West End Pay It Forward Trust
A nonprofit fundraiser supporting
Telluride FoundationA permanent charitable fund to improve the West End now and for future generations.
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raised by 0 people
$300,000 goal
6 years left
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2023 Community Grants
WEPIFT concluded its fifth annual cycle of Community Grants in the fall of 2023, awarding a whopping $19,500 ($6,000 of which was donated by Citizens State Bank of Ouray) to local organizations. Here are the recipients of the 2023 Community Grants:
The Basin Clinic to support their medication program.
Montrose West Recreation toward its general operating funds for recreational programming. Activities include summer and winter adventure camp, athletic camps and leagues, and new cheer and dance programs.
West End Theatre Collaborative to bring the Missoula Children’s Theatre to immerse area youth in a week of theatrics and two community plays.
Hoof & Paw to renovate its feline shelter.
Nucla Naturita Fire Protection District to purchase equipment to lower the ISO rating for Paradox and Bedrock residents (more affordable homeowner’s insurance).
True North Youth Program to continue its offerings for teens in the West End by providing academic support, workforce preparedness programming, and college/trade school preparation.
Nucla-Naturita Senior Center to support the salary of their cook in order to continue to provide meals to area seniors.
The San Miguel Resource Center in support of a West End Advocate locally based.
The Pinhead Institute to help fund its West End programs, including First Lego League youth robotics, No School Science Project at the Naturita Community Library, and Scholars in the Schoo
The West End Pay It Forward Trust is a simple and lasting way for you to make a difference in the West End. The trust is a permanent charitable fund to improve the West End now and for future generations. The trust was established in 2013, and after many years of fundraising was able to make its first grant in 2018. In 2019, the Trust held its first competitive community grants process, and is excited to continue grant making year after year. The trust serves Nucla, Naturita, Paradox, and Bedrock areas.
Funds donated to the Trust are put into a collective endowment, or “nest egg.” Interest gained from the endowment is reinvested in the West End community in the form of grants for community and economic development.
The Trust’s funds are pooled with other community funds within the Paradox Community Trust, a larger trust created by the Telluride Foundation to support smaller communities surrounding the Telluride area. Interest grows faster, administration fees are less, and the potential for matching funds to secure multi-jurisdictional state, local, and corporate donations is much greater.
The Trust’s Board of Directors give annual community grants to local West End organizations. For instance, this past Fall we awarded $6,700 worth of grants to various local nonprofits. Funds raised by the Trust will be used exclusively in the West End.