NOCO Announcements

NoCo Foundation Celebrates 50 Years of Philanthropy

By: Jordan Secher

Fifty years ago, in the summer of 1975, a group of forward-looking community leaders created the Fort Collins Foundation, now called the NoCo Foundation. Its purpose was to steward donor funds during the creation of The Lincoln Center Performing Arts Center at the site of the former Lincoln Junior High School in downtown Fort Collins. Since those early days, the organization’s scope has widened and deepened. Over the last 50 years, the NoCo Foundation and its donors have distributed $150 million into the community through 20,000 individual nonprofit grants.

The 50 Years of Philanthropy initiative is a six-month-long celebration to recognize past community generosity and innovation and spark future visionaries by engaging with a new generation of changemakers who will shape the next 50 years.

The NoCo Foundation is kicking off the 50 Years of Philanthropy initiative May 8, at the Community Celebration at The Lincoln Center, in downtown Fort Collins. The event is sold out, but videos and photos from the evening will be available online at nocofoundation.org shortly after the event.

The community is invited to learn more about the NoCo Foundation’s history and its impact by visiting the following resources and events over the coming months:

  • Visit nocofoundation.org and learn about its history and impact.
  • Support local breweries and philanthropy by drinking a pint of Cheers to Change Beer, available at several breweries in Northern Colorado throughout the spring and summer. For every pint sold, the breweries are donating $1 to the NoCo Foundation to support their local communities. The public is invited to special tapping events:
    • May 15, 4-6 p.m. at Verboten Brewing, 127 E 5th St., Loveland
    • July 11, 4-6 p.m. at Horse and Dragon Brewing, 124 Racquette Dr., Fort Collins
    • August 8, 3-5 p.m. at Avant Garde Aleworks, 920 Dunraven St., Estes Park
    • August 29, 4-6 p.m. City Star Brewing, 320 Mountain Ave., Berthoud
  • Read the soon-to-be-published commemorative magazine featuring compelling stories of impact and generosity. A launch party and magazine distribution will be held on July 11, 4-6 p.m., at Horse and Dragon Brewing.
  • Attend a City Proclamation in the five communities where the NoCo Foundation has Community Funds:
    • May 13, 6:30 p.m.: Town of Berthoud, 807 Mountain Ave., Berthoud
    • May 20, 6 p.m.: City of Loveland, 500 3rd St., Loveland
    • June 24, 7 p.m.: Town of Estes Park, 170 MacGregor Ave., Estes Park
    • July 8, 5:30 p.m.: City of Sterling, 421 N. 4th St., Sterling
    • July 15, 5:30 p.m.: City of Fort Collins, 300 Laporte Ave., Fort Collins
Shaping tomorrow together
Community members are encouraged to think about the next 50 years in our region and how they want to make a difference through the NoCo Pledge campaign. It is a free and easy way to commit to being part of shaping the future through an online signup form.
By joining the pledge, participants are making a promise to:
    • Support local nonprofits through giving and/or volunteering
    • Inspire others to create a better future for our community
    • Help NoCo remain a place where generosity flourishes
    • Contribute to a legacy of kindness together
Read more and take the pledge at nocofoundation.org.

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