Community Foundation’s annual matching fundraiser benefits local non-profits

 

The sixth annual Community Spirit Campaign sponsored by the Wet Mountain Valley Community Foundation kicks-off today, with more than $30,000 set aside to match donations from the public to Custer County non-profit organizations.

Since the Spirit Campaign’s inception in 2004, approximately $600,000 has been raised and distributed to local non-profit organizations. Last year, virtually every one of the 50-plus 501(c)3 organizations headquartered in Custer County received funding through the campaign.

Under the campaign, individuals, families or businesses can make financial contributions through the Community Foundation to any local non-profit organization that holds formal 501(c)3 status. Then, additional funds from the Community Foundation and other sources are used to match those public contributions, thus ratcheting up the individual donations.

This year, the Community Foundation has set aside $20,000 for matching purposes. Additionally, the Denver-based Anschutz Foundation has contributed $10,000 for matching purposes. And so far, a Canon City family with a weekend cabin here has added an additional $750 to the matching fund.

Last year, nearly 500 donors contributed $122,600 to local charities. Individual contributions ranged from $5 to $5,500. By the time the campaign concluded, local non-profits received total contributions ranging from about $15 to more than $20,000.

The matching funds are applied to a maximum donation of $500. Larger donations are accepted and are pro-rated accordingly.

As in previous years, the rules are simple:

­Donors must use the current campaign form which appears elsewhere in this week’s Tribune, or which is available on the foundation’s website at www.wmvcf.org.

­Checks must be made out to the WMVCF, and on the form, the donor designates the amount to be distributed to each organization.

­The designated non-profits must be headquartered in, or directly serving residents or visitors to, Custer County, Colo. The organization must have formal 501(c)3 status from the IRS, or be a qualified government entity (such as the library, fire protection district or school).

­To qualify for the matching funds, all donations must be made received by the Community Foundation by today, Nov. 19, through Thursday, Dec. 31. Funds will be distributed to the various non-profits in early 2010.

­All checks must be made out to the Wet Mountain Valley Community Foundation (WMVCF), and sent, along with the form, to the Foundation at P.O. Box 718 in Westcliffe.

All contributions are tax deductible as allowed by law. Due to IRS regulations, churches and other religious institutions, as well as fraternal organizations, do not qualify under the campaign.

More information about the campaign, as well as about many of the local non-profit organizations, can be found on the foundation’s website.

The Community Foundation was established in 1999 thanks to a generous donation from the Richard and Audrey Stermer family. Since its inception and through its various programs, the foundation has distributed more than three quarters of a million dollars to local non-profit organizations which enhance and support the arts, education, public safety, recreation, health care, historical preservation and other public services.

For more information, contact board president Jim Little at 783-2361, or any other board member: Arlie Riggs, Don Kaufman, Randy Rusk, Butch Gemin, Don Hopkins or Will Sibbald.