Colorado is home to 28,097 nonprofits. Our state ranks 16th in nonprofits per capita, and metro Denver ranks 10th among large metro areas.

With so many nonprofits doing good work throughout the state, it's important that we remember to give back. Currently, Colorado's giving rates (3.1%) are lower than the national average (3.4%). If Coloradoans gave at the national rate, it would increase philanthropy in our state by nearly $500 million a year and help sustain critical safety net programs provided by the nonprofit sector.

On December 4, Colorado Gives Day is mobilizing the community to support nonprofits through one day of online giving. Last year, this initiative raised $12.4 million for 928 nonprofits. I encourage you to help beat last year's numbers by donating to the Leadership Foundation's scholarship fund, or any other organization that you support.

And this month's Alumni Spotlight features LD '08 alum Alec Rhodes, who recently launched a new online venture to help nonprofits with sustainable, long-term fundraising. He's thinking innovatively about motivating people to give, and we hope his idea catches on!

As we kick off the holiday season, it's the perfect time to show graditude to our family, friends, and the many organizations that work to make Colorado a better place.

Enjoy your Thanksgiving!

Be inspired,
Tameka Montgomery

Inspired by Alec’s work? Check out the organizations mentioned in his profile 
________________________

Faithful 500 Foundation  is currently in the pilot phase, but organizations interested in starting a campaign can request more information.
________________________

Cheley/Children’s Hospital Burn Camp  accepts monetary donations to fund scholarships that help send kids to camp.
________________________

Colorado Youth At Risk  provides training and program support for people interested in serving as mentors, and the organization has opportunities for volunteer committee service.

Alec Rhodes (LD '08)

Alec Rhodes is thinking innovatively about the way nonprofits fundraise

A longtime supporter of Colorado Youth At Risk, a local nonprofit that empowers teens through mentoring programs, Alec Rhodes served on the organization’s board of directors when it was more than $50,000 in debt and considering closure.

“At that point, we had 17 board members, and we had a meeting to decide if we were going to shut our doors,” says Rhodes, who is senior vice president at Cassidy Turley Real Estate. “We lost ten board members that day, but there were seven of us who said that we wanted to keep things going. I took over the chairmanship, we formed an executive committee, and it was a day-by-day, hour-by-hour crawl up out of that hole.”

Read full story

Apply for Legacy Denver
Vic Ahmed, Cathey Finlon, James Griesemer, Jill Tietjen, and
former Mayor Wellington Webb serving as 2013 dialogue leaders

We are excited to announce that the LEX selection committee overwhelmingly chose Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as our 2013 Leadership Exchange destination. The program is scheduled for October 3-5, 2013.

Why Pittsburgh?

Pittsburgh is "...a world-class city...It has transformed itself...and serves as a model for turning the page to a 21st century economy." - President Obama, G-20 Summit

1. Once an iconic steel town, today’s Pittsburgh has re-emerged as an industry diverse, culturally vibrant region attracting national attention for its economic and environmental renaissance. In fact, Pittsburgh has recently been named the “most livable city in the nation” by The Economist.

2. Pittsburgh’s population is growing. After rebounding from a major population exodus in the 1980s, downtown Pittsburgh now employs more workers than during the height of the steel boom.

3. Strong regional cooperation and public private partnerships have drawn companies such as Google, Apple, Disney and Intel to the region. Many of the nation’s largest companies also have a Pittsburgh presence, including PNC Financial, H.J. Heinz Company, Marcellus Shale, Alcoa, Comcast, Bayer, Del Monte Foods, FedEx Ground, Sony Electronics and US Steel Corporation.

4. Pittsburgh is home to more than 35 institutions of higher education, including the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon. Higher education, in partnership with the private sector, is successfully growing the region’s tech, health, life sciences and advanced manufacturing industries through collaborative incubators and world-class R&D centers.

For more information about the 2013 LEX program, please contact Kirsten Vermulen.