Why Attend?

The Benefits

• Increased support from grant makers to rural communities
• Elevated recognition by rural community members of the value of the nonprofit sector
• Improved collaboration between rural nonprofits, local government, and local businesses
• Enhanced skills and knowledge of rural nonprofit professionals
• Improved understanding of rural Colorado by grant makers
• In the most recent cycle of RPD events, 14 major private foundations in Colorado increased their giving to the rural regions by an average of 140% from a $13 million average to $32 million

Civic Leaders and Elected Officials

In addition to providing an opportunity to connect with your own community's leaders and committed citizens, RPD also helps city and county officials to make connections with rural Colorado's primary investors. As state and local tax revenues remain unpredictable, public leaders can use RPD to connect with dozens of potential philanthropic investors. City Council members, County Commissioners, School Board leaders, Mayors, Town Managers and Superintendents all reap tremendous benefit from attending RPD.

Funders: State and Federal Agencies, Private and Community Foundations

Rural Philanthropy Days is the state's premiere opportunity for funders to connect with hundreds of rural constituents, and with each other. Discover new community partners in rural Colorado, and explore new opportunities to leverage your resources with other institutions. Come to Rural Philanthropy Days and learn about the region from those leaders who are the closest to it-- those involved in the challenges and opportunities, problems and solutions which make each region unique. Funders attending Rural Philanthropy Days will also build direct relationships with nonprofits in the community, thereby helping their own organization advance their grant making mission. Program Officers, Agency Directors and staff, Foundation CEOs and Trustees all benefit from attending Rural Philanthropy Days.

Nonprofit Professionals and Volunteers

Rural Philanthropy Days provides a wide variety of professional development and fundraising opportunities for rural nonprofits who are located within the Northeast Region. At no other event in Colorado can a nonprofit professional access everything offered by RPD: take part in nonprofit-specific workshops and trainings, learn about successful collaborations taking place in your own community, build new partnerships across the nonprofit and government sectors, and network. Nonprofit representatives attending RPD walk away with stronger skills, better networks, and solid leads for new funding sources.

One of Many Success Stories From Previous Northeast RPD:

"Sterling Public Library benefited from attending Rural Philanthropy Days in Burlington. Through the event I was able to talk with possible funders about our capital project. They were able to give me information as to their funding our project. This saved valuable time for both the funder not receiving an initial request and for me in not preparing it. The funders also gave valuable information about their agency that aided my preparation of a formal request.

Sterling Public Library received funds from DOLA, Gates Foundation and Boettcher Foundation for our $2.5 million project. Our expansion and renovation of the library included adding 5576 sq. ft and renovating the existing $10,000 sq. ft. With this project the library was able to expand the children’s area, add a teen area, enhance technology available, increase size of community room and create a warm inviting atmosphere."
-Sandy Van Dusen
Library Superintendent