Surface Creek Community Fund In Action

$15,000 Distributed in Grants

Thanks to funding partners, the Town of Cedaredge, and generous local donors, nine area nonprofits received a total of $15,000 in grant awards from The Surface Creek Community Fund (SCCF). The SCCF selection committee reviewed over $43,000 in requests and awarded grants ranging from $750 to $3,000.

Doris McGuire, one of the founding members of SCCF, noted “The competitive grant process demonstrates that funding is needed for many worthwhile projects in our area. The selection committee had a thoughtful and deliberate discussion in selecting awards for the funding we had available. The Surface Creek Steering Committee is working to build this fund to create permanent support for the nonprofits who work to improve the quality of life for our communities.”

The committee awarded funding to the following organizations for 2023:

• Cedar Harbor/Angel Tree
• Cedaredge Community Gardens Association
• Grand Mesa Arts and Events Center
• Grand Mesa Nordic Council
• Little Sprouts Community Preschool
• Surface Creek Animal Shelter
• Surface Creek Community Services
• Surface Creek Valley Historical Society
• The Nature Connection (Delta County School District 50J)

Nakai-Eaton-Clipman Trio

SCCF First Benefit Concert

In June, the Surface Creek Community Fund hosted its first benefit concert featuring legendary Native American flutist R. Carolos Nakai, harp-guitarist, William Eaton, and pan-global percussionist, Will Clipman. This GRAMMY® nominated trio performed music on handmade and unique instruments.

The all-star group drew in over 200 people and helped raise more than $5,000 for the Surface Creek Community Fund.

A big thank you to all of the donors, sponsors, and attendees for the success of this event!



Partners in Philanthropy

Town of Cedaredge and SCCF Celebrate Partnership

For many years the Town of Cedaredge was motivated to find a viable option to allocate funds fairly and efficiently to the many deserving non profits operating in the Surface Creek Valley.

When the Town's Board of Trustees learned of WCCF's Surface Creek Community Fund (SCCF) and its competitive grant process, the decision to support that Fund was an easy choice for the Town to make. Since 2021, the SCCF has granted $22,500 on the Town’s behalf.

"The Town appreciates the partnership with the Surface Creek Community Fund," said Town Administrator Kami Collins. "This partnership allows Cedaredge to support nonprofits in the area by matching Town funds with other donor funds, resulting in more dollars allocated through a competitive grant process."

Grand Mesa Nordic Council

New Warming Hut

The Grand Mesa Nordic Council (GMNC) has a big vision for the winter sports community in western Colorado. In 2022, GMNC was a Community Foundation’s Dreaming Forward grant recipient, receiving funding to support a significant technology upgrade that allowed the organization to modernize its event registration platform with critical features that support real time input for trail conditions and grooming reports.

Now that it’s through a technology conversion, GMNC is moving ahead on building its first permanent structure with funding from multiple WCCF Donor Advised Funds. The Skyway Cabin, located at the Skyway trailhead, will serve as a warming hut, community gathering place, and a basecamp for races, lessons, and youth programs. The building is designed with a solar energy system that will fully support the building along with GMNC’s electric grooming equipment.

While, GMNC has been impacted by increased construction costs and delayed timelines with the forest service, the organization is hopeful that ground breaking can be scheduled for mid-summer 2024 and that the warming hut will be open for the 2024-2025 ski season. To learn more about the project, email Executive Director Christie Aschwanden at christie@gmnc.org  

Grand Mesa Arts & Event Center

Supporting their Capital Campaign

Our friends at the Grand Mesa Arts & Events Center recently completed a capital campaign to purchase the building just a few months before celebrating their 5-year anniversary of opening the space. Executive Director, Jo Carole Haxel, shared that funding from Western Colorado Community Foundation through the Dave and Mary Wood Fund and the Surface Creek Community Fund were instrumental in ensuring that the current location would remain its home for a long time to come.

“Because of the incredible support of this community and all of Western Colorado, we are forging ahead with an expansion of both space and programming opportunities in 2024,” Jo Carole said. “The amazing journey continues!”