The Big Give: Making Philanthropy a Reality in Colorado.

My husband and I are a little obsessed with reality shows. Survivor, Amazing Race, Apprentice, Top Chef - and Matt’s favorite, Flip this House. When Oprah announced that she was bringing philanthropy to my favorite genre…I set the DVR immediately.

The premise, 10 people compete to ‘Give Big’ in a new city each week. With a couple grand in seed money for each challenge, contestants race to change the world. (Think ‘Amazing Race meets Extreme Makeover – Home Edition) For two weeks, I’ve rooted for all the contestants - truly good people who embody generosity, compassion and conviction. I’ve been touched and inspired by the families and lives they transform in a matter of days. Yet at the end of each week, it’s remarkably awkward to see the contestants being judged (and eliminated) for ‘not giving enough…or not giving it right’. (I hope they work this part out of the show…)

I will keep watching because when creativity meets generosity – anything is possible. Rachael (a contestant) gives big to women living with HIV/AIDS at Empowerment Program, Inc. She took these deserving women – many of whom feel forgotten – to a day at the Spa & dinner at Strings. I was not surprised when I recognized the restaurant interior - my friend Noel Cunningham, the owner of Strings Restaurant, embodies the Big Give.

What would you do to ‘Give Big’?

1. Volunteer – Find an agency that you care about at Metro Volunteers. They need you.
2. Give Online – We value every single dollar that is donated to us and/or one of our member agencies - Donate Now!
3. Do your own ‘Big Give’. Get some friends together, choose a project and do it together. (here's a great blog to help you get this going)
4. Write about what you would do with just a little bit of seed money…

- Debbie

Take the Polar Bear Plunge for Longmont Humane Society

Since 1993, the crazies at Longmont Humane Society have been putting their comfort on the line and raising money for homeless animals by participating in the annual New Year's Day Polar Bear Plunge at Boulder Reservoir.

If you are yourself a bit mad, feel free to join us. Go to www.longmonthumane.org to print out a hard-copy pledge form, set up an online pledge page - or you can just make a pledge for a lunatic plunger.
Call seven-time plunger Clay Evans, 303-772-1232, for a pep talk if you're thinking about it.....

And actually, it's not as bad as it sounds. You'll be amazed how quickly you can scramble out of 33-degree water when you really, really want to.....

- Clay Evans, Longmont Humane Society

Women In Business Network Luncheon

On November 9, 2007, over 30 professional women gathered at the Women in Business Network (WIBN) holiday luncheon and silent auction. The WIBN luncheon is produced by Business Connection Network (BCN), a group that was founded by Corrinda Campbell. According to Corrinda (or Cori, as her friends call her), the WIBN luncheon was started because the largest amount of people who live below the poverty level are women under the age of 65. The luncheon is a wonderful networking opportunity – there is time both before and after the luncheon to network, and each participant gets to introduce themselves and their company during lunch. There are no membership fees to belong to BCN – you just pay for the events you want to attend. I’ve met so many great women through these luncheons – Shelley Mesh of Mary Kay, Rebecca Saltman of A Foot in The Door Productions, Kristine Wells of RBizness, Dana Lynch of Elements of Image and Pam Pressel of Capabilities, just to name a few. Many of the women who attend own their own businesses, and it is an excellent opportunity to meet new women, share resources and support one another. And yes, there are some brave men who attend as well. Douglas Martine of Blacktie Colorado is a terrific supporter of the WIBN luncheons and is not afraid to sit at a table full of women!

The November luncheon offered a silent auction to benefit Community Shares and I had the opportunity to speak about inspired philanthropy and what Community Shares does. The auction raised $840 for Community Shares, and it was the largest amount raised from a WIBN silent auction so far. There have been various ways that nonprofits have been chosen to be the beneficiary – in 2005, the luncheon attendees voted which nonprofit organization out of 4 should be the recipient. I remember this well because there were at least 2 Community Shares member nonprofit agencies as choices -- The Gathering Place and The Adoption Exchange. It was at the luncheon in 2005 that I met Brenda Roush, the Vice President of Development for The Gathering Place, and I am so grateful to know her. Brenda is amazing – maybe that’s another blog entirely.

