Project Testimonials
Intercambio de Comunidades
In 2000, Lee Shainis and Shawn Camden began to informally offer English as Second Language (ESL) classes and tutoring to co-workers at a restaurant. The response was overwhelming.
By the end of 2000, this informal effort had blossomed into services for 75 students and more were asking for help. It became clear there was a huge need in Boulder County for English language services. That’s when Intercambio became a project of CNDC.
While a CNDC project, Intercambio elicited the support of many foundations and the United Way of Boulder County.
“CNDC provided many tools and resources for me to develop as a director,” said executive director Lee Shainis. “They helped me learn about all of the ins and outs of becoming and managing an independent nonprofit organization.”
With CNDC 's help and support, Intercambio submitted its paperwork in August 2003 to become its own 501(c)(3) organization and achieved that status in January 2004.
“I honestly believe that CNDC is exactly what Intercambio needed to develop and become the successful organization it is today,” Shainis said. “The services and guidance offered by CNDC allowed us to focus our resources and time on where they were needed most – in the community. There is no way we would have grown as rapidly as we did without CNDC’s assistance.”
Explore & Discover
In 2002, a handful of families in the Highlands neighborhood in northwest Denver were trying to establish a high-quality, full-time cooperative day care center. While they were able to demonstrate a need, develop a business plan, secure start-up funding, recruit quality staff and identify suitable space, the added onus of establishing the necessary back-office operations was daunting.
“Fortunately, CNDC was there to provide all the key administrative functions for the center, including bookkeeping, payroll, benefits administration and general liability insurance,” said Chip Galaty, a founding board member of Explore & Discover. “Along the way, E&D’s staff has consulted periodically with CNDC on human resources, legal and real estate matters, and CNDC has always provided timely, professional informed responses to our questions.”
Explore & Discover continues to provide licensed child care to children ages six weeks to 36 months under the fiscal sponsorship of CNDC.
“E&D has evolved into a stable, thriving operation that will continue to serve the Highlands community for years to come. This would not have been possible without CNDC’s unwavering support,” Galaty said.
English in Action
English in Action started as a small project of the local library in Basalt to provide English language tutoring to Spanish-speaking residents. When the program’s size and potential outgrew the library, English in Action became a project of the Colorado Nonprofit Development Center in November 2004.
“CNDC is helping us to make a smooth transition from a small library project to a growing community-based organization,” said executive director Julie Fox-Rubin. “There are so many different things to think about when you are starting your own nonprofit – it’s like keeping 50 balls up in the air at once. Thanks to CNDC, we haven’t dropped a ball yet!”
In 2007, English in Action served 99 adults from 12 countries. The program rallied 89 community members from the Roaring Fork Valley to volunteer 2,313 hours of their time.
For English In Action, using CNDC as a mid-step from being a library program to being its own 501(c)(3) organization was a logical choice.
“It has been a great way to have the benefit of nonprofit status while we take our time building our board and creating our articles and bylaws RIGHT. What a gift not to have to rush or cut corners. This way, we can do things slow but steady and avoid making some of the bigger mistakes,” Fox-Rubin said.
