User:EPhilanthropyMan/Community Shares

Community Shares of Colorado, based in Denver, Colorado, is a nonprofit giving federation that works annually to support over 100 Colorado based 501 (c)(3) organizations. Community Shares is the founding member of what would eventually become a greater network of workplace giving federations called Community Shares USA.

The purpose of Community Shares of Colorado is to broaden the spectrum of charitable choice to include nonprofit organizations which typically aren't able to participate workplace giving campaigns due to their size or missions. Community Shares of Colorado maintains partnerships with national, statewide, and city governments, as well as, school districts, private companies, and individual contributors. Community Shares provides a valuable function to many Colorado philanthropists by including causes and charities which are representative of a diverse and dynamic community. The issues that Community Shares of Colorado represents are:

local United Way offices throughout the country in a coalition of charitable organizations to pool efforts in fundraising and support. The focus of United Way is identifying and resolving pressing community issues, as well as making measurable changes in the communities through partnerships with schools, government agencies, businesses, organized labor, financial institutions, community development corporations, voluntary and neighborhood associations, the faith community, and others. The issues United Way offices focus on are determined locally because of the diversity of the communities served. However, the main focus areas include Education, Income and Health.

History
Originally founded as The Alternative Fund, Community Shares of Colorado sought to give a voice to nonprofit organizations not traditionally included in workplace giving campaigns. The original 12 members of The Alternative Fund included grassroots organizations and organizations which gave a voice to new program areas like social justice, respect for all individuals, environmental conservation, and community-owned arts.