NoCo Foundation (Community Foundation of Northern Colorado)

Meet the NoCo Changemakers! First on our list is Jack McCool! Jack is a Banking Officer at FirstBank and was interested in the NoCo Changemakers program because he views it as a great opportunity to accelerate his knowledge in philanthropy while also opening up more opportunities to engage in community programs moving forward. NoCo Changemakers is our new NextGen Philanthropy Program designed to empower the next generation of Changemakers. Throughout this program, participants will gain a comprehensive knowledge of philanthropy and strategic giving. To give participants firsthand grantmaking experience, a portion of the program fee goes toward collective grantmaking. At the end of the program, the Changemakers will be able to collaborate on who to grant to. Thank you to our sponsors and partners, the Bohemian Foundation! #NoCoFoundation #CommunityIsOurBusiness #NoCoChangemakers

?Nonprofit Newsflash!? Northern Colorado Friends of Ferals is a nonprofit dedicated to bettering the lives of feral and stray cats in Northern Colorado. The organization has altered and vaccinated over 14,000 cats in our community. Over 1/3 of the cats were owned by underserved seniors and low-income residents who asked for support but couldn't afford the low-cost surgeries NCFF provides. NCFF helped these pets at no cost to the community members so that their cats were healthier and no longer contributing to cat overpopulation. Learn more about NCFF here: nocoferals.org/ #NonprofitNewsflash #NoCoFoundation #CommunityIsOurBusiness

Check out John Chapdelaine, the director of the NoCo Foundation's eastern Colorado office, on the Colorado Leadership Stories podcast!

Community Intersection: Renewing ?? Renewing is the process of rejuvenating, renewing vitality and energy, and creating ourselves, our relationships, and our places anew. Renewing involves a regenerative mindset in which we give, care for, and engage in our communities in order to help everyone achieve well-being. Check out some stats centered around renewing that can be found in the Intersections Report: - Northern Colorado is currently investing over $84 million in capital improvement projects and infrastructure. - The state total of household charitable donations claimed on income tax returns was $3.9 million from 712,940 households in 2022. - In Weld County, 33.450 households gave a total of $146,457 in 2022. - In Larimer County, 46,700 households gave a total of $280,912 in 2022. - In Colorado, 26% formally volunteered through organizations and 59% helped others by exchanging favors with their neighbors. - In 2022, 71% of Larimer County and 53% of Weld County voted. To get more details on the Community Intersection of Renewing, learn about the challenges, and see the pressure-relieving work being done, check out the full Intersections Report here: https://lnkd.in/gx7vkMZq #NoCoFoundation #CommunityIsOurBusiness #NoCoIntersections

Meet Codi Farrar! Codi is our Operations Officer and recently celebrated her 5-year anniversary at the NoCo Foundation! Read on to learn more about Codi. What is a nonprofit you are passionate about and why? I am passionate about ALS United Rocky Mountain because my family has experienced loss from ALS; it is a heartbreaking disease that needs more money for research. I am also on the board of the Alliance for Suicide Prevention of Larimer County (ASP). I am passionate about mental health, and I want to help support people to know they aren't alone and that there are resources for them. What’s your superpower in the workplace? My superpower in the workplace is my ability and willingness to learn something new, even if it is totally outside my comfort zone. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? "Never be ashamed of trying, effortlessness is a myth." What's your favorite weekend activity? My favorite weekends are in the summer when I can swim, get ice cream, and watch outdoor movies. I also read, craft, and plan theme parties at other times of the year. #NoCoFoundation?#CommunityIsOurBusiness?#MeetTheTeam

We are thrilled to have Jess Rahn join the NoCo Foundation team as Staff Accountant! Jess will support the finance department by performing daily accounting functions for the NoCo Foundation. Jess has been working in the nonprofit sector since 2015 and is a graduate of the Impact MBA program at CSU. She loves to travel, cross stitch, cook, bake, and spend time with friends, family, and her dog, Otis. Jess is excited to be a part of an organization that has such great community engagement and impact! Welcome to the team, Jess!

