NoCo Foundation (Community Foundation of Northern Colorado)

Meet Kathi! Kathi has been a member of the NoCo Foundation Board of Trustees for the past year. Learn more about Kathi below! Profession: Retired as Executive Director of Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County Why do you choose to invest time in NoCo Foundation? What brings you joy or reward in your service? Observing how purposefully the NOCO Foundation is working to ensure those who have funds are connected to community needs. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? Grant freedom to each, and then take your own. What's your favorite weekend activity? Listening to live blues music, especially outdoors. #NoCoFoundation #CommunityIsOurBusiness #MeetTheBoard

Community Intersection: Sheltering and Caring 🏡 Sheltering and Caring includes not only housing, which provides shelter within our communities, but also looks at how vulnerable populations are being protected without our region. This community intersection focuses on housing and housing affordability, the aging population, healthcare, and childcare. Check out some stats centered around sheltering and caring that can be found in the Intersection Report: - All major towns and cities in Larimer and Weld counties are growing rapidly. - Cost-burdened renters in Larimer County are 60% and 50% in Weld County. - Cost-burdened homeowners in Larimer County are 36% and 39% in Weld County. - In 2023, the total population of unhoused individuals in Northern Colorado reached 822. - A 2021 healthcare labor market report predicts a shortage of nearly 54,000 healthcare workers in Colorado by 2026. - In the last year, Colorado health insurance premiums have risen between 10-20%. - The cost burden for a household with two children in Larimer County is 31% of the median household income and about 26% in Weld County. - In 2019 workforce strategy report for Larimer County estimated a shortage of approximately 1,000 early childhood teachers. To get more details on the Community Intersection of Sheltering and Caring, learn about the challenges, and see the pressure-relieving work being done, check out the full Intersections Report here: https://lnkd.in/gwfQsGAa #NoCoFoundation #CommunityIsOurBusiness #NoCoIntersections

We're #hiring a new Accountant in Fort Collins, Colorado. Apply today or share this post with your network.

“I am excited to teach in my very own classroom and build an atmosphere where students are comfortable and excited to learn." Joey Gerk, a Ruth Henderson Scholarship recipient, recently graduated from the University of Northern Colorado and started his teaching career at Wiggins Elementary School. Through the Henderson Scholarship, Joey was able to focus on his studies and fully invest his time in his academics, learning how to be the best educator possible. Scholarships can help shape the future of students who may face barriers when it comes to attending college. You can read more about Joey Gerk and the Henderson Scholarship here: https://lnkd.in/gfGWCFb9 Don't forget to subscribe to receive our future newsletters! #NoCoFoundation #CommunityIsOurBusiness #ScholarshipSuccess

⭐Nonprofit Newsflash!⭐ Since 1982, Respite Care, Inc has provided child care and enrichment for children with developmental disabilities. Previously, they could only accommodate one child in a wheelchair and three additional children on field trips. Thanks to their generous supporters and The Green & Gold Guard, LLC, they were able to get a new van that enabled them to take two children in wheelchairs and seven additional children on exciting field trips! Learn more about Respite Care at https://lnkd.in/g75qMt2h #NoCoFoundation #CommunityIsOurBusiness #NonprofitNewsflash

Meet John Chapdelaine! John is the Director of the Eastern Colorado Office and has been on the NoCo Foundation team for almost 8 years! While John's office if located in his hometown of Haxtun, CO, he visits the Fort Collins office from time to time and brings a positive energy with him that is hard to match! Read on to learn more about John! What is a nonprofit you are passionate about and why? Personally, I'm very passionate about my church, school, and local hospital. I serve on many local boards and am a proud member of our local Lions Club. It's vital we share our gifts for the betterment of our rural communities. As our foundation has partnered with so many regional nonprofits, my passion has expanded to the missions of these organizations who serve so many. What’s your superpower in the workplace? Positive Encourager—My positive, caring nature makes everyone feel important and special. I always have a laugh and a smile to share. My mission is to use my energy, enthusiasm, and intelligence to inspire and motivate others to be more positive and productive in both their personal and professional lives. What are the best pieces of advice you’ve ever been given? Matthew 6:33—But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. And, the only things we control in this life are our behavior and our attitude. It all comes down to the choices we make. Choose to make a positive impact on the lives of others! Choose to be GREAT! What's your favorite weekend activity? I enjoy spending time with family and friends as we ride Harleys, fish, or golf. When the weather isn't cooperating, I enjoy watching sports. Recently a new addition joined the family, my grandson, Slade. I'm so looking forward to spending time with him! John and the Sterling Community Fund, a fund of the NoCo Foundation, will be hosting their annual fundraising event on October 5 at the Logan County Fairgrounds! The Game On! Fundraising Event will feature casino games, cornhole, live music, a live auction, and so much more! Learn more about this event and purchase tickets today: https://bit.ly/3yBZEKv #NoCoFoundation #CommunityIsOurBusiness #MeetTheTeam