In the photo are Lisa Specht, who is a mortgage broker and a yoga instructor, who donated 2 monthly passes to Corepower Yoga to the auction; me, wearing a hand-made shawl donated by Morning Dove Designs that I purchased; and Andi Pearson (my mom!), with Primerica Financial Services, who donated a Silpada Designs sterling silver necklace to the auction.

Many thanks to everyone who participated in the luncheon – and many many thanks to Corrinda Campbell!

- Mary Snyders

Women's Bean Project selected for HGTV's Denver Rebuilding Project!

Starting immediately, Women's Bean Project will be featured as part of HGTV's Change the World. Start at Home campaign.

We need your votes! The four projects with the most votes will receive support funding and highlights of the work will be featured on HGTV. Be part of the change and vote for Denver! Bookmark the site - you can vote once each day from each computer from now until the voting ends in late December. Forward to your friends and family and get them voting too!

Winners will be announced January 1st during the HGTV's coverage of the Rose Parade.

Thanks so much for helping us with this great opportunity!

-Holly Woodbury
Development Director, Women's Bean Project

Choice in Giving

I just had one of those days where I really enjoy what we do. I love the idea that we don’t tell people WHAT to believe in, we just give them options to give. I gave 2 campaign presentations today, and at one of them, the Executive Director of the organization stood up and said that she gives through paycheck deductions and loves how easy it is. That’s why Community Shares exists – to provide people easy, convenient and no-hassle ways to give. Its so critical that our average donor gives $7 a paycheck – so many of us can afford that.

There are so many organizations out there that think everyone should give to them. The truth is, we all have different passions, different experiences, different causes we believe in… which is why Community Shares is so crucial. And so relevant! When I give my campaign presentations – and when I spoke at the Women In Business Network luncheon – I encouraged people to think about what they believe in and why. That makes giving so much easier… and it makes saying no easier as well. Its ok to say, “No, I’m not going to give to one organization because I am passionate about something else and I give my time and money to what I am passionate about.” Its also ok to give to organizations once a year, and in small amounts. I say this because I have a friend whose mother died of leukemia. So every year when she participates in a fundraising event for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, I give. But I don’t’ want to get on their mailing list, and I don’t want to be solicited by them otherwise. I want to give only because I care about her and she asks me. And that’s ok – I have every right to decide my own philanthropic giving and have my own personal reasons for it --- we are all entitled to that right.

- Mary Snyders

Help Denver Hospice win $5,000!

The Denver Hospice was recently selected by the KMART Corporation to participate in a Christmas Tree Decorating Contest along with 7 other non-profits. The winning organization will receive $5,000! We have a 1 in 8 chance of winning...pretty good odds with your help!

Helping The Denver Hospice win is simple. All you have to do is Vote!

Visit The Big K store (originally called KMart) at 9881 W. 58th Ave. in Arvada. You may view our tree in the Garden Center Department. Just look for the one that has all the hand-made ornaments that were made with love by The Denver Hospice employees. Please fill out a ballot naming The Denver Hospice as your choice of the best decorated tree. You and everyone you know are eligible to vote once each day for the next 3 weeks. Ballots will be available in the Garden Center and at the Customer Service Desk. Voting ends December 2nd at 9pm.

Please cast your vote today and each day thru December 2nd and support The Denver Hospice.

We thank you for your continued support!

Jennifer Hunter
Annual Giving Coordinator, The Denver Hospice

Urban Servant Corps Open House

The Urban Servant Corps invites you to our 20th Annual All Saints Open House on Sunday Nov. 4th, 2007 at 1660 Ogden St, the 100 year old home of 9 of our 17 full-time volunteers. Come for a tour of our historic house, introductions to our placement agencies and volunteers, and ideas about how you can serve in the city.
The Open house is from 12-4PM. Agency recognition at 1:45, Worship at 2pm and Annual Meeting at 3:00. Snacks and hospitality will continue all day.

