 - 11:00 a.m. or
Thursday, January 15,
3:00 - 4:00 p.m.
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Foundation Donates $10,000 to Food Banks
Community First Foundation donated $10,000 in December to 10 local nonprofit organizations that support the Denver community. Each organization is featured on GivingFirst.org and contributes to the fight against hunger. The $1,000 grants will contribute to each organization's efforts in supplying our neediest citizens with the essential needs of food and shelter. The Foundation also encouraged others to support these 10 food banks, shelters and resource centers through GivingFirst.org this holiday season. "During these challenging times, we are especially thankful for the services these organizations provide to our local community," said Kenneth Eggeman, Ph.D., president & CEO of the Foundation.
$850,000 Raised Through GivingFirst.org
Total donations through GivingFirst.org in 2008 exceeded expectations. More than $850,000 was raised, and in November and December alone, donations were up 300% over last winter. “This holiday season was extraordinary for online donations,” said Dana Rinderknecht, GivingFirst manager. “We are thrilled that so many nonprofits have received strong support from the community. They worked hard to get the word out, and it really shows in end-of-year giving.” Many organizations featured on GivingFirst.org used a link on their Web site that takes donors directly to the donation page on GivingFirst. “We encourage participants to let their supporters know that every penny of their donation goes to the nonprofit when they donate through GivingFirst.org,” said Rinderknecht.
GivingFirst Ads Make a Splash
A new advertising campaign for GivingFirst.org has helped boost end-of-year donations. Brightly colored with a simple slogan — Give online. Give locally. GivingFirst.org — the campaign adds energy to GivingFirst. "We think the look of the ads helps create a clear identity and really pops," said Dana Rinderknecht, GivingFirst manager. "We will start incorporating this look on the Web site and other materials in the first quarter of 2009." The current ad campaign includes 67 underwriting radio spots for 13 weeks on Colorado Public Broadcasting (90.1 and 88.1 FM) and online ads at 9News.com, TheDenverChannel.com, DenverPost.com, RockyMountainNews.com, CPR.org, and Yahoo.com.
Fund-Raising Experts Share Experience and Wisdom
Michael Donegan, Alzheimer's Association, and Dan Macey, DJM Consulting
With more than 30 years of fund-raising experience between them, Dan Macey and Michael Donegan recently engaged a group of nonprofit professionals who were eager to learn. "What should we say in that first call to a prospect?" one person asked at the Foundation's December 4 seminar, called Deepening Relationships with Your Donors: The Keys to Successful Fund-Raising. That question exemplified the type of nuts-and-bolts discussion that helped the audience tackle fund-raising obstacles. "I learned that it's the little things that count: personal thank-you's, handwritten notes, calls from the board," a participant commented.
Kenneth R. Kirwin is New CFO
Kenneth R. Kirwin has joined Community First Foundation as vice president of finance after more than 15 years in the nonprofit sector. He worked for local nonprofits that include Tennyson Center for Children, New Ventures of Regis University and Denver Rescue Mission.
"I have worked with several nonprofits in Denver and am excited now to be a part of the larger nonprofit community. I am blessed to be able to work in a field that provides meaning to individuals and the community," said Kirwin. Raised in Colorado, Kirwin left the region after college to explore the "windy city" of Chicago. While in Chicago he earned his masters of business in finance from Loyola University. He returned to Denver where he met his wife and is currently raising his family. "We conducted an extensive search to find someone of Mr. Kirwin's caliber," said Kenneth W. Eggeman, Ph.D, president and CEO of Community First Foundation. "His experience in the nonprofit world is invaluable."
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