YOUR AD HERE »

Philanthropy Days –how to get $1 million

Cliff Thompson

If you had $1 million you wanted to give to a nonprofit organization, which would you choose?

The answer to that may lie in the first Philanthropy Days convention being held at the Vail Marriott Mountain Resort today through Tuesday.

More than 250 charitable organizations from Eagle, Lake, Pitkin, Garfield and Summit counties will have the chance to woo 50 deep-pocket private- and governmental-grantor organizations.



Some of the private trusts represent the fortunes from Colorado’s captains of industry who have turned over a portion of their fortunes to philanthropic endeavors: the Gates Foundation, El Pomar Foundation, Adolph Coors, Daniels Fund, Bacon Family Foundation and the Helen K. and Authur E. Johnson foundation. The Anschutz Family Foundation has been working with nonprofit organizations within rural communities since 1990 and this Philanthropy Days is the first time it has been held in Vail.

Participation in previous Philanthropy Days meetings has resulted in area nonprofits securing more than $1 million.

Support Local Journalism



The theme of the meeting will be: “Perception and Reality,” said Renee Ryman, coordinator of the event.

Tuesday afternoon, the nonprofits will have the opportunity to pitch the grantors on funding their organizations, Ryman said.

But that’s just part of the process. It will take nearly a year before organizations end up with cash in hand, Ryman said. The organizations will have to write grant proposals.

“The challenges will be for the non-profits to do their homework and to specify their vision and show their plans for their organizations,” Ryman said.

Cliff Thompson can be reached at 970-949-0555 x450 or cthompson@vaildaily.com


Support Local Journalism