At Roaring Fork Leadership, we believe that powerful things happen when people step forward with courage, compassion, and a commitment to community. That belief sits at the heart of everything we do, and Colorado Gives Day is your opportunity to ensure leadership development remains accessible to the people who make our region stronger. Colorado Gives Day is Tuesday, December 9, and early giving is already open. Early gifts unlock various matching funds made possible through the Colorado Gives Foundation, meaning your generosity can go even further.

This year, we are once again participating in the recurring gift match: all new monthly gifts started between now and December 9 will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $100. This simple act of setting up a monthly donation – an amount that fits comfortably in your own budget – an immediately double its impact. The first gift in any recurring schedule is matched, and recurring gifts can be changed canceled at any time.

Your support directly fuels access. Twenty-five percent of Academy 2026 participants are receiving some level of scholarship support, and Mastermind 2026 scholarship requests are already exceeding our capacity. This growing need reflects the realities many emerging leaders face: economic hardship, caregiving responsibilities, early-career wages, and the rising cost of living. When you give to RFL, you help ensure that leadership isn’t reserved for the few, but is accessible to every voice our region needs at the table.

Hallie Childers, an Academy 2026 participant, shared what her scholarship has meant to her: “Receiving an RFLA scholarship truly changed the trajectory of my early career. As a fresh CMC Sustainability Studies graduate, this program has given me the confidence and space to grow into the kind of leader our Valley needs, someone rooted in sustainability, equity, and collaborative thinking. RFLA is opening doors to meaningful networks that I will carry into my future work in either the municipal or the nonprofit sector. With these new leadership skills, I hope to become a champion in tackling the challenges that our valley faces, and creating long-lasting and positive impacts.”

Your gift does more than fund a program – it strengthens the civic fabric of the Roaring Fork and Colorado River Valleys. Graduates bring their skills back to local governments, nonprofits, small businesses, schools, and community groups. They mentor youth, launch initiatives, serve on boards, and contribute to solutions that ripple outward in meaningful ways. A gift to RFL is a gift to our entire region.

There are many meaningful and accessible ways to support RFL this Colorado Gives Season. In addition to one-time or recurring gifts, many donors choose to give directly from their retirement accounts. Making a direct transfer from a 401(k) or IRA can be a tax-smart way to create impact, and if you are age 70½ or older, a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) can satisfy your required minimum distribution while supporting a mission you believe in. We are happy to help with information on how to designate RFL as a beneficiary.

You can also support RFL at no cost by selecting us as your nonprofit of choice in the City Market Community Rewards Program. Once your Shopper’s Card is linked, a portion of every grocery trip supports RFL’s work – without changing your prices, discounts, or rewards. It is one of the simplest ways to ensure leadership development remains accessible in our region.

We are deeply grateful for the generosity, trust, and belief this community places in RFL. Together, we can ensure every current and future leader has the opportunity to learn, grow, and contribute to a more connected and thriving region. Thank you for standing with us.

To make a gift or learn more, please visit our Colorado Gives page or mail your check to:
Roaring Fork Leadership
PO Box 12095
Aspen, CO 81612

For giving questions, please contact:
Lizz Bailey, Director of Development
(732) 266-6247 / lizz@rfleadership.org