After decades of office moves, desk hopping and scrambling to find adequate meeting spaces, the Yampa Valley Community Foundation finally has a place to call their own. A state-of-the art building now sits on the corner of Fourth and Oak Streets, thanks to the generosity of many donors.
The organization began as The Yampa Valley Foundation in 1979 to financially save what is now Colorado Mountain College Alpine Campus. Over subsequent years they continued to benefit the community by working with a number of charitable funds and activities. In 1996, they reorganized, renamed to the Yampa Valley Community Foundation, and moved their focus to raising funds “to grant money in the Yampa Valley to enhance education, arts, health and human services, recreation and the environment.”
Fast forward almost 30 years and the community foundation stewards about 200 funds including donor advised funds, scholarship funds, endowment funds, nonprofit agency funds and field of interest funds.
As the organization grew, the need for adequate space to enhance efficiency in their mission became more critical. When past board member Barbara Winternitz and husband Boyd Bass offered to donate the land, serious discussions took place with donors and community stakeholders about pursuing the idea of building.
“Our work is mostly meeting based with elected leaders, donors and non-profits,” said chief executive Tim Wohlgenant. “We wanted a comfortable place for people to come and talk about their passions and philanthropy.”
A $3 million fundraising campaign ensued to cover the $2.7 million building cost, with a further $400,000 generated for a building endowment fund. The organization engaged Mountain Architecture Design Group to get the ball rolling. “Architecturally, we wanted to embrace the transition from commercial-style architecture along Lincoln Avenue to the Old Town residential architecture of Oak Street and into the neighborhood beyond,” said Chancie Keenan, Principal and Architect. “We wanted to incorporate a strong porch element, and simple roof forms historically found along Oak Street – without creating a false sense of period. I believe we accomplished this balance with the simple form and a few edgy details; it feels current.”
Local developer and philanthropist Paul Brinkman served as the client liaison for the project at no cost to the organization, a service he has done for other building projects in the community. “I left my day-to-day job in 2017 and this allows me to give back to non-profits,” he says. Brinkman could see the importance for the foundation of having a visible designated base, while providing a pleasing work environment for the team.
Sustainability was paramount for the design and choice of materials. The design team made the most of a 40% tax credit for installing a geothermal heating system. Picking Contracting Inc. ensured the all-electric powered property used high value insulation and triple glazing for the extensive number of windows.
The two-story building, which took one year to build, is a mix of office space, staff kitchen and conference room on the ground level. Commissioned glass work by local artist Jennifer Baker fills the transition area at the base of the stairway to the upper floor. A large meeting room, kitchen and small offices are all available for use by the community at no cost.
Since opening the front doors in October 2023, the property is already seeing the vision for it come to life.