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Community Foundation Serving Southwest Colorado

EIN 84-1474900 · Durango, CO

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

To develop and increase charitable giving that connects donors to community needs in Southwest Colorado and to support the nonprofit sector through granting and educational opportunities.

Income
$4.3 million
Spending
$4.8 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
13.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 85%
Employees
9
Highest pay
$128,397, executive dir.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 13.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 30% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 29% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. $3.6 million spent. Nonprofit Support - The Community Foundation is committed to maximizing the full potential of our region's nonprofits and bolstering the vibrancy of Southwest Colorado. We invest and manage contributions in the five counties we serve: Archuleta, Dolores, La Plata, Montezuma, and San Juan. We facilitate effective grantmaking for donors to ensure our region is a great place to live, work, learn, and play. In addition, the Community Foundation provides local, affordable professional development workshops and learning opportunities for nonprofit organizations in our region. We work closely with our nonprofit community to identify needs and find experienced professionals to offer hands-on training to increase capacity. Our organization feels strongly that the more effective the nonprofit sector is, the better investment it is for our philanthropists.
  2. $334,788 spent. FISCAL PROGRAMS - The Community Foundation administers fiscal sponsorship relationships with approximately ten charitable organizations or projects that do not have their own 501c3 tax-exempt status. We extend our charitable umbrella over select projects whose missions closely match our own in order to catalyze their work for the benefit of our community. Fiscal sponsorship is an efficient, economic way to reduce the cost of running a project while maintaining the integrity of the projects purpose. There are significant benefits and cost savings for projects to utilize the Community Foundation for certain activities, such as donation management, accounting, bookkeeping, insurance, and banking. (Current fiscal projects include Bear Smart, Caf au Play, Cancer Coalition of Southwest Colorado, Durango Derailers, Early Childhood Council of Archuleta County, Earth Day Durango, Give a Dam, Sail Durango, and The Community Treehouse.)
  3. Events - The Community Foundation hosts events for various purposes, including (1) grantmaking, (2) fundraising, and (3) community awareness. (1) The 19th Hole Concerts are a grant opportunity for nonprofits in Archuleta County. Selected nonprofits practice vital skills, such as grant writing, marketing, and event logistics. Through these popular concerts, the nonprofit grantees share their important work with the community and earn much-needed grant funds. (2) The Community Foundations largest fundraising event is the Durango Wine Experience, where we host wine vendors from around the world and produce a fun, shoulder-season festival each spring. Since we prioritize nonprofit support in all our projects, we ensure Wine Experience attendees get both a taste of wine and a taste of the impactful work that the Community Foundation and other local nonprofits accomplish. (3) The Community Foundation created the Making a Difference Speaker Series to align with our core values. We commit to annually bringing in nationally known speakers to talk about their philanthropic endeavors, prompting community awareness, conversations, and actions around significant, timely topics. (Related fundraising amounts from our events are reported on Schedule G.)

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since October 1999.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.