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Impact Fund2024-10-08T21:22:12-06:00

Giving Back 1% to La Plata – Locals Helping Locals

Local businesses in La Plata County have spearheaded the La Plata Impact Fund as a way to give back to the community where they succeeded.

In order to inspire meaningful contributions to the community, local area businesses are committing to giving back 1% of their gross revenues to make a significant impact to the health and well being of the place we call home. In the first year of the Fund’s existence, a minimum of 25% of the 1% pledge will be pooled and leveraged in order to make movement-building and long-term investments to help alleviate our community’s most pressing concerns. The La Plata Impact Fund seeks to be a change agent, driving funds to where they can make the biggest difference.

2022 Goal: Our goal is to engage businesses and individuals representing $400,000,000, or $4,000,000 in total giving with $1,000,000 of that amount dedicated to the Impact Funds’ investment in social equity as a way to support a fair and just society for the underserved and underprivileged in our community.

Who Can Contribute? While the pledge to give 1% was formed by local businesses in the La Plata County area, individuals wanting to make a difference are also encouraged to contribute.

Help us raise $1,000,000! We are 50% of the way there.

Take the Pledge.

Make an impact and join fellow business members in giving back 1% for good.

PLEDGE

Trail Map

Local businesses have identified a variety of issues to work on in the community. In 2022, social equity and affordable housing is at the top of the list, but a variety of important topics are waypoints in our future:

  • Social equity, the underserved, and social justice

  • Environment, planet and climate

  • Regenerative agriculture, farming, and local food

Why Pledge?

Not only does pledging 1% of your gross income make a meaningful contribution to society, it also demonstrates to your customers that you give back. Benefits to business owners include powerful branding and marketing opportunities that connect to your value-based customers. The La Plata Impact Fund is also a way for you to rest assured that your dollars are being directed toward systems change. The Local First Foundation will be vetting and working with the community to ensure we make the biggest difference possible. Finally, the Impact Fund is an extraordinary opportunity to leverage your contributions with others who have taken the pledge.

We are grateful for the following local businesses that have generously donated to the Impact Fund:

2nd Ave Sports
Durango Land & Homes
Durango Organics
Live Creative
Ore House
Pine Needle Dry Goods
Roll Ebike and Paddle Board

Sage Farm Fresh Eats
San Juan Hand Therapy
Shaw Solar
Table to Farm Compost
Tafoya Barrett and Associates PC
Tailwind Nutrition
Wheeler Consulting
Zia Taqueria

In the News

Take the Pledge.

The businesses above have already committed to the 1% pledge. Join your business colleagues to help us reach our goal.

PLEDGE

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I already contribute 1% and have groups I prefer to support?

The Impact Fund is meant to grow and expand existing giving rather than detract from it. If you already have issues and organizations that you support, we are encouraging you to keep supporting them! Our only requirement is that 25% of the 1% be set aside in cash for the Impact Fund that fiscal year. The 1% of your giving can be a combination of cash and in-kind support.

What organization is administering the Impact Fund and how will it work?

The Local First Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization that will be the fiscal sponsor for the Impact Fund. We are also the fiscal sponsor for the Durango Creative District and are set up in a way where we can handle the daily transactions and reconciling of funds, as well as create a restricted class to ensure that funds are managed responsibly. As the Impact Fund grows, it may choose to become its own organization at some point.

Who decides how funds are spent?

Local First Foundation staff will be vetting and working with the community on project ideas under the guidance of a steering committee composed of Impact Fund contributors. Any business or individual who has taken the pledge will have a voice in determining how funds are expended. This process is still being developed and feedback is welcome.

What is the focus area of the Impact Fund?

In 2022, the Impact Fund is focusing on social equity issues to serve the disenfranchised and underprivileged in our community. In 2022, we will be working on the housing crisis in La Plata County. Each year, the donors of the Fund may choose to focus on other issues based on the most pressing needs of the community at the time. It will be an open process and dialogue each year.

How are you going to affect real systems change?

Our philanthropic model is to pool larger amounts of funding (between $500,000 and $1,000,000) to a small number of groups in order to invest those dollars on a particular issue and/or project and provide meaningful capacity to institute change. This is different from the philanthropic model of giving small amounts of funding to a larger number of organizations and issues. We also intend to support the groups we are working with based on their most pressing needs, rather than requiring that they meet a set of criteria set forth by our group. In this way, dollars are invested in the most meaningful manner possible.

If I take the pledge, how long is the commitment for?

A pledge made before September 1, 2022 is a commitment for the 2022 calendar year. Businesses can choose to recommit to the program each year by December 31st for the following year.

Impact Fund Visionary Kickstarters

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