Page 10 - DEC 2018 proof The Castle Pines Connection

10 CastlePinesConnection.com
What’s your APPtitude?
New board members
join Douglas County
Community Foundation
By Elise Brassell
The Douglas County Community Foundation (DCCF) brings together citizens in need, supportive nonpro t organizations and philanthropic donors to create a better quality of life in Douglas County.
In support of its growth strategy, DCCF has added three community leaders to its board of directors, including Jody Soper, executive vice president of marketing and product management at Guaranty Bank; Justin Vaughn, partner, Lathrop Gage LLP; and Wes King, a retired FirstBank executive.
“I joined the board to help grow the organization and broaden its in uence in the community,” said Wes King, new DCCF board of directors member from Castle Pines. “While the DCCF has been in existence many years, its reach has been somewhat limited. The leadership is making a concerted e ort to expand its outreach and impact, and I hope to be a part of that mission,” he said.
A key part of expanding its outreach is DCCF’s participation in Colorado Gives Day, the state's largest one-day online giving event. The day is an important milestone in the philanthropic year, boosting the missions, programs and nances of more than 2,400 Colorado nonpro ts, including DCCF.
King said, “On Colorado Gives Day we hope to raise funds that can be used to bene t Douglas County nonpro ts. Douglas County is an an incredibly generous community, but much of the donations go to organizations providing services outside of our community. We hope to raise awareness of the needs within our community and keep more of the dollars local.”
According to the DCCF, the Foundation is the only county-wide organization working to identify and inspire local donors, support the needs of local nonpro ts, and match donors with e ective local nonpro ts – thus improving the quality of life for Douglas County citizens. For more information visit dccf.org.
During this season of giving, raise your game with
Donor Up
By Amanda Merriman
As we enter this
time of year,
thoughts often
turn toward
philanthropy.
There are a myriad
of options available
to those considering
donating. It can be a di cult and time- consuming task, deciding which charity to support. Luckily, I discovered DonorUp.
DonorUp is free to download on iOS and Android devices. The creators of this app realized the importance of connecting people with charities that are meaningful
on an individual level. After downloading the app, users create a philanthropic pro le. The pro le includes things such as your free-time interests, preferred philanthropic categories, and tags that re ect missions you believe in. A portfolio of potential charities gets created from this information. From this list, you can click on each organization to learn more about its background. DonorUp provides links to websites and social media a liated with the nonpro t.
I believe it is important for potential donors to research nonpro ts prior to giving. When it comes to giving, what really sets the app above is the seamless connection
to donations. You can choose a speci c monthly amount to give, from as little as $1. You can even choose to do so anonymously.
After completing my pro le, I did not see any charities in Colorado that matched my interests. However, you can search for speci c charities and request an addition to the app’s database. Even though I prefer to give locally, it was interesting to widen my possibilities. Like many people, I have ties to other places through life experiences like family, college, and travel. What intrigued me most about the app was discovering new causes that resonated with me on a personal level. I enjoy the idea of giving monthly knowing that organizations need help throughout the whole year, not just during the holidays. The app also gives
me the ability to organize my contributions in one place and easily adjust payments
as necessary. Additionally, DonorUp will provide you with an itemized list of your tax-deductible donations. DonorUp truly gives a fresh way to connect people to causes that resonate with them.
Did You Know?
Next time you see the bison herd at Daniels Park, check out their large shoulder humps. The hump allows
the bison to swing its head from side- to-side to clear snow and graze on vegetation below. A bison’s winter coat is said to be so thick and well insulated that snow can cover their backs without melting.