The Yampa Valley Community Foundation has made a $500,000 loan to the Yampa Valley Sustainability Council (YVSC) toward the purchase of their new permanent headquarters in downtown Steamboat Springs.

The purchase and move were made possible with contributions from generous individuals and organizations, including a partnership with Alpine Bank. The new headquarters helps YVSC meet its mission to serve as a leader, catalyst, and resource for building a sustainable and resilient Yampa Valley region.

This loan was the Foundation’s fourth investment since the launch of the Impact Investment program in 2023 but the first toward a project other than affordable housing. Impact investments are those made to local nonprofit organizations with the intention of generating measurable community benefit alongside modest financial returns, aligned with YVCF's mission of leading transformational change throughout the Yampa Valley.

The purpose of this new Fund is to support Routt County public school districts and public charter schools and expand the local educator workforce pipeline. The Fund was created through a partnership with all five public school entities in Routt County and hopes to increase the local educator workforce by incentivizing retention through professional advancement opportunities and supporting recruitment of aspiring educators. Grants from the Fund will provide targeted support that will help local schools fill critical staffing gaps and invest in their current teachers and staff who wish to pursue further education and training.

An anonymous donor is encouraging donations to the Fund with a $50,000 match through August 31. The more the community contributes, the more staff the “Grow Your Own” Fund will be able to support each year—and the more stability will be brought to the educator ecosystem across the entire county. For more information, please reach out to Traci Hiatt.

Photo: Hayden High School scholarship awardees

The spring 2025 scholarship cycle recently concluded and, thanks to over 140 fund advisors and committee members, YVCF awarded $494,400 to 117 students in or from the Yampa Valley. Scholarships support a wide variety of students:

• $246,000 for graduating seniors
• $58,200 in award renewals
• $190,200 for current undergrads/non-traditional students

Grantee schools include trade schools and certification programs, community colleges, and 4-year universities. We wish our students the best of luck!

To learn more about scholarship opportunities through YVCF or to support post-secondary education through scholarships, visit yvcf.org/scholarships or email Scholarship Program Manager Jenny Campbell.

The Yampa River Fund Steering Committee has announced seven grants totaling $278,945.60 for projects that benefit the river and its tributaries.

The goal of the Yampa River Fund, a designated endowment fund of the Yampa Valley Community Foundation, is to establish a sustainable, voluntary funding source for the Yampa River to enhance water security, support a healthy, flowing river, enhance critical low flows, and maintain or improve river function. Now in its sixth year of operation, this was the largest number of grants and total dollar amount so far.

The seven projects and grantees chosen are:

• 2025 Yampa River Environmental Release Program – Colorado Water Trust
• Morgan Bottom Connectivity Project: Phase II – Friends of the Yampa
• Yampa River Forest Restoration Project – Yampa Valley Sustainability Council
• Nonlethal Beaver Management in the Yampa Valley – Friends of the Yampa
• Wet Meadow Restoration on Conserved Lands to Improve Watershed Health – Colorado Cattleman’s Agricultural Land Trust
• Stillwater Reservoir Drain, Collar, and Channel Replacement Project – Bear River Reservoir Co.
• Duquette Diversion Hydraulic Modeling – Community Agriculture Alliance

The Routt County Climate Action Collaborative Fund has awarded $50,000 to four local organizations for environmental projects as part of its first-ever round of grant awards. The fund, held at YVCF, was created to support local projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and thus implement the Routt County Climate Action Plan.

Grant awardees include BookTrails, Northwest Colorado Council of Governments, Strings Music Festival and Routt County Riders. Read more about the projects funded HERE.

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