In Durango, it’s a rare day when a business owner isn’t hit up for a contribution by at least one of the more than 300 nonprofits in town. This year, Kirk Komick, co-owner of the Rochester Hotel, decided to come up with a more organized way of giving, turning his summer concert series in the hotel’s Secret Garden into weekly fundraisers.
“It’s a great way for nonprofits to raise money with hardly any work,” said Briggen Wrinkle, executive director of the Community Foundation Serving Southwest Colorado, which will administer the grant process. “This is a great opportunity to invite your volunteers and other friends of the organization to enjoy a great concert in the heart of downtown, educate new people about your organization and make a little money.”
The concerts will run from 4:30 to 7 p.m., starting July 8, and will run for 12 Wednesdays. Attendees will be asked to pay $10 to enter. The series will work somewhat like Benefit Day at Purgatory Ski Resort.
“Because we can’t control the weather, the $10 donation fee will be pooled and split evenly among the 12 selected nonprofits. If the series raises more than $12,000, the Rochester Hotel and the Community Foundation reserve the right to use those excess funds to reimburse hard costs associated with the project – advertising, printing, postage, etc.”
But because some people will attend just to support a favorite nonprofit, attendees can put additional contributions into a designated tip jar each week.
For now, it’s time for nonprofits to apply to be one of the chosen 12. Applications are available online and are due by 6 p.m. June 26.
abutler@durangoherald.com
To apply
Visit www.swcommunityfoundation.org/grants to learn more about the Rochester Secret Garden Concert Series and to apply. The deadline for applications is 6 p.m. June 26. The final 12 organizations will be announced July 2.
For more information, call Briggen Wrinkle, executive director of the Community Foundation Serving Southwest Colorado, at 375-5807.
