To further assist the non-profit community, Onward! supports numerous groups and projects by serving as their Fiscal Sponsor. Through this arrangement, Onward! partners with mission-driven projects that are providing or meeting a community need and require non-profit recognition.<\/p>\n
Fiscal sponsorship is a collaborative relationship where Onward! shares its 501(c)(3) status and back-office infrastructure with mission-aligned projects. For the duration of the relationship, each project operates as a program of Onward! but retains its own identity and makes its own strategic and day-to-day decisions. Through this relationship, projects can accept grants and donations, enter into contracts, hire staff, and provide employee benefits. Onward! handles all tax filings, insurance, donor and regulatory compliance, and provides projects with timely financial reports. Importantly, Onward! retains the discretion needed to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.<\/p>\n
Fiscal Project Benefits<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Fiscal Project Application<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n For more information about Fiscal Projects, please contact us<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\nSchool Community Youth Collaborative (SCYC)<\/strong> In partnership with several other grassroots initiatives, we came together to imagine a different way forward. By weaving together traditional knowledge, holistic practices, western science, harm reduction strategies and culturally rooted care, we formed what is now known as Construyendo Poder – a community-driven organization committed to building pathways of wellness, justice, and belonging.<\/p>\n At our core, we uplift the wisdom already present in our communities. We create spaces for families to recover from trauma, reconnect with ancestral practices, and thrive in environments where everyone’s dignity is honored. We believe in care as resistance, in wellness as a form of collective liberation, and in building bridges of support that protect and strengthen the lives of all who call our region home.<\/p>\n For more information, visit their website<\/a> or Facebook page<\/a>.<\/p>\nSan Juan Mountain SOLES<\/strong> We offer a variety of support groups, including gatherings for mothers of babies, fathers, mothers of toddlers, virtual sessions, and Spanish-speaking groups. Our goal is to ease the challenges of parenting and reduce the feelings of isolation that often come with it-especially during the postpartum period.<\/p>\n At the heart of our work is a commitment to nurturing mental health and promoting the overall well-being of families.\u00a0For more information visit their website<\/a>.<\/p>\nLost Canyon Bike and Skate Park in Dolores, Colorado<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" To further assist the non-profit community, Onward! supