Skidola Raises $15K for Avalanche Education |
The 6th annual Skidola was another record-breaking success! On the perfect bluebird evening of Friday, March 13th, 116 participants took on the uphill challenge with energy and enthusiasm.
This year’s event raised over $15,000, with net proceeds benefiting the PI Avy Fund, which supports scholarships for avalanche education and backcountry safety in our region. As backcountry skiing and riding continue to grow in popularity, so does the need to break down the financial barrier to avalanche education.
Following the event, racers gathered at OAK to celebrate with sliders, drinks, and awards. A special shout-out to Ryan Becker and Celia Keany for claiming first place in the men’s and women’s categories, finishing with impressive times of 22:46 and 32:09. The Best Costume Award went to Ali Palmer, who brought extra fun to the course in an Incredibles costume. |
The Zachary Schwarz Mountain Fund: A Memorial Scholarship Empowering the Next Generation of Mountain Professionals |
Zachary Schwarz moved from his home in the Midwest to Telluride to fulfill his lifelong dream of becoming a ski instructor during the 23-24 winter season. While his time in Colorado was short, he found his people and his purpose and, by all accounts, experienced the happiest chapter of his young adult life.
In his memory, his family, parents John and Lynn, and brothers Jake, Nathan, and Eric created the Zachary Schwarz Mountain Fund in partnership with the Telluride Foundation; a tribute that has already touched the lives of more than 40 people in its second season.
The Fund supports continuing education for qualifying ski instructors, ski patrollers, and others working in on-snow education, including Telluride Adaptive Instructors and younger community members working towards a career “on the snow.” Scholarships help cover professional training and courses leading to certifications with Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA), as well as emergency medical training, avalanche studies, and more; this kind of preparation sharpens skills, deepens expertise, and helps people build a career doing what they love.
Ski instructor Margaret Squires describes the impact firsthand: "This support has not only helped me grow professionally but also brought me one step closer to my long-term goals in the ski industry. This certification was a highly educational experience that has already made me a stronger, more effective ski instructor. It deepened my understanding of how children learn and how to create a safe, fun, and engaging environment on the mountain. I truly appreciate the investment in my development and in the futures of young professionals like myself."
Stories like Margaret's are exactly what Zachary's family had in mind: a legacy marked by growth, community, and the joy of sharing the mountains with others. For more information regarding the Fund, please contact Dani Laine.
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The recently released Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) opens with a stark assessment: over the past 25 years, our county has seen a significant increase in wildfire risk and occurrence, driven by prolonged drought, rising temperatures, and stronger winds. The CWPP is a locally developed collaborative plan that includes strategies to reduce wildfire risk, improve emergency response, and prioritize mitigation projects. For the past year, the Telluride Foundation has actively participated in its development, helping the San Miguel County Office of Emergency Management boost community engagement. Developed by Bintel, Inc., the plan draws on more than a year of on-the-ground research, consultation with wildfire professionals, and community input. It provides a roadmap for understanding wildfire risk and outlines key priorities, including: -
Encouraging property owners to harden structures, use fire-resistant materials, and create defensible space
- Mapping and supplementing water sources for fire suppression
- Clearing hazardous vegetation from roads, driveways, and power line corridors
- Identifying evacuation routes for each of the 35 identified wildland urban interface communities
Before the CWPP is formally adopted, the County seeks feedback. To kick off the public comment period, the Foundation co-hosted wildfire education events - “From Forest to Front Door” - with the Office of Emergency Management and the Norwood and Telluride fire districts on March 1 and 2. The well-attended events addressed critical topics, including new building codes, insurance, forest health, and wildfire mitigation.
As wildfire risk continues to escalate across the Western United States, including in our own community, the Foundation is committed to expanding wildfire outreach and education. |
Down Payment Assistance Program: Building a Stronger Workforce |
One year ago, the Telluride Foundation launched an expanded Down Payment Assistance (DPA) program, creating new pathways to homeownership for hardworking members of our regional workforce.
This program represents a significant evolution of the Foundation’s existing DPA offerings. It offers shared appreciation loans of up to 20% of a home’s purchase price (capped at $100,000), with no interest and no required payment until the home is sold or refinanced. As a revolving loan fund, these resources are continually reinvested, helping more families achieve homeownership over time. In addition to financial support, the program provides Homebuyer Education workshops that guide first-time buyers through each step of the process, equipping them with the knowledge and confidence to succeed. This initiative is made possible through a powerful public-private partnership, supported by generous donors, state funding, and contributions from regional governments and taxing districts.
In its inaugural year, this program, combined with the Foundation’s original Small Forgivable Loan DPA (which provides up to $5,000 for closing costs), has helped 16 families, representing 38 individuals, achieve homeownership. These new homeowners live and work across Telluride, Ouray, Ridgway, Norwood, and Ophir. They include teachers, medical professionals, local government employees, nonprofit executives, chefs, ski resort workers, and entrepreneurs - all essential members of our community who now have the opportunity to put down roots.