We're hoping for a great turnout!

Thanks,
Laura Folkwein
Executive Director, Urban Servant Corps
303-894-0076

2007 Harvest Run

Community Shares is the grateful beneficiary of the 2007 Harvest Run/Walk, produced by local credit unions. Alyssa and I accepted the generous $15,000 check at a recent Credit Union Association dinner. This fun, family oriented event began with just 5 credit unions from Boulder and Broomfield Counties, and has grown to over 10 incredible credit unions this year. This event is a partnership on many levels - the credit unions who produce the event; the event management company; local sponsors and donors; runners, walkers and families; and of course Community Shares nonprofit member agencies. It is only through strategic partnerships like these that we can grow throughout this strong, vibrant community.

- Mary

Fundraiser for the Carriage House

Carriage House is having a big fundraiser tomorrow, October 16th, 6:30 at Nissi’s in Lafayette. FACE will be playing, and we will have silent and live auctions featuring travel (a week in a timeshare –national or international, a week in a condo near Durango, two nights at St. Julien’s with a spa package, a night at the Boulderado), jewelry, and lots of restaurant gift certificates.

Click here for more information and to purchase tickets

Hope to see you there!
Joy Eckstine
Executive Director - Carriage House

KGNU Fall Membership Drive

KGNU Independent Community Radio will hold its Fall Membership Drive October 17-27, 2007. There will be special programming, so please tune in! KGNU needs plenty of volunteer help around the station to make the drive go smoothly. There are various telephone operator shifts available from 6:45AM through 9PM, even later some evenings. Nonprofits can sign up for "group phone shifts" and get some extra on-air acknowledgment of their organization. If you can help please call me at 303-449-4885.

- Shawna Claiborne, KGNU Membership Director

El Pomar Award for Excellence

Congratulations to Judi’s House and Environmental Learning for Kids (ELK) for being selected as finalists for the El Pomar Foundation’s Award for Excellence! Judi's House was nominated in the Self Sufficiency category and ELK was nominated for the Environment category. Judi’s House and ELK, both Community Shares Member Nonprofits, join the company of twelve other finalists from the Denver metro area: Brent's Place, Colorado Neurological Institute, Denver Health, Denver Red Shield Community Center, Inner City Health Center, KIPP Sunshine Peak Academy, Phamaly, Special Olympics Colorado, The Listen Foundation, The Rise School of Denver, Third Way Center, and Young Americans Center for Financial Education. On November 28th, one of the finalists will be announced as the proud recipient of the Spencer and Julie Penrose Award for Outstanding Nonprofit.

Judi’s House was founded in 2002 by Brian Griese to provide grief support to children, ages 3 to 18, and their adult caregivers. Judi's House joined Community Shares in 2007.

Since 1996, ELK has provided classroom and experiential field activities to more than 40,000 at-risk youth and their families across the Denver metro area. ELK has been a member of Community Shares since 2005.

Be sure to look for Judi's House and ELK as one of your workplace giving options this fall.

Thanks to Tony Hodess of Judi's House for providing information on the El Pomar finalists.

- Kyle

No summer rest for nonprofits...

Yesterday as I was driving, traffic slowed and I found my car creeping next to a Mile High Youth Corp van. It was full of young people in grey t-shirts enjoying a few moments of cool and rest before a very hot day working on a public improvement project. I was reminded of how nonprofits are humming with activity during the summer months.

There are few slow days for nonprofits here in Colorado. Trail maintenance programs and environmental education programs are in full swing. Summer education and recreation programs, food banks, and services for the disadvantaged of all sorts see more and more clients in the summer. Summer is also a time for fundraising. The Bubbly at the Brewery Dog Wash (Longmont Humane Society), Summer Art Market (Art Students League), and Community Shares' own Harvest Run are all great examples of the fun and frenzy.

