Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Startup Colorado

EIN 88-3487860 · Durango, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceGood84 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

STARTUP COLORADO SERVES TO HELP BOTH ENTREPRENEURS AND ECOSYSTEM BUILDERS ACCESS THE HUMAN, SOCIAL, AND FINANCIAL CAPITAL THEY NEED TO BUILD THRIVING BUSINESSES.

Income
$678,768
Spending
$751,601
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 48%
Employees
5
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$115,000, executive director

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

Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 49% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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

Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (4)
  1. $131,701 spent. ESTABLISH LONG LASTING, TRUSTED PARTNERSHIPS WITH OVER 250 NONPROFIT BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS RURAL COLORADO. ACT AS A SILENT PARTNER AND PROVIDE FREE, TAILORED CONSULTING TO OUR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP IDENTITY GAPS IN PROGRAMMING AND DIRECT SERVICES TO THEIR LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS. SUPPORT EXISTING GRASSROOTS INITIATIVES, SERVING A BROADER REGIONALITY AND ENCOURAGING DEEP COLLABORATION IN AN OTHERWISE COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE. PROVIDE PARTNERS WITH VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON ENTREPRENEURIAL EVENT SUPPORT, FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES, AND CROSS-PROMOTIONAL EFFORTS.
  2. $131,701 spent. PROVIDE 24/7 ACCESS TO STARTUP FOUNDERS WITH AN ON-DEMAND RESOURCE CENTER AND COMPREHENSIVE FUNDING DATABASE, ABILITY TO CONNECT 1:1 WITH PEERS, MENTORS AND CAPITAL PARTNERS THROUGH AN INTERACTIVE LIVE FEED AND PEOPLE SEARCH, AND ONGOING OPPORTUNITIES TO ATTEND UPCOMING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, NETWORKING, AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING ACROSS THEIR RESPECTIVE REGION OR INDUSTRY. PROVIDE DIRECT BUSINESS SERVICES, PEER MENTORSHIP, AND CAPITAL PARTNER CONNECTIONS TO EARLY-STAGE RURAL ENTREPRENEURS THROUGH A 4-WEEK PREACCELERATOR PROGRAM CALLED FOUNDER CO-PETITIONS.
  3. $131,700 spent. STARTUP COLORADO AWARDS INDIVIDUAL SCHOLARSHIPS TO RURAL ENTREPRENEURS THROUGH A VETTED APPLICATION PROCESS TO SUPPORT DIRECT ACCESS TO EDUCATIONAL AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES, HELP OFF-SET THE COST OF REGISTRATION FEES AND TRAVEL EXPENSES FOR TRADE SHOWS, AND CREATE PATHWAYS TO SELF-HELP INITIATIVES. STARTUP COLORADO FUNDS LOCAL GRASSROOTS BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM, INTENDED TO LAUNCH NEW ENTREPRENEURIAL INITIATIVES, EDUCATIONAL AND NETWORKING PROGRAMMING AND ACCESS TO MENTORSHIP IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES.
  4. $131,700 spent. PUBLISH STORIES EXPLORING THE TRENDS SHAPING THE RURAL BUSINESS LANDSCAPE, MANY OF WHICH HAVE BEEN FEATURED IN REPUTABLE NEWS PUBLICATIONS INCLUDING THE DAILY YONDER, 5280 MAGAZINE, COLORADO SUN, DENVER BUSINESS JOURNAL, NBC 9 NEWS, AND CPR. REACH OVER 10,000 ENTREPRENEURS AND BUSINESS SUPPORT AGENTS THROUGH OUR STORY-FIRST SOCIAL MEDIA AND EMAIL CAMPAIGN PROGRAMS.

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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since October 2022.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.