DECEMBER 2025 | THE PULSE |
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Thank You for Supporting the Telluride Foundation |
Your generosity fuels the work we do, and we are proud to share a few of those success stories here. Together, we're tackling our region's biggest challenges as doers, funders, and conveners, and creating lasting impact in our community. If you have not had the opportunity to give this year, please consider a donation so that we can continue making more possible in 2026 and beyond. |
Please join the Telluride Foundation to celebrate the life & legacy of Barbara Hinterkopf, the 2025 Volunteer of the Year Recipient (Awarded posthumously). Barbara Hinterkopf’s commitment to education and equity left a lasting mark on Telluride. As SPARKy’s president, she expanded opportunities for first-generation Latinas through the Latina Scholarship Fund and dedicated mentorship. Beverages & bites provided by Lunch Money. This event is free and open to the public, but please RSVP HERE. |
Workforce Housing - Securing A Forever Home |
Through the Telluride Foundation’s Small Forgivable Loan program (est. 2019) and our new Shared Appreciation Loan program launched this spring, $440K in down payment assistance has been provided to 15 hardworking members of our regional workforce so far this year. This impact is made possible by the generosity of community members, local governments, and regional taxing districts. Most recently, Megan Knowles & Yana Pollard received assistance to help them purchase a small cabin at Trout Lake. “Our dream home”, they told us. A place they can call their own and expand over time as their family grows.
Megan, who works in Communications for San Miguel County, and Yana, who teaches English at the Telluride Middle School, expressed, "We are so immensely grateful to the Telluride Foundation for helping us reach our dream of being homeowners in the region, in an area that is so important to us. The DPA program helped us achieve something that we never thought would be a possibility." The Foundation’s new Shared Appreciation DPA program is available to qualifying members of the regional workforce in San Miguel and Ouray counties, as well as in the towns of Nucla, Naturita, and Rico (loan limits vary across the region).
Visit our website to learn more about program guidelines. We are presently fundraising to keep the program going throughout 2026. If you’d like to support this critical effort to expand homeownership opportunities for local workers, you may make a donation or contact Elaine at Elaine@telluridefoundation.org. |
Health & Human Services: Meeting Rising Food Needs |
November was a challenging month for many families in the Telluride region. The federal government shut down, loss of SNAP benefits, rising health insurance premiums, and soaring costs of food, housing, and childcare strained household budgets. When finances get tight, people turn to their local food pantry, and our region is no exception. The staff at Food Bank of the Rockies – the food bank serving much of the Western Slope – recently said they haven’t seen this level of food insecurity in 10 years!
The Norwood and West End food pantries saw a 10-15% increase in visitors during the first two weeks of November alone. This increase comes on top of the 30% growth in visitation they’ve already experienced since the start of 2025. To keep up with demand, these pantries are seeing their food budgets increase by $1,000 to $2,000 per month, not including the need for additional staff. Looking ahead to 2026, the Telluride Foundation and regional food pantries are anticipating sustained pressure. Although SNAP benefits were recently reinstated, the federal budget bill reduces overall benefits, tightens eligibility, and adds new qualification barriers. For the 871 SNAP recipients in San Miguel, Ouray, and west Montrose counties, access to consistent benefits remains uncertain.
Through our food security initiative, we support four regional food pantries, two “Totes of Hope” programs (providing food to students with four-day school weeks), and two senior meal programs. Partnering with the FRESH Foundation, we also ensure these programs have access to fresh, locally grown produce. To date in 2025, we have provided $143,000 in direct support to food security efforts. We know this amount falls far short of the growing needs of our communities, and we hope you will join us in ensuring that no family in our region goes hungry.
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Health & Human Services: Staying Connected Through the Holiday Season |
The holiday season brings joy, but can also feel overwhelming, lonely, or stressful – especially in the Telluride region, where suicide rates are high, providers are limited, and therapy wait lists are long. Tri-County Health Network, a supporting organization of the Telluride Foundation, has been strengthening its behavioral health programs to make support easier to find and more affordable.
Thanks to the San Miguel County Behavioral Health Fund, TCHNetwork approved scholarships for 272 adults and 42 youth who received more than 1,700 therapy sessions last year. These scholarships make counseling possible for people who might not otherwise be able to pay for it, and their team helps connect clients with trusted local therapists. Clients also have access to behavioral health care navigation, which helps people find a provider and address life challenges that add to stress, such as housing, food access, transportation, and access to crisis funds when times get tough. Sometimes addressing these needs is the first step toward feeling better emotionally.
Education is another cornerstone of TCHNetwork’s work. It provides skills training to learn how to support those struggling with mental health or thoughts of suicide. TCHNetwork is part of a larger collaborative, working to implement community-wide strategies for suicide prevention, and through its gun-safety initiative, it is encouraging safe firearm storage to help prevent accidental deaths and suicide. If you or someone you know needs support this season, TCHNetwork is here. A meaningful conversation can be the first step toward feeling better; no one needs to navigate mental health challenges alone. |
Angel Baskets: Serving 600 In Our Community |
In 2026, Angel Baskets celebrates its 45th anniversary, and the Telluride Foundation has supported this critical safety net organization since its inception, 25 years ago!
Angel Basket’s work began when a few Telluride volunteers delivered baskets of food, household necessities, toys, and games during the holidays to a dozen or so families in our immediate community who were in financial need. Some 240 families, totaling over 600 people, throughout San Miguel County and the West End of Montrose County now receive holiday gifts, including gift cards to local grocery stores and Visa cards for personal gifts and needs.