I am new to Community Shares, but not to the nonprofit sector. I have been struck in my first few weeks at how important workplace and incremental giving is. While each animal, human, environmental, social justice, and cultural service agency is working to positively impact Colorado - the giving goes on behind the scenes. How refreshing it is to know that when each nonprofit staffer is doing their most to bring positive change to their community they are backed by the small but incredible gifts that continue week in and week out. Paycheck deduction is lovingly given by someone who knows that their gift is adding to the rising wave of support that makes each program and effort possible. This is giving that is truly effective and important. Effective and important all year long, not just when the temperature rises we are all distracted by the call of that familiar mountain trail, the patio or grandma’s shady garden.

- Julie

Building "My Space" in a Global Community

Our upcoming program, the My Colorado Project, is an online giving site that empowers the most exciting characteristic of the next generation of donors - their interest in leveraging technology to connect, network, communicate and collaborate.We are moving Community Shares’ incremental giving model outside of the workplace and into the online, networked lives of young people.

Instead of building a one-size-fits-all young donor program, which ends up not fitting anyone, we are giving young people the tools to create their own giving program and following them where they take us.

Over the past six months we have been encouraging Community Shares supporters to redefine the word “philanthropist” to include all people who give. We are also recognizing how young donors are changing the face of philanthropy. Young donors are more diverse, more conscious of philanthropy and its role in commerce and society, and are talking to each other more than ever before via email, the internet, text messaging and other social media.

You’ve probably noticed a lot of organizations are using the word “my” lately to appeal to the post-Boomer generations. My Space, My Hub, My Ebay, My AOL, My Yahoo, and now, My Colorado. I believe the desire for Generation X to personalize and individualize our lives is no coincidence. The Baby Boomers were always “talking ‘bout my generation”. They knew they were opening doors, opening minds, and challenging boundaries. Forty years later, there are so few boundaries left. Is it any wonder that everything popping up today is about establishing “My Space”?

Rather than all of these “my”, “my”, “my”s being selfish or self-centered, maybe young people are just trying to regain a little control over the information they receive, who they let into their lives, and attempting define themselves when every one of our biographies is one Google search away from anyone in the world. Doesn’t it make sense that this generation is seeking to build a virtual picket fence, to try to re-establish some limits and boundaries to create a manageable space in this great big world?

Generational differences are a very real issue facing the philanthropic community and understanding why young people need to create a unique, defined identity and establish a manageable workspace is essential if we want to engage the next generation of donors and nonprofit leaders. My Colorado Project is not just about Generation X’s need for self-determination, it is also an affirmation that each of us can still make an impact.

-Alyssa

Thank you!

Thanks to our supporters and sponsors for joining us for our Summer Celebration! It was great to see everyone! Click here to see pictures from the event.

-Community Shares staff & Board

Final Habitat

I took my 11 year old son to the Habitat House dedication ceremony on Saturday. He didn't say much but I could tell he was soaking it all in. It was a pride filled event that ended with both families cutting a big red ribbon across their front doors and taking that first step into official home ownership. The new duplex sparkled in the June sun and the sense of accomplishment ran high. The Nguyen family had a spread of Asian food for the welcoming. Habitat's ED, Lori Vacavlik, has overseen the construction of over 200 homes in her tenure. What a great accomplishment...

- Jesse

People's Fair features Community Shares' Partners in Philanthropy

Thanks to Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods for another great People's Fair last weekend! For the past 36 years, People's Fair has showcased local nonprofits and provided them the opportunity to exhibit, distribute information, and raise funds for their important programs and causes.

It was great to see a number of Community Shares members take part in the Fair. ACLU, Planned Parenthood, Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition, Colorado Environmental Coalition, Sinapu, Habitat for Humanity, Empowerment Program, KUVO, Women's Bean Project, KGNU, Front Range Earth Force, and Project Angel Heart were among over 60 nonprofits in attendance.

The fair was also sponsored by Kaiser Permanente and attended by FireHouse Ventures, two great supporters of Community Shares and our member nonprofits.

The People's Fair aims to bring community together, which makes us proud to have so many of our partners in philanthropy participate in the event!

