January 2010

What are the characteristics of a truly exceptional community? The new vision statement developed by the Community Foundation of Northern Colorado's Board of Trustees answers that question with three words: engaged, philanthropic and visionary.

We believe that a primary goal for any community is to create opportunities that will move more people off the sideline and motivate their investment of time, money and creativity into something bigger than themselves. The never-ending task of the Community Foundation is just that simple and just that challenging.

Since our founding in 1975, the Community Foundation has served as the vehicle by which people have gifted tens of millions of dollars for the permanent benefit of Northern Colorado — gifts that will benefit many different nonprofit agencies, schools, churches and charitable causes forever! We undertake our role as stewards of these charitable funds with extraordinary commitment and are grateful to the talented professionals who donate their time and expertise to the Board of Trustees, Investment Committee and Audit Committee.

Although the economy has certainly slowed the growth of our assets, the role the Foundation plays in Northern Colorado has steadily increased due to your continued support. Grants, initiatives, events and projects  --- all made possible by you --- have increased the Foundation’s impact and influence. Total assets have remained relatively stable in spite of the extraordinary market volatility of recent months. As we write this letter, Foundation assets are at an all-time high of approximately $40 million.

Thank you for contributing to this highly-collaborative undertaking we call the Community Foundation. We believe it is an organization uniquely positioned to harness the collective participation, giving and perspective that will inspire and shape the future of Northern Colorado.