West End Pay It Forward Trust Announces Community Grant Opportunity
MEDIA CONTACTS
Contacts: westendpift@gmail.com
Sara Bachman; 970.865.2440; sara@bachmanlawllc.com
Jane Thompson; 970.428.7179; jane@nntcwireless.com
Paul Koski; 970.428.2276; pdkoski@gmail.com
West End Pay It Forward Trust Provides Grant Opportunity
Local Endowment Fund to Provide “Community Grants” with the Aim of Benefitting the Community
NATURITA, Colo. – (Aug. 1, 2020) – As the result of successful fundraising efforts and a growing endowment, the West End Pay It Forward Trust, working in partnership with the Citizens State Bank of Ouray-Montrose County Branch, is excited to announce that it is offering $10,000 total in community grants, with a maximum request amount of $2,500 per organization. This grant will be available to any nonprofit organization, local taxing entity, or organization working under the umbrella of a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that strives to benefit the community and its residents. Grants will be awarded to organizations for projects that focus specifically on the West End communities of Nucla, Naturita, Bedrock, and Paradox.
Organizations are encouraged to apply for a minimum of $500 up to a maximum of $2,500. For downloadable applications, please go to www.westendpayitforward.org or pick up a paper copy from Bachman Law, LLC at 140 E. Main Street, Naturita, CO. Applications must be received by October 31st, 2020 via one of the following options: mail a completed application to WEPIFT, PO Box 171, Naturita, CO 81422 or send an electronic copy to westendpift@gmail.com. You can also drop off a completed application at Sara Bachman’s law office at the address listed above. Applicants are encouraged to apply early. For questions, please contact the WEPIFT board at westendpift@gmail.com.
WEPIFT was created in 2013 with the mission to improve the West End communities now and for future generations. Its purpose is to create and grow a permanent, locally controlled endowment fund to support community and economic development projects. Interest generated from the endowment supports community projects and charitable causes. WEPIFT policy states that it will use 5% of the total endowment each year for grants to the community. Starting with only $400 in July of 2015, the WEPIFT board has now raised over $90,000 to date. This year, WEPIFT is partnering with Citizens State Bank of Ouray-Montrose County Branch, which contributed $4,000, and with the Hermitage Fund, in remembrance of Reverend Sylvester Schoening, which contributed $2,500 to make a total amount of $10,000 possible for it to distribute through community grants.
Recently, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc. generously donated $500,000 to WEPIFT to support economic and community development in the West End. WEPIFT will deploy this $500,000 by distributing $400,000 over the next five years through Resiliency Grants, which are a different grant opportunity and application process with a deadline of Aug. 31st. For more information about Resiliency Grants go to https://www.westendpayitforward.org/grant-programs. The remaining $100,000 will be invested into the Trust’s long-term endowment, which is used to help fund annual community grants. With the help of Tri-State’s donation and numerous generous individual and business donors, WEPIFT is now at the point where it can make substantial grants every year from the endowment fund.
WEPIFT will continue raising funds for its endowment so that it can keep providing an increasing amount of support to the community for many years to come. To make that possible, the Trust hopes to increase the number of donors who give monthly. Currently, WEPIFT is collecting approximately $700/month from donors who pledge a monthly donation through Citizens State Bank of Naturita or their primary bank. Donations of $10 per month make a huge difference! WEPIFT is a simple and lasting way for residents of the West End to make a difference in their community by paying it forward to help the community now and for future generations.
Currently, WEPIFT’s board includes Jane Thompson, Susan Rice, Paul Koski, Sara Bachman, Hank Nelson, and Alexander Price. If you are interested in learning more about WEPIFT or joining the board, please contact westendpift@gmail.com, look for us on Facebook, or visit westendpayitforward.org. The board also invites anyone interested to attend their meetings on the second Tuesday of every month at 5:00 p.m., which are currently being held as video-calls due to COVID-19. Please email the address above if you are interested in attending.