Longmont Community Foundation launches online catalog of local needs
The Longmont Community Foundation is making it easier for everyone to contribute to causes with a new online catalog.
The Community Projects Catalog, found on the LCF website, includes around 70 projects that serve the St. Vrain Valley area. Some of the projects are based in other parts of the county or state, but they're eligible as long as they directly impact the St. Vrain Valley community.
"As long as this specific project is serving the St. Vrain Valley, that is what matters," said Jenniffer Barahona, digital media and community marketing strategist for LCF.
Before the catalog launched earlier this month, LCF would spread the word about local projects by emailing a list directly to donors.
"It didn't feel like a tool we really thought was beneficial, completely," Barahona said. "It helped, but not as much as we wanted to."
The catelog is color-coded, alphabetized and organized by category: Animals, Arts and Culture, Civic, Education, Environment, Health, and Human Services. It also lists LCF projects, including scholarship programs and donation campaigns for local organizations.
Each listing has more information about the project, including the amount of funding it needs to reach a specific goal. Viewers can click on the "Donate Now" button to make a direct contribution.
"The goal was to make it more accessible and easier for people to use — the general public, not just our donors," Barahona said. "Everybody can help, everybody is welcome to be part of the community. You don't necessarily have to have the title of being a donor to help out."
The needs vary greatly based on the project. Hover Senior Living Community lists $50,000 in needs, while the Colorado Agrivoltaic Learning Center is asking for $3,000. Good Life Refuge, a farm animal sanctuary north of Longmont, lists $10,000 as the amount needed to offer 20 days of care for its animal residents.
So far, Barahona said, the response to the Community Projects Catalog has been positive. At last week's Celebrate Longmont event, she said several people told her how useful the catalog is.
More nonprofits and projects will be added to the catalog when LCF makes its first round of updates.
"We're not trying to keep this a secret, or just in the nonprofit world," Barahona said. "We want it to be available for anybody and everybody."
