Across the Denver metro area, there are small nonprofit organizations adding another page in the history of our region’s success.
The Chamber’s annual Business Awards luncheon presented by Colorado Business Bank recognizes organizations in our community that make our region a great place to live and do business.
Get to know our Small Nonprofit of the Year finalists in their own voice, sponsored by Families Forward Resource Center.
Established: 2009
What we do: Cocktails for a Cause, a women’s organization, hosts events supporting local charities and educates women on their missions. Guests bring items selected by the honoree charity. We serve dinner and drinks, showcase the charity and feature a local woman-owned business.
Best part of my day: The best part of my day at the office is getting to tell a charity that they have been chosen to be the recipient at one of our events. They are filled with gratitude when they realize what they will be receiving. It’s truly a great day when I make those pleasantly surprising calls to our chosen charities!
Did you know:
- We have women from the ages of 21 to 65+ attending our events.
- We love that our attendees come from all income levels. They make $29,000 or less to over $150,000 annual income.
- We have given over 354,515 items valued at more than $344,000 to over 23 charities in just six years.
- Our average donation of in-kind gifts is around $90 per attendee.
RAFT Colorado (Resource Area for Teaching)
Established: 2009
What we do: RAFT embraces teachers as the primary catalyst for bringing the power of real hands-on learning to students. RAFT collaborates with Colorado businesses, community members and education organizations to provide teachers with affordable tools, ideas and learning experiences to inspire the next generation of thinkers, innovators, problem-solvers and creators.
If my business had a super power it would be: A teleportation machine for our members and material donors! A cloning machine is a close second.
We love doing business in Colorado because: Professionally, I love that RAFT is in Colorado because the business community is so generous and forward-thinking, and because our state is a national leader in education. RAFT’s work aligns perfectly with this energetic, innovative environment.
Rocky Mountain MicroFinance Institute (RMMFI)
Established: 2008
What we do: RMMFI is a community creating economic and social mobility through entrepreneurship. RMMFI helps curious people transform into serious entrepreneurs through personal, entrepreneurial and business development support. Faced with personal, financial and structural barriers to success, RMMFI entrepreneurs build businesses to achieve self-sufficiency and a greater sense of self-worth.
Best advice received: An investment in yourself is an investment in others.
Fun traditions our team has: We shut down the office four times each year for “Fun Day” to get out in the community to volunteer, support an RMMFI entrepreneur business and finish off the day with great food and drink. The tradition started very early in RMMFI’s history when we didn’t have enough to pay ourselves, but recognized the need to have a good time while doing great work.
Please join us on Friday, April 29, to see the winners announced live at the 2016 Business Awards.
Maggie McEntee is the digital communications and brand manager for the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce.