By: Joshua Silberstein, CEO, SVP Boulder County
Social Venture Partners is committed to supporting the amazing nonprofits that work to care for our community right here in Boulder County. With over 2,700 nonprofits serving 350,000 people, one thing is clear: we, as a community, care and are committed to supporting our neighbors and, as with our arts organizations, providing beauty to uplift us collectively.
Right now, we are navigating many challenges as uncertainty looms. Our neighbors in the midst of immigration processes feel unsafe going to work and school. Our LGBTQ+ community, especially Trans individuals, are facing daily threats fueled by media narratives. SNAP and other benefits risk being sunsetted, intensifying food insecurity, while cuts to childcare and education add to the strain. Will arts organizations, as they were during COVID, once again be pushed to the back of the line for funding? Or can we proactively ensure they remain supported while addressing urgent community needs?
There is one overriding solution for how to approach these challenges and the fear and uncertainty they create in our daily lives. It is vital that we continue to come together to support our most vulnerable community members. Engaging with friends and the broader community strengthens our mental well-being, and by standing united, we can protect the rights we are fortunate to have here in Boulder County.
So, how do we do this? One of the greatest strengths of our county is the robust network of nonprofits that provide a critical safety net. We need to continue to support our nonprofits without a doubt. Now is an ideal time for donors who have Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) to give more than usual. This will help nonprofits to remain steady as uncertainty and anxiety in the system continues to erode support. As a community, we can ensure frontline organizations remain financially strong while also safeguarding arts organizations from being left behind. Government officials can play a key role by maintaining funding pipelines to nonprofits while advancing affordable housing initiatives.
Now is the time to show up for our community and for us all to take part in the resiliency needed to care for one another. Some of us face discrimination because of where we are from, how we were born, or our religious traditions. Some of us are experiencing or may experience challenging times financially and we will need to make use of the safety net that surrounds us. Let’s continue building a community known not only for its natural beauty but also for its compassion and care for one another.
Photos in collage provided by our nonprofit colleagues: PLAY Boulder Foundation, Boulder Philharmonic, Longmont Museum, and Women’s Wilderness
