Vail Daily column: If you want it done right …
Vail Valley Partnership
We all know the saying, “If you want it done right, then do it yourself.”
With all due respect to those who believe this rather old-fashioned viewpoint, you’re wrong. If you want it done right in today’s ever-changing world, then partner with someone.
A perfect example of partnering with others in order to do something right is the group of nonprofit organizations here in Eagle County working collaboratively under the banner of Eagle County Gives (eagleco gives.org).
Specifically, consider their work around the annual Colorado Gives Day. Colorado Gives Day is an initiative to increase philanthropy in Colorado through online giving. Founded in 2010, Eagle County Gives is a coalition of more than 36 Vail Valley nonprofits dedicated to strengthening the collaboration, fundraising capacity and awareness of the nonprofit sector that enhances the quality of life in Eagle County. Together, this group strives to increase the awareness of the collective impact of nonprofit organizations on our community; they have banded together to increase total local donations on Colorado Gives Day and year-round. Support for Eagle County Gives provides 40 local organizations the means to provide basic human needs, protect the mountains you explore, and develop and protect the next generation.
Nonprofits exist to serve market niches — and to provide important community services — that are not cost effective for the for-profit industry to pursue. Nonprofits serve a very important role in our current society, with one of the most important roles being improving our quality of life.
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Less Effective, Less Efficient
These organizations provide the perfect example of how “doing it yourself” is less effective and less efficient than partnering with someone (or in this case, partnering with 40 other nonprofit organizations).
As background, Colorado Gives Day 2014, the fifth Colorado Gives Day, will take place during a 24-hour period on Tuesday. In 2011, on Colorado Gives Day, $125,000 was raised to support nonprofits in Eagle County. In 2012, over $450,000 was raised, and last year, a remarkable $690,000 was raised in Eagle County.
On Tuesday, our community has 24 hours to help the nonprofits of Eagle County. On this day, the entire amount of your gift will go directly to your charity choice. Impressively, 100 percent of every donation goes to charity thanks in part to FirstBank and other community sponsors who help offset credit card and processing fees. The Eagle County Gives executive committee has been working with organizations in the community to support the Eagle County Gives Coalition. Local sponsors including East West Resorts, others in the hotel community and numerous groups in the restaurant community have banded together to help ensure credit card expenses will be paid in full.
Importance of Nonprofits
Nonprofits exist to serve market niches — and to provide important community services — that are not cost effective for the for-profit industry to pursue. Nonprofits serve a very important role in our current society, with one of the most important roles being improving our quality of life. For sake of discussion, let’s call “quality of life” the general wellbeing of individuals and/or communities.
Our community wellbeing would suffer without local nonprofits focusing on our cultural offerings and enhancing our best in class brand. These groups include Bravo! Vail, Vail Symposium and Vail Valley Foundation.
Our community wellbeing would suffer without local nonprofits focused on our natural environment and protecting our watersheds and mountains. These groups include Betty Ford Alpine Gardens, Eagle River Watershed Council, Eagle Valley Land Trust and Walking Mountains Science Center.
Providing for Our Future
Our community wellbeing would suffer without local nonprofits focused on our children and providing a better place for them to thrive. These groups include Early Childhood Partners, Eagle River Youth Coalition, EFEC, Family Learning Center, Ski & Snowboard Club Vail and The Literacy Project.
Our community wellbeing would suffer without local nonprofits focused on helping people through tough times, illness or other hardships. These groups include Bright Future Foundation, MindSpring Health, CanDo MS, Habitat for Humanity, Red Ribbon Project, Roundup River Ranch, Salvation Army, Vail Valley Charitable Fund and the Vail Veterans Program.
Donate, Donate, Donate
Each of these groups (and more) are working collaboratively to prove once and for all that the “if you want it done right, do it yourself” model is not nearly as effective as the “if you want it done right, partner with someone” model.
Don’t forget to donate online on or before Tuesday at coloradogives.org or eaglecogives.org and search for the 40 nonprofits located in Eagle County to “give where you live” and support the non-profit organizations that help make this community such a great place by doing their part to improve our quality of life.
Chris Romer is president and CEO of the Vail Valley Partnership.
