In 2021, United Way of Larimer County (UWLC) launched two cohort learning programs designed to strengthen our community’s systems for advancing equity through the nonprofit sector.
The Equity & Excellence Cohort helps grassroots and community-led organizations improve their grant readiness in an effort to maximize the impact of future rounds of pandemic-related response and recovery funding and other federal, state, and local grant opportunities through investments in these critical service providers. Eight organizations were selected to participate through a competitive process by a volunteer committee of community members with lived experience and expertise in equity-related topics. Participants received ten hours of formalized training and five hours of 1:1 consultation from Dondra Ward, President and CEO of Sidnae Global Research, a national grant consulting firm based in Maryland, as well as general operating grants from UWLC. The individuals representing the selected organizations, many of whom work as volunteers or part-time contractors, were also compensated for their time participating in the cohort.
The Culture of Equity Cohort supports more established nonprofits seeking to create a more diverse, equitable, inclusive, and just organizational culture. This program is facilitated by local expert Dr. Coronda Ziegler, owner of CoLou Consulting, LLC, who designed the curriculum to help participants build inclusive cultures within their organizations and communities. Six agencies were selected to participate in the six-month cohort alongside UWLC, which includes twelve hours of training in a group setting and eight hours of individualized consultation.
UWLC identified the need for an innovative approach to advancing equity through relationships with more than 70 local nonprofits and received $60,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funding distributed through Larimer County’s Immediate Needs grant program to support the pilot phase of the cohorts. The organization has since secured additional funding to continue both programs in 2023.
The cohorts serve to enhance UWLC’s existing Nonprofit Excellence programming, which provides services and resources intended to elevate the work of local nonprofits and amplify their impact in our community. Together, they address the immediate needs of Larimer County service providers facing obstacles in their pandemic response activities, as well as providing lasting benefits which prepare these organizations to succeed for the duration of the recovery process and beyond.
“Our United Way is committed to advancing equity in the local nonprofit sector because we believe that increasing access to effective, culturally-attuned resources is one of the best ways to improve outcomes for people and families in Larimer County,” said Morgan Carpenter, Director of Nonprofit Excellence at UWLC. “These cohort programs are an incredible opportunity for us to create change at a systems level and ensure that everyone in our community has the opportunity to thrive.”
To learn more about these cohorts and UWLC’s approach to advancing community impact by supporting local nonprofits, visit www.uwaylc.org.
