Letter to Our Donors
January 2009
The Community Foundation of Northern Colorado’s core values include a long-term perspective, building permanent endowments, honoring the charitable wishes of our donors, operating efficiently and providing financial transparency.
Yet, beyond these core values, the Foundation is constantly looking forward in an effort to carry out its ultimate goal – making Northern Colorado a better place to live.
Several years ago, the Board of Trustees and staff undertook a major shift in emphasis toward what we call a “donor services” focus. We established a competitive fee schedule, emphasized Donor Advised funds, provided donors with multiple investment options, built a new office in a location more central to the region, and offered donors secure online access to information about their charitable funds. As a result, assets have grown by 175 percent over the last five years, and during the same time frame, we have distributed $14.7 million in grants and programs to assist with everything from homelessness and childcare to economic development and the arts. 
Now our Board of Trustees is examining the Foundation’s role in the community and its unique ability to provide nonpartisan leadership. While some community foundations are hesitant to venture beyond their donor services role, many others embrace the opportunity to be a catalyst, convener, community builder and think tank. Our enormously successful UniverCity Connections initiative in Fort Collins has taken the Foundation a considerable distance in this new direction. More recently, an initiative to strengthen downtown Loveland is now underway and showing promise.
Additionally, the Foundation is assisting more than 30 nonprofit agencies with their endowment efforts, conducting frequent educational events, and serving as the fiscal agent for a variety of fledgling charitable endeavors.
As a relatively small foundation with limited resources, we are constantly pushing the envelope to maximize our impact and truly be the community’s foundation. Ultimately, the extent of the Community Foundation’s impact depends on its donors. Thank you for your willingness to combine your generosity with others. We hope this Annual Report demonstrates the power of multiple donors coming together through the Foundation. Together, we are accomplishing something that none of us could achieve alone.
Pictured from left to right: Dave Edwards, Immediate Past Chair; Ray Caraway, President; Wynne Odell, Chair