With around 4,800 nonprofits, according to data aggregator Cause IQ, Colorado Springs is known for being generous and giving. But by their nature, nonprofit organizations are continually searching for more volunteers and financial assistance.

Board members can be particularly hard to find, said Stella Hodgkins, senior vice president and elevating leadership development program officer at El Pomar Foundation, one of Colorado’s oldest and largest foundations that awards about $30 million annually in grants to various causes.

“You see it all over in all sizes of nonprofits,” she said. “Finding specific expertise or diverse candidates are some of the challenges.”

A long-running annual event provides a one-stop shop, where people who are interested in serving on boards and commissions can personally meet representatives from nonprofits and government agencies that appoint members to sit on commissions.

The “Get On Board!” fair will be held from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on April 1 at Penrose House Conference Center and Garden Pavilion, 1661 Mesa Ave., in Colorado Springs. Nearly 100 nonprofits will have booths at the fair and have representatives available to talk with attendees. It is free and open to the public.

Members of city, county and state boards and commissions will attend, and the Black Chamber of Commerce, the Colorado Springs Hispanic Chamber of Commerce-The Concilio and the Philippine American Chamber of Commerce of Southern Colorado also will participate.

The event provides an opportunity to meet many people, make meaningful connections and exchange contact information for a follow-up, Hodgkins said.

“The reason this is so powerful is it gives people a deeper way to have impact in the community because the boards are responsible for the strategy and oversight of making sure an organization stays true to its mission,” she said.

The nonprofit landscape is experiencing what Hodgkins calls a “weird dichotomy.”

“There’s hardship in the community now, which in some ways has led to more giving and also has made it more difficult to give,” she said.

Hodgkins believes that high need will continue for sectors that provide basic necessities for low-income residents, such as food, housing and health care.

“We’re already seeing the increase in need in all areas, and I don’t see that stopping soon.”

This year’s event will have more room for more people to both set up booths and attend, with several hundred expected.

The event was started and operated for years by Leadership Pikes Peak. El Pomar Foundation’s Elevating Leadership Development program took it over a few years ago and has expanded it to be a collaboration with other organizations: Adelante Leadership Institute, the Center for Creative Leadership’s Community Leadership Program, CiviCO Governor’s Fellowship, Colorado Springs Leadership Institute, Hey Neighbor Neighborhood University, Leadership Pikes Peak powered by UCCS, Mayor’s Civic Leaders Fellowship and Women’s Community Leadership Initiative.

Registration to attend is free at https://www.elpomar.org/programs/eld/.