- Kyle

Rebels with a Cause

Over the last month I've had the pleasure of working with the staff and Board of Colorado Environmental Coalition (CEC) to plan their annual Rebel with a Cause celebration event. Each year this event highlights an individual who has worked to promote and protect the air, water and land of our state. Last night, CEC awarded John Fielder as the 2007 Rebel with a Cause for his photography of open space and wildlands in Colorado. Each of his images captures Colorado's beauty and speaks thousands of compelling words advocating for the environment. CEC also presented three Conservation Awards for outstanding environmental stewardship.

The passion and dedication shown by leaders in any field can be very humbling, inspiring and worthy of accolades. It's also important to recognize those that work behind the scenes to make a difference. This year, CEC made major strides to protect Colorado. Their work toward renewable energy, oil and gas reform, and water conservation deserves a great deal of respect. CEC supporters, staff, and Board are due many thanks and much appreciation by the state of Colorado. You are all perennial rebels with a cause!

Thank you!
Kyle

Building a House, Dedicating a Home

In January, Community Shares made a commitment to help build a house for Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver. Through February and March our Board, staff, friends, and volunteers from our member nonprofits and partner worksites all put incredible time and energy into the house. Now the house is complete and ready for the Nguyen family to move in. Habitat will be dedicating the home to the Nguyens this Saturday, June 2, 11AM at 4529/4533 W. Center St. Get Directions

For all that worked on the house, thank you! Come take a tour of the completed project and meet the family who will be living in the walls, floors, and roofs you built.

If you haven't volunteered for Habitat before, come out and see what a difference you can make by giving a day to a Habitat House.

-Kyle

Making your gift go further!

Community Shares values inspired philanthropy where people convert intention into action. Taking your community goodwill and putting it into action in a focused meaningful way. As you think about personally meaningful giving there are things you can do to leverage your community investment...

1. Consistent, long term giving is important. Consistent giving over time is very effective. The receiving nonprofit can plan more effectively, you will give more over time, and you will be more likely to see the return on your investment over the long term.
2. Give unrestricted funds as part of your giving. It is fashionable to ask “What percent of budget is spent on administration and overhead?” In other words, donors want all of their money to be spent on programs. There are good reasons for this but don’t force a nonprofit to invest in “program” only. Having a quality infrastructure is very important. Let the nonprofit decide where to best invest your dollars. Hold them accountable on delivering their mission and delivering quality programs but don’t “handcuff” them!
3. Participate in an employee giving program at your workplace. Payroll contributions through your company are a great way to give more money over time.
4. Ask your company to match your gift. Many companies will match your charitable giving to some extent.
5. Get your kids involved. Make philanthropy a family process! It makes giving money and volunteering fun and lays the groundwork for your kids to be the next generation of givers.
6. Get your friends and family involved in your cause! If you are passionate about something, tell your family and friends. They know you and will respect your interest. This leverages your individual philanthropy into something larger.
7. Venture Philanthropy. Groups like Social Venture Partners Denver can be very effective in making venture investments along with management, marketing, and IT expertise to nonprofits in startup phases.
8. Just do it! Every dollar counts just like every vote counts. It doesn’t take much to have a positive effect. Nonprofits are expert at leveraging every dollar. For example, $5 a month enables a sick child to visit a doctor twice a year at local nonprofit health clinics like Clinica Tepeyac.

- Jesse

Ambassadeering for Life

Congratulations to Project Angel Heart for the most successful Dining Out for Life ever, raising over $370,000! Alyssa was an ambassador at Montecito on 6th and Downing, while Beth and I were a few steps from the office at Wazee Supper Club. These were just two of over 360 participating restaurants this year donating 25% of all food sales to Project Angel Heart! It really is a lot of fun thanking diners for contributing to the cause and informing them of the great work Project Angel Heart does. The money raised on Thursday will help serve 375,000 nutritious, home delivered meals to 1,500 clients this year!

Project Angel Heart relies heavily on volunteers to make and deliver meals to their clients. If you're interested in volunteering, please contact Betty at 303-830-0202.

- Kyle