The Community Foundation serving Southwest Colorado announces this year’s recipients of a new grant opportunity called The Sky is Green, supporting innovative, unconventional programs serving youth in Cortez and Ignacio. A fund holder at the Community Foundation offers support to organizations serving students in kindergarten through 12th grade, awarding up to $50,000 annually to 5-10 nonprofits, with grants ranging from $2,500 to $10,000.
In Ignacio, Dancing Spirit Community Arts Center has received $4,200 to kick off a new program called Club HeART.
“We want to publicly say thank you for being chosen as a recipient of the Sky is Green grant,” says Kasey Correia, Executive Director of Dancing Spirit. “The Sky is Green grant has made it possible for us to launch our newest program, Club HeART, an after-school art program that is reaching out to the future leaders in our community through arts and crafts activities, community service projects and family events.” Club HeART meets at the ELHI Community Center on Wednesday afternoons, 2:30-5:00 PM, for students age 5-12. Dancing Spirit plans to add a teen club in the near future.
“Out-of-the-box programming that keeps non-traditional students engaged in learning is key to celebrating each student and building self-confidence,” says Briggen Wrinkle, Executive Director of the Community Foundation. “We are excited to offer a boost to innovative education in rural Colorado.”
The remainder of the Sky is Green granting has been disbursed in Montezuma County. Recipients include:
- Battle Rock Charter School, $4,750 to introduce a summer arts program in 2019.
- Community Radio Project, $4,500 to support The Sunflower Theatre Troupe and KSJD’s production of Ray Bradbury’s The Martian Chronicles.
- Medicine Horse Center, $5,000 to enhance programs for youth working with horses to improve mental well-being.
- Montezuma Land Conservancy, $4,500 to expand programming in 2019 to engage more youth across Cortez.
- Southwest Colorado Canyons Alliance, $10,000 to implement cultural heritage education at Canyons of the Ancients Visitor Center and Museum.
- Southwest Colorado Open School, $5,000 for an experiential learning fly fishing program.
- The Pinon Project, $8,571 to support a Youth Empowerment Project After School Program.
“As I was opening the mail, I found myself staring in awe at a generous check from the Community Foundation,” says Matthew Keefauver, Director of Southwest Open School. “Our after-school fly fishing program is meant to engage and enlighten our students as we strive to make experiential learning a priority. This grant will go a long way in making a real difference in the lives of the kids we serve.”
Applications for future Sky is Green funding will open in the spring of 2019. To apply, organizations must be a nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization, or be a project or organization under the fiscal agency of a 501(c)(3) organization. Nonprofits will need to complete the online application, provide a budget, and produce a showcase that creatively represents the program.
As a community facilitator, the Community Foundation serving Southwest Colorado works to increase sustainability and success for nonprofits while maximizing effective grantmaking for philanthropists to make Southwest Colorado a better place to live. The Community Foundation serves Archuleta, Dolores, La Plata, Montezuma and San Juan Counties.