?? It's Community Foundation Week! ?? In 1989, former President George H.W. Bush established Community Foundation Week as November 12-18 to recognize their work throughout America and their collaborative and innovative approach to working with the public, private, and nonprofit sector. The NoCo Foundation is just one of more than 900 community foundations in the United States and we are proud to have served the Northern Colorado community for almost 50 years. Check out some stats about your local community foundation in these slides! And share a story or experience you have had with the NoCo Foundation in the comments! You can also read the full story about our biggest giving year ever here: https://lnkd.in/g4PPMxdN #NoCoFoundation #CommunityIsOurBusiness #CommunityFNDWeek

?Nonprofit Newsflash!? Meet 911 Navigators, a group created by First Responder Trauma Services for retired first responders. This community supports the mental and behavioral health of current and retired frontline workers. Through coaching, transformative practices, and activities like beekeeping, fly fishing, or drone flying, members find camaraderie, healing, and new purpose beyond their careers. Together, they share skills, build resilience, and create lasting connections. Thanks for supporting the heroes in our communities. You can learn more about this incredible and necessary program and organization here: https://www.frts911.com/ #NonprofitNewsflash #NoCoFoundation #CommunityIsOurBusiness

Community Intersection: Connecting ?? Connecting is the process of sharing a common experience or bond with others. This community intersection is a marker that has undergone great changes in the post-COVID world we find ourselves in. As our region moves toward greater well-being, residents must look for ways to ease social effects of the pandemic and renew our common bonds. Check out some stats centered around beautifying that can be found in the intersections report: - The average high school graduation rate in Colorado is 82% and 84% in Northern Colorado. - 3rd grade reading scores are often the harbinger of student success or failure. - 3rd grade literacy rates from 2022-2023 were 51.1% in Poudre School District, 41.9% in Thompson School District 28.3% in Greeley School District, and 40.7% as an average across Colorado. - Revenue from tourism was $1 Billion in Larimer County and $432 Million in Weld. - Tourism created 10,200 jobs in Larimer County and 3,900 in Weld County. - Northern Colorado is ranked higher than the national average for the number of poor mental health days and frequent mental distress. - In 2020, 82 people died by suicide in Larimer County. - Since 2017, suicide has been the 3rd leading contributor of premature death in Weld County. - According to Poudre School District 70% of PSD staff indicate that they are moderately or extremely concerned about the decrease in student emotional well-being. To get more details on the Community Intersection of Connecting, learn about the challenges, and see the pressure-relieving work being done, check out the full Intersections Report here: https://lnkd.in/gx7vkMZq #NoCoFoundation #CommunityIsOurBusiness #NoCoIntersections

Meet Jim! Jim has been a Board of Trustees member at the NoCo Foundation for the past three years. Read on to learn more about Jim. Profession: Farmland owner and operator, agri-business and commercial property investor Why do you choose to invest time in NoCo Foundation? What brings you joy or reward in your service? I truly feel I have been blessed in my life. I contribute time, treasure, and talent to a number of community causes, in an effort to make those places stronger and viable for the long term. I bring to the NoCo Foundation Board my experience of a first generation farmer and entrepreneur. As the NoCo Foundation reaches beyond the front range, it is important for the board to have an understanding of the agricultural, energy, and water sectors of the Colorado economy. I believe I bring that experience to the board. As a fundholder, the NoCo Foundation is large enough to minimize expenses and have the staff and support to carry out my philanthropic wishes. I like the flexibility of the Donor Advised Fund to allow anonymous gifts, no gifts for a period of time, and the prompt attention of executing gifts. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? Advice I got from a long term mentor and partner – you will have challenges in your personal and business life, everyone does. It matters that you learn from the mistakes and persevere. What's your favorite weekend activity? I always try to take the time on the weekend to refresh my spiritual life, to be grateful, and humble for the gifts I have been given. #NoCoFoundation #CommunityIsOurBusiness #MeetTheBoard