Establishing a Digital Equity Fund
We created a Digital Equity Field of Interest Fund at Community Foundation Boulder County.
Innovative Digital Equity Fund
The creation of this new fund expands the capacity of Community Foundation Boulder County to serve nonprofits in the digital equity space.
Community Foundation Boulder County has worked with donors, nonprofits, civic leaders, and community members to meet the evolving needs of the Boulder County community. In total, the community foundation has granted more than $171 million.
Their Field of Interest Funds allow donors to target gifts to causes important to them; for example: animals and environment, the arts and culture, children and youth, civic engagement, education, health and human services — and now, digital inclusion, an cause area that Community Foundation Boulder County hasn’t previously been resourced to address.
"Working with 35 Mile High foundation is an honor. They care deeply about the impact of their work and are very strategic and thoughtful in their philanthropy. They bring fresh ideas to the field and are consistently reflecting on how to improve their approach, and how to make broader and deeper impact. They are innovators, problem-solvers and are well poised to tackle the complex challenges they seek to address. I applaud their work and it’s a pleasure for the Community Foundation Boulder County to partner with them."
Helen Gemmill
Director of Development, Community Foundation Boulder County
Multiple Benefits
This fund significantly enhances efforts to promote digital inclusion in several ways.
- Collaborative Efforts: The fund creates an opportunity to bring nonprofits, businesses, government, and community members together.
- Flexible Funding: Under advisement of a committee of digital equity experts, Community Foundation Boulder County directs funds to where they will do the most good at the time of giving.
- Long-term Sustainability: This is a permanent fund set up to create impact far into the future.
- Community Engagement: Because the fund is establishing a new cause category for Community Foundation Boulder County to operate in, they are able to connect with new people and organizations in their community.
- Capacity Building: Having a permanent fund increases the resources available to Community Foundation Boulder County to develop and advance a digital equity program.
- Resource Leveraging: Funds can be used to compliment funding from other organizations to create opportunities and multiply impact.
Project Goals
The aim of this project is to expand Community Foundation Boulder County capabilities to support nonprofits across the county that address digital inclusion. Prior to the establishment of this fund, there weren’t field of interest funds dedicated to this specific cause.
By establishing a permanent fund through Community Foundation Boulder County’s Field of Interest Fund approach, we are able to work with them to develop and execute a program for working with organizations in this cause area today and for many years to come.
Get the Latest News in Your Inbox