Deborah Jordy Leadership Arts Scholarship Fund

Throughout their time in the program, the 2024-2025 Leadership Arts cohort has been raising funds for the Deborah Jordy Leadership Arts Scholarship. Each Leadership Arts cohort is tasked with fundraising for scholarships that will be awarded to the following cohort. The 2024-2025 cohort's goal is to raise $10,000 to ensure that CBCA has a robust scholarship fund to award to the next cycle’s participants.

About Leadership Arts

Colorado Business Committee for the Arts (CBCA)'s Leadership Arts program brings together dedicated community members from across Colorado to learn about board service in the arts and cultural sector. For 25 years, CBCA has developed community leaders through the Leadership Arts Program. This unique nine-month program equips and inspires professionals to become board members and cultural and arts champions. There are over 1,100 Leadership Arts graduates, many of whom serve in leadership positions ranging from governing boards to working committees with local and regional organizations. They serve as cultural advocates for the interaction between the arts and business communities.

Deborah Jordy Leadership Arts Scholarship Fund

Named after CBCA's former executive director, this scholarship fund is committed to ensuring that nonprofits are led by diverse, effective, and inspired board members and that financial resources are never a barrier to participating in the Leadership Arts program. The fund provides full and partial scholarships to as many Leadership Arts participants by recognizing great leadership potential and encouraging the inclusion of a diversity of perspectives through advancing arts and culture. Program graduates have served in 700 volunteer positions and continue to serve the Colorado arts community. 

The Deborah Jordy Leaderships Arts Scholarship Makes a Difference

Leadership Arts has given me the tools to be a great board member and has taught me more about the role that nonprofit boards can play in advocating for social equity issues, such as LGBTQ+ rights. The curriculum of Leadership Arts is invaluable to being a responsible and well-rounded board member, but because of the costs it would have been out of my reach to participate. I am grateful that the Deborah Jordy Leadership Arts Scholarship Fund exists to guarantee that all kinds of leaders have access to this program. It has been a great way to build relationships within the cohort and be a leader who represents every kind of Coloradoan.  

--Tessa Chrisman, Art Students League of Denver