How are you soaring these days? SOAR is the acronym for developing relationships. It focuses on the way you SHARE your message and OFFER opportunities for people to be involved in what you do. It is also the way you ACCEPT a person’s participation in your mission and then, how you RESPECT them afterwards. SOAR is the basic framework for being a good steward of your work. This is valuable for any business to know, but SOAR’s nonprofit cooperative focuses on helping nonprofits during this process.

One of the best things about Teller County is the large number of nonprofits we have. The groups host events and serve the people in many positive ways. I went to a number of fundraising events during the holiday season, and some were well attended, but others were not. Here’s a crazy fact: the bigger the communication network you have, the better at fundraising you become. It is important for your circle of influence to overlap with other circles. One way to do that is to join the SOAR network and spread your word.

SOAR caters to nonprofits through training and fundraising in the Teller Country area. A group of nonprofits choose to join the cooperative for $36 a year and then the focus widens as they each learn about what the other is doing. There is also an opportunity to be part of collaborative fundraisers, which is when three nonprofits work together on a signature event in Woodland Park. Each group involved usually raises $3,000-plus during a collaborative event, and the work is cut into thirds.

There are six meetings a year for SOAR and each one has a training for nonprofit work.  Nonprofits also share information about their upcoming events and the large communication network of one nonprofit becomes the LARGER communication network of many!

The training in January is “AI and Digital Marketing” if you’d like to be involved. Each training is followed by an open discussion. This is a great way to get insight from people who are already experienced in something you are planning.

SOAR promotes collaboration and developing relationships with other nonprofit groups. Recently, “Building Ute Pass Communities” invited two of our organizations to collaborate on marketing for the first weekend of December. SOAR’s Lights Above the Clouds Parade and Tweed’s Holiday Home Tour were showcased with Yule Days in Green Mountain Falls and the same was done in return. The expansion of the communication network was powerful and each organization saw an increase in participation for their respective events.

Consider joining SOAR as a support group for nonprofit leaders. You join an abundant circle of experience and success. The next meeting is at 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 13 at 400 W. Midland Ave., suite 100, in Woodland Park. The cost to be involved is $36 per year.

Gayle Gross has been in Teller County since 1999. She has convened nonprofits since 2019 through a group called SOAR, which is now raising money through collaborative fundraising. She also owns Reserve Our Gallery and opens the space for people to use for meetings and classes. Contact Gayle Gross at iwantto@soarwithnetworkfundraising.org or call 719-233-9902 for more information.