COLORADO SPRINGS — El Pomar Trustees approved $82,000 allocated to 11 nonprofit organizations and government agencies in the San Luis Valley region at the Foundation’s May Trustees meeting. Through the Foundation’s grant making process, the following organizations were awarded grants: 

• Boys and Girls Clubs of the San Luis Valley, Inc. (Alamosa) – $2,000 for the Little Learners Early Childhood Academy; regional merit
• Care and Share, Inc. (Colorado Springs) – $7,500 for the San Luis Valley Care and Share Mobile Food Truck program; regional merit
• Community Resources and Housing Development Corporation (Westminster) – $15,000 for the San Luis Valley housing development program; competitive
• Costilla County (San Luis) – $10,000 for supplemental and emergency food programs; competitive
• Creede Repertory Theatre, Inc. – $20,000 for audio equipment upgrades; competitive
• National Veterans Hiring Association (Alamosa) – $3,500 for general operating support; regional merit · North American Folk Music and Dance Alliance, Inc. (Alamosa) – $5,000 for the Sundays at Six concert series; competitive
• San Luis Valley Board of Cooperative Educational Services (Alamosa) – $5,000 for the San Luis Valley Educators' Conference; regional merit
• The HadaNou Collective (Denver) – $5,000 for the Shooting Stars Cultural and Leadership Center; regional merit
• Tu Casa Incorporated (Alamosa) – $6,500 for general operating support; regional merit · Upper Rio Grande Animal Society (Monte Vista) – $2,500 for general operating support; regional merit

Founded by Spencer and Julie Penrose in 1937, El Pomar Foundation has an established legacy of general-purpose grant making. The competitive process remains the Foundation’s primary vehicle for organizations to receive funding. Additionally, over the last 88 years, El Pomar has either developed or been entrusted with the stewardship of a number of other funds, as well as presenting merit grants in each region recommended by Trustees and regional council members. Competitive applications are accepted on a rolling basis. 

In an effort to increase impact and establish connections across the entire state, the Regional Partnerships program was established in 2003. Each of the Foundation’s eleven regional councils advises El Pomar Trustees and recommends grants to help support its communities. The San Luis Valley Regional Council recommends grants to Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Mineral, Rio Grande, and Saguache Counties. Council members are regional leaders in the business, nonprofit, and public sectors and provide first-hand information about current needs in their own communities. 

To view a full listing of El Pomar’s funds and grant making areas, please visit our website at www.elpomar.org/grant-making/.