Over the years, the scope of programming and the number of people served have expanded significantly. Angel Baskets operates and funds the Telluride Food Pantry, serving hundreds of individuals and families each week, and also generously supports the Norwood Food Pantry's financial needs. Another of its programs aims to help families at public schools cover the costs of school supplies and learning tools, and ensures that children in preschool and after-school programs have healthy lunches and snacks. The organization has also begun helping cover the gap between the costs of prescription medicines and related expenses and how much people in need can afford to pay.
Angel Baskets’ mission to help people in need is simple and heartfelt, which may account for its many years of success. |
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Ski For All: Keeping the Tradition Alive |
Ski for All was created last year to enable all children in the Telluride schools to learn to ski or snowboard. Ski PE – a school day each week set aside for instructed skiing and snowboarding during January and early February – is expensive. Between ski passes, lessons, and gear, the cost can easily exceed $1,000 per child. The school has long had a scholarship program funded by parent donations and the school budget. But funds have been inadequate. As a result, many low-income students have opted out of Ski PE due to cost.
This year, Ski PE received its first community grant from the Telluride Foundation; along with other grants and donations, it was able to augment the school’s existing Ski PE scholarship budget, raising it from $28,000 to $75,000. This has enabled universal need-based scholarships that reduce the family cost to as little as $150 per child. The results look promising: the school reports that 90% of lower-income children are now participating in Ski PE. By enabling everyone to join in a sport that lies at the heart of our community’s culture, we hope to see social, emotional, and physical benefits for the children. |
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On October 9th, the Telluride Foundation, in partnership with the West Region Wildfire Council, hosted a packed community event at the Sherbino focused on the growing wildfire threat in Ouray County. Following a short film about Log Hill Mesa, moderator Tim Pinnow, Executive Director of the West Region Wildfire Council, led a panel discussion that focused on preparedness, community-wide coordination, mitigation, and insurance challenges. The event emphasized collaboration—across agencies, policymakers, and residents—as essential to building long-term wildfire protection in Ouray County. |
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Harvest Celebration Dinner |
The Lone Cone Legacy Trust (LCLT), an endowment fund initiated by the Telluride Foundation, hosted its annual Harvest Celebration Dinner on Saturday, October 11, filling the Livery in Norwood with community spirit and generosity. Guests enjoyed a vibrant evening of locally made food, live music from the Gold Kings, and both silent and live auctions that showcased the heart of Wright’s Mesa. Community members contributed art, gift certificates, goods, and more to the silent auction, while the live pie auction sparked lively bidding — including a record-breaking $7,000 winning bid for a single pie.
Thanks to the incredible support of attendees, donors, and volunteers, the event raised over $17,000. These funds will be invested back into the community, supporting the people, programs, and projects that make this area thrive. |
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Winter Donor Party Tuesday, December 30, 2025 |
Let's ring in the new year with merriment and cheer. Don your festive attire, après-ski gear, or ugly holiday sweater, and mingle with fellow donors at our annual gathering. 4:00pm - 6:00pm |
| Science of Peak Performance January 6, 2026 |
Discover how sport-science habits used by elite athletes can elevate leadership, resilience, and performance in business and life in this co-sponsored event with Telluride Science.
Dr. Haley Perlus will explore the science of peak performance, showing the proven connection between psychology, physiology, and behavior that allows high performers to stay composed, confident, and effective in the moments that matter most.
4:30pm Donor Reception | 5:30pm Presentation Free and open to all, but registration is required. Telluride Innovation Center | 300 S Townsend |
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The View From Here: Grounding AI Potential In Local Practice Thursday, January 15, 2026 |
It's been almost 2 years since we convened for AI 101. As technology in this field rapidly advances, we are excited to collaborate with Telluride Science to host our first AI Summit.
Tom Miaskiewicz, Director of the AI Institute at Fort Lewis College and Associate Professor of Marketing, will lead a discussion exploring the AI landscape, moving from big-picture trends to ground-level strategy. He'll cover what's genuinely possible with AI today and how rural communities can access and shape these tools to align with their own priorities. The AI Summit was made possible in part by Citizens State Bank and ASAP Accounting, Inc.
5:00pm Donor Reception | 6:00pm Presentation Free and open to all, but registration is required. Telluride Innovation Center | 300 S Townsend |
| AI Workshops Friday, January 16, 2026 |
Perfect for entrepreneurs, small business owners, nonprofit leaders, TVN Bootcamp graduates, TVN mentors, and any curious minds.
In AI for Marketing, learn how to integrate AI across key marketing functions using practical prompts and real-world examples. Discover how AI can amplify your creativity, sharpen your strategic insights, and help you forge more authentic connections with your audience.
In AI for Business-Decision Making, explore how AI can enhance every step in the decision-making process, from framing a problem to analyzing trade-offs and taking action. Using specific examples and use cases, we'll walk through how to make smarter, faster, and more evidence-based decisions with AI as your co-pilot. 10:00am AI for Marketing 1:00pm AI for Business Decision-Making Free and open to all, but registration is required. Telluride Innovation Center | 300 S Townsend |
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Gratitude and Appreciation |
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| "As a small nonprofit, we are so
grateful for the support the Telluride Foundation provides, both financially and through training resources. It is invaluable in helping us carry out our work of bringing exceptional chamber music to Telluride at an affordable price and creating educational opportunities for students. We also love the community connections the Foundation creates through its events." Claire Beard, Executive & Artistic Director, Telluride Chamber Music |
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| Help us grow the Telluride Foundation
If you know a community member who may be interested in becoming a donor or a volunteer, please make an introduction!
Contact Jason at jason@telluridefoundation.org. With your help, we can make more possible! |
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About The Telluride Foundation is committed to enriching the lives of our community members by investing in initiatives and supporting nonprofits in the region. telluridefoundation.org |
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