Notably, every recipient was a first-time homebuyer, and participants had lived and rented in the region for an average of 9 years before purchasing their home. One recipient had lived and worked in the region for 21 years before this assistance made homeownership possible for him. If you would like to learn more about this program, please contact Elaine Demas. |
Record Number Graduate from TVN Bootcamp |
In March, 7 businesses graduated from TVN’s 2026 Strategy & Growth Bootcamp: Inkwell Games (Carbondale), Fresh Foundation (Norwood), Colorado Custom Fire Pits (Telluride), Telluride Racquet Club (Telluride), Telluride Yoga Festival (Telluride), Riversage Family Counseling (Durango), and Flowers by Ella (Telluride).
TVN’s Strategy & Growth Bootcamp is a focused sprint accelerator that helps founders position their business for growth. During the Bootcamp, business leaders learned how to set measurable goals, eliminate bottlenecks, map uncertainty, rank growth opportunities, and perfect a pitch. These tools were used to develop actionable steps for scaling their companies.
Stephanie Griebe, Executive Director of Fresh Foundation and a participant, found the program highly beneficial. She said, “As a small nonprofit operating in a rural community, having access to this kind of business expertise is rare — and genuinely transformative. I can't overstate how valuable this program has been. I'm excited to work with a mentor who brings outside skills and perspective to help us grow the revenue-generating side of our work so we can serve more people in our community!"
Bootcamp graduates are eligible to participate in mentorship with the Telluride Venture Network. The mentorship program matches founders with a curated team of volunteer expert business mentors. Founders meet with their team for up to 90 minutes per month for a year to receive coaching, gain strategic insights, and solve challenges that help them propel their business forward. The Fresh Foundation and Riversage will be pitching for mentorship in April.
TVN is actively seeking more business mentors to bolster our network. If you are an entrepreneur or an expert in a specific business field, we'd like your help. Please complete our mentor form or contact Program Director Annemarie Jodlowski.
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West Region Wildfire Council |
Wildfire is a fact of life in Western Colorado. The West Region Wildfire Council (WRWC) was established in 2007 as a collaborative to develop and implement wildfire mitigation in the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) and aims to be a helpful resource for residents of Delta, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Montrose, Ouray, and San Miguel counties. You may recognize them from the events the Telluride Foundation has hosted, such as From Forest to Front Door, where they presented on the importance of wildfire preparedness.
As a first-time grantee of the Telluride Foundation, the organization was able to expand many of its services, including the Wildfire Ready Home program, which helps guide its clients through their wildfire mitigation journey–protecting homes and lives. The grant also enabled them to offer 25 free home visits to those below the median income in our service area. Additionally, WRWC has a structured mitigation program that uses grant funding from various sources to help landowners defray the cost of mitigation services. If you have questions about how to protect your home or want to request a site visit, please visit cowildfire.org.
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Who knew that playing Rock, Paper, Scissors with 100 of your new best friends could be so fun! This was just one of many acts of entertainment and music hosted by Telluride Theater during Good Neighbor Night, held in February to support the Telluride Foundation’s Good Neighbor Fund. A packed house at the Telluride Elks Lodge enjoyed a variety of entertainment performed by local arts organizations. The evening was a celebration of community spirit, with ticket proceeds and donations supporting the Good Neighbor Fund, which provides emergency assistance to local families and individuals in need. Thank you, Telluride Theatre, for organizing the event and providing an unforgettable evening of laughs and renewed appreciation for our special community.
In March, the Telluride Foundation hosted Making News, a panel discussion to discuss effective media strategies. Moderated by CEO Jason Corzine, five local media and nonprofit communications pros gathered to share what makes a great news story, how to build strong media relationships, and best practices for crisis communication. The candid conversation revealed actionable insights, leaving attendees better equipped to tell their organizations’ stories. Didn't make it to the workshop? A recording is available.
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Water Sharing & the Future of Western Agriculture Monday, April 27, 2026 |
The community is invited to an evening of food, drink, and conversation to learn about win-win solutions for agriculture & rivers. Hosted in partnership with Colorado Water Trust, San Miguel Watershed Coalition, Colorado West Land Trust, and the Telluride Foundation. 5:30pm-7:30pm The Livery
Norwood, CO |
| Preparation & Egress Wednesday, May 13, 2026 |
In addition to preparedness and mitigation, understanding evacuation routes is especially important in mountain towns with limited egress. Learn about wildfire preparedness from San Miguel County, Telluride Fire Protection District, and the Western Region Wildfire Council. 5:30pm-7:00pm
Wilkinson Public Library Telluride, CO |
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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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