YVCF History

The Community Foundation began with a purpose. In 1979, a group of local citizens formed the Yampa Valley Foundation in order to save the financially beleaguered Yampa Valley College. By 1983 the Foundation had successfully saved what is now the Colorado Mountain College, Alpine Campus.

Between 1984 and 1995 the Yampa Valley Foundation served as a community based multi-purpose foundation, with a number of charitable funds and activities under the 501(c)(3) umbrella. In 1996, the Foundation reorganized and adopted a broader focus, adding ‘Community’ to its name and purpose. As a Community Foundation, the focus shifted to raising funds to grant money in the Yampa Valley to enhance education, arts, health and human services, recreation and the environment. The Foundation made this move by partnering with the Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation (SSRC). This partnership provided a ski pass program, the Passport Club, to the Community Foundation and the program is still in operation today. Funds are generated by selling Passport Club memberships are used to pay the administrative costs of the Community Foundation and supported grants.

Today, the Community Foundation stewards almost 200 funds including Donor Advised Funds, Scholarship Funds, Endowment Funds, Nonprofit Agency Funds and Field of Interest Funds. The Board of Trustees and staff of the Community Foundation continually form partnerships, advocate solutions and allocate resources for a better tomorrow for the Yampa Valley.