The Telluride Foundation is committed to enhancing the quality of life for those living in, working in, and visiting the Telluride region. This commitment involves deploying resources to address immediate public health needs and economic impacts, focusing on vulnerable populations and supporting service providers in the Telluride region, including San Miguel, Ouray, west Montrose counties, and Rico. By allocating reserves and budget, the Foundation aims to meet unprecedented community needs, especially in response to crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Telluride Foundation's COVID-19 Regional Response Fund aims to provide flexible support to organizations and individuals significantly affected by the coronavirus and its economic fallout. This initiative focuses on enhancing the capacity of community-based organizations and vulnerable individuals/families within the Telluride area, emphasizing health and human service nonprofits facing unexpected challenges due to the pandemic. The fund will offer one-time operating grants to deeply rooted organizations and emergency hardship grants to individuals, prioritizing services like healthcare, food banks, homeless shelters, and programs assisting school-aged children and distance learning needs. A streamlined application process ensures quick and efficient resource allocation, with ongoing adjustments to meet evolving community demands throughout the crisis and recovery phases. Additionally, the Foundation’s long-running Good Neighbor Fund will be specifically directed toward the region's most vulnerable, addressing emergency financial needs arising from illness, healthcare costs, lack of work, or caregiving responsibilities.