Telluride Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Telluride Foundation supports early childhood development, education, environment and animals, athletics, arts and culture, health, and human services in the Telluride region of Colorado.
FUNDING AREAS: Early childhood development, education, environment and animals, athletics, arts and culture, health, human services
IP TAKE: This is a very active grantmaker with a lot of wealthy local donors who continue to fuel the foundation’s grantmaking capacity.
PROFILE: Established in 2000, the Telluride Foundation is a community funder based in Telluride, Colorado. Telluride Ski Resort owners Ron Allred and later Hideo “Joe” Morita started the foundation with 13 individual contributions of $100,000 each. Since then, it has been nationally recognized fourth most active grant maker in the U.S. The foundation aims to “improve the quality of life for those who live, work, and visit our community.” It funds local efforts for early childhood development, education, environment and animals, athletics, arts and culture, health, and human services.
The Telluride Foundation has a community grants program that is accessible to local nonprofits. Through this program, it funds early childhood efforts for school readiness, as well as 21st century education skills for children and adults. It prioritizes the protection and preservation of the environment and animals in nature. Other interests are participation in art experiences, participation in athletics that lead to life skills, life-long health of residents, and a safety net that builds opportunity. For safety net support, the Telluride Foundation established the Good Neighbor Fund for the emergency assistance of local families and Energy Outreach Colorado to help low-income families pay their energy bills.
Grants range between about $1,000 and $100,000. Learn more about this funder’s local giving by browsing the funder’s grants database. Grantmaking focuses on San Miguel County, including Rico, Ouray, and West Montrose counties. Past local grantees include Mountain Medical Center, Rico Trails Alliance, West End Economic Development Corporation, and Wide Sky Arts Collective.
This foundation accepts unsolicited grant applications from nonprofits. In the past, the deadline has been in October. The Telluride Foundation typically hosts a webinar for prospective grant seekers, and then applicants must submit their paperwork via online system. Direct general questions to the staff at info@telluridefoundation.org or 970-728-8717.
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