Community Intersection: Nourishing 🌱 Nourishment is one of the most basic, but important, indicators of well-being on both an individual and regional scale. The intersections of agriculture, energy, water, and food nourish our region, but challenges in these sectors have increased pressure in recent years. Check out these stats surrounding nourishment in Northern Colorado: - $2B - The total market value of agricultural products sold in Northern Colorado, the bulk coming from Weld County. - Nearly 30% of the state's agriculture production is from Northern Colorado. - USDA's National Resources Inventory showed a decrease in the amount of agricultural land between 2007 and 2017. -3.5% for Weld County and -2.8% for Larimer County. - Colorado Ranks among the Top 10 state for total energy products. - Agriculture represents the largest water use in the states, using more than 80% of our total annual water usage. - Food insecure neighbors are 3.2x more likely to be in poor health and 4x as likely to report poor mental health. To get more details on the Community Intersection of Nourishing, learn about the challenges, and see the pressure-relieving work being done, check out the full Intersections Report here: https://lnkd.in/gwfQsGAa #NoCoFoundation #CommunityIsOurBusiness #NoCoIntersections

Meet Nicole! Nicole has been a member of the NoCo Foundation Board of Trustees for the past two years. Learn more about Nicole below!   Profession: Market President at FirstBank   Why do you choose to invest time in NoCo Foundation? What brings you joy or reward in your service? I am proud to be a member of the Northern Colorado community. I have been able to attend college at CSU, raise our children, and spend nearly three decades working in banking in this area. I am honored to serve the community that has given me so much. I am engaged with the NoCo Foundation because they are committed to excellence in stewarding philanthropy and stepping forward to collaborate and lead through challenges we face. NoCo Foundation creates lasting impact and has an inspiring vision for the future.   What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? “Treat things as an opportunity, not an expectation.” Life is a gift and it is more fun to see the silver linings and appreciate the lessons learned versus focusing on the storms and negative outcomes.   What's your favorite weekend activity? We have a wonderful backyard—a true oasis. I love it when all my kids are home and together. You will find us outside on the deck, sharing food, listening to music, and maybe playing a little badminton.   #NoCoFoundation #CommunityIsOurBusiness #MeetTheBoard

Make-a-Will Month is almost over! While Make-a-Will Month is the perfect time to create or update your will, this task can be done at any time throughout the year. And you can always decide to include charitable giving in your will and leave a lasting legacy. Whether or not you created or updated your will this month, we hope you started thinking about what kind of legacy you want to leave behind! To get more information, please contact our team at [email protected]. #NoCoFoundation #CommunityIsOurBusiness #MakeaWillMonth #LeaveALegacy

The Intersections Report focuses on the intersections of "who we are" and "where we want to go." There are six key intersections where pressures and opportunities meet. Nourishing: the process of providing essential nutrients, resources, care, or positive influence that contributes to overall health and vitality. Sheltering and Caring: the process of providing a place of respite and protections, enabling individuals to find temporary or permanent relief from adverse circumstances. Transacting: the process of exchanging goods, services, or information with the intention of fulfilling a particular need, desire, or objective. Connecting: the process of sharing a common experience, state, or bond with others, which may include spiritual, emotional, or cultural connections. Beautifying: the process of enhancing, improving, or adorning to emphasize desirable features and/or to express significance, meaning, or value. Renewing: the process of continuing and bettering our communities through civic engagement, philanthropy, and volunteerism. In the next handful of Intersections posts, we will break down each of these intersections further, highlighting pressure areas, stats, and work being done to relieve those pressures. Check out the full Intersections Report here: https://lnkd.in/gx7vkMZq #NoCoFoundation #CommunityIsOurBusiness #NoCoIntersections