Spring in Teller County is when SOAR begins to sort things out for the rest of the year. First, SOAR is a number of nonprofits who gather every two months for a 75-minute training. The group has met consistently since October 2018 and the meetings act as a support group for nonprofit leaders.

The number of nonprofits in the group fluctuates and is currently on the rise as we brush off the dust of COVID. Yes, it has taken six long years for things to feel like normal again. Thank you to the nonprofits who have stayed with the program and to those who have returned or just joined for the first time.

SOAR’s mission it to help nonprofits be successful. One of the ways we do this is to sort out positive strategies for fundraising. A nonprofit raises money for their services in order to help the community. SOAR brings collaborative fundraisers to the community to help nonprofits but it also helps everyone involved. Basically, three nonprofits partner on one community event in order to raise funds. They each take a major role in planning the event but as they work together the project becomes more manageable. SOAR has two of these community events already happening and a third is scheduled to begin this year. The third is a golf tournament during Oktoberfest in September.

SOAR meets bimonthly (6 times per year) in Woodland Park. The next meeting is on May 18 at 9 a.m. at 400 West Midland suite 100. Melody Klema Campbell is attending the meeting to talk about the City of Woodland Park’s event spaces. Another special guest from Edward Jones will give insight about charitable giving. SOAR meetings are the perfect opportunity to be with like-minded people and to collaborate on resources, activities and ideas.

SOAR’s collaborative fundraisers started in 2020. The fundraising platform has grown and it is helping nonprofits to be successful. The Old-Fashioned 4th of July Celebration on July 4 and the Lights Above the Clouds Parade on the first Saturday in December are the established SOAR events right now.

The three nonprofit groups planning each of these events split the proceeds, and SOAR oversees the process. The City of Woodland Park is a sponsor for the collaborative events and a community event thrives because of the nonprofits’ participation. It is win/win! This year the city has asked SOAR to take on another event, which is the golf tournament during Oktoberfest this September. Nonprofits are excited to help, and we’ll share more about that soon. We hope you’ll want to be involved.

Join us at our next SOAR meeting on May 18 at 9 a.m. at 400 West Midland, #100 and let’s sort things out for the rest of 2026 together. See you then.

Contact Gayle Gross at iwantto@soarwithnetworkfundraising.org or call 719-233-9902 for more information about SOAR’s Nonprofit Cooperative.

Gayle Gross has been in Teller County since 1999. She has been involved with nonprofits in the region ever since then. She facilitates a group of nonprofits in Teller County called SOAR, which meets to discuss programs related to nonprofits and includes fundraising.