Together, we’ve supported basic needs, youth and families, the arts, outdoor places, and so many efforts that make this community stronger. A notable figure in this effort, long-time Ouray resident Dave Wood played a significant role as a founder, board member, and legacy donor of our regional Community Foundation, helping lay the foundation for the impact we see today. 

We believe deeply in the power of place-based giving. When people invest where they live, meaningful change follows. Thanks to donors who have established a wide range of charitable funds with WCCF, nearly $2 million has been distributed to organizations serving Ouray County since 2005.

This is the ripple of generosity in action! 

If you’re inspired to join this legacy — by creating a fund of your own or contributing to one that already exists — we’re here to help you take the next step with confidence. Together, we can continue shaping a brighter future for Ouray County and all who call it home. 

The Sibold Family Fund

Rooted in Ouray County  

When Kay Sibold moved to Colorado in 1969, she already felt at home. Having vacationed on the Western Slope as a child, she carried a lifelong affection for this landscape and the people who care for it. “Living in Colorado was my dream,” she says. That deep connection to place eventually inspired the creation of the Sibold Family Fund, established in 2018 to support the needs and opportunities she sees across Ouray County and beyond. 

Kay’s giving is grounded in a simple belief: we are all part of something bigger than ourselves. “I’ve always appreciated the quote, ‘To whom much is given, much is expected.’ I feel this so strongly that I’ve encouraged my grandchildren to always look for where they can give in their community.” 

Today, the Sibold Family Fund focuses on supporting school-aged children—particularly programs that strengthen their education, health, and wellness. Kay has a heart for young people facing challenges related to mental health and the growing addiction crisis across the Western Slope. Her grants help local nonprofits create safe, supportive environments where youth can learn, grow, and thrive. 

Working with the Western Colorado Community Foundation deepens that impact. Kay values that every organization recommended to her is thoughtfully vetted and truly rooted in local needs.

“WCCF introduces me to good work and projects I would never find on my own. Giving in this manner brings me joy.” 

From helping one young person at just the right moment to strengthening programs that reach hundreds, Kay’s giving reflects the best of Ouray County—deep roots, generous hearts, and a shared commitment to caring for this remarkable place we call home. 

In 2025, uncertainty hit nonprofits across Western Colorado with significant shifts in government funding threatening programs that serve the most vulnerable. The Western Colorado Community Foundation (WCCF) stepped up to meet the moment — and hunger relief was at the forefront. 

For years, WCCF has funded the Ouray County Food Pantry, supporting their mission to provide consistent, reliable access to food for families and individuals in need. This year, that partnership grew stronger. As part of WCCF’s Meet the Moment funding efforts, the Food Pantry received a grant to help meet rising demand for emergency food assistance and respond to unexpected challenges quickly. 



This grant is part of a broader, region-wide effort. When SNAP benefits lapsed due to a federal government shutdown this fall, hunger relief organizations faced an urgent gap. WCCF responded quickly, mobilizing nearly $100,000 in emergency hunger relief funding. These rapid response grants were part of our total funding commitment of almost $1M for hunger relief across our seven-county region in 2025.

Local Community Funds are one of the ways Western Colorado Community Foundation (WCCF) helps activate and amplify generosity across our region. Built in partnership with local leaders, these permanent charitable endowments create steady, lasting support for programs and organizations serving their communities—now and for generations to come. 

Founded in 2016 by a dedicated group of Ouray County leaders, the Ouray County Community Fund (OCCF) has grown through the generosity of community-minded donors who care deeply about the place they call home. Since its inception, the fund has awarded more than $400,000 in grants, ensuring meaningful impact throughout Ouray County year after year.

Thanks to the generosity of Citizen State Bank and local donors, the Ouray County Community Fund (OCCF) recently awarded $46,600 to 19 nonprofits strengthening the wellbeing of Ouray County. 



WCCF is honored to support this year’s grant partners:

• Cedar Hill Cemetery District
• Community Options, Inc.
• Fortuna Tierra Club
• Friends of Youth and Nature
• George and Michael Gardner Fund
• Home Trust of Ouray County
• KVNF Community Radio
• Minerva West
• Mount Sneffels Education Foundation

• Ouray County Ranch History Museum
• Pinhead Institute
• Ridgway Chautauqua
• Ridgway Independent Film Festival
• San Juan Film Institute
• The Trust for Land Restoration
• Tri-County Health Network
• Upstart: Theater that Moves
• Voyager Youth Program
• Weehawken Creative Arts 

Nonprofit awardees and committee members at the

November 2025 OCCF Grantee Award Ceremony.

Since 2022, the Western Colorado Community Foundation has invested more than $95,000 in the Home Trust of Ouray County, including continued support from the Ouray County Community Fund. Our funding helps create and preserve affordable housing through projects like the Ouray Triplex Project, River Walk Rentals, the Sherman Street Community Building, and the Ouray Six-Plex Renovations.

In 2025, Home Trust launched its ambitious Affordable Housing Advancement Campaign to raise $1.4 million to sustain key projects and continue meeting urgent housing needs. To bolster this effort, WCCF provided a $50,000 challenge match through the Dave and Mary Wood and Bruce Dixson Funds—an investment that inspired the community to raise an additional $50,000.

Challenge matches like this amplify local generosity and help ensure that Ouray County residents have access to stable, affordable housing—today and well into the future.



We’re pleased to introduce two new members to the Ouray County Community Fund (OCCF) committee—Sara Martinez and Gary Ratcliff—and to welcome Ouray resident Jenny Hart as a member of the Western Colorado Community Foundation regional Board of Directors this year. 

Rooted in generations of family history, Sara Martinez has called Ouray home for 27 years. Now raising her own daughter here, she’s committed to helping preserve the supportive, close-knit character that keeps local families thriving. Her love of the land—whether foraging, sky watching, or swimming—shapes her desire to nurture the next generation of Ouray residents. 

Bringing both creative and professional depth, Gary Ratcliff is known locally for his landscape photography but spent much of his career as a university administrator leading student life programs and community-building efforts. His longtime involvement with nonprofits—from Habitat for Humanity to the Sherbino—reflects a strong belief in strengthening the places he calls home. He’s eager to help OCCF support education, arts and culture, housing, and local conservation. 

Joining WCCF’s Board this spring, Jenny Hart adds another layer of local insight and leadership. A resident since 1995 with family roots stretching back generations, Jenny taught at Ouray School for 24 years and has been active in organizations like Ouray Mountain Rescue. Her deep connection to the community and passion for bringing people together make her a wonderful addition to WCCF’s regional leadership. 



Together, Sara, Gary, and Jenny bring a shared commitment to Ouray County and strengthen our efforts to support local families, organizations, and community priorities. 

"It is an honor to sit on the board of WCCF. As a member of the grants committee, it has been amazing to participate in awarding grants to very worthy organizations. Western Colorado is lucky to have an organization like WCCF to support its nonprofits."

Sara Martinez

Gary Ratcliff

Jenny Hart

Giving by Check or Donate Online 

Please make checks payable to Western Colorado Community Foundation and include the name of the Ouray County Community Fund in the memo line. 

Mail to: 

WCCF 

P.O. Box 4334 

Grand Junction, CO 81502 

If you’re exploring the idea of creating your own charitable fund, please contact Vickery Hall at 970-243-3767, or email vhall@wc-cf.org.

Stock Gifts and Year-End Deadlines 

For gifts of stock or other securities, please initiate the transfer with your financial institution by December 12 to help ensure assets arrive by December 31. And please let our Development Team know a transfer is on its way. 

Learn more about our Year-End Giving Deadlines and Holiday Hours here. 

Learn more at www.wc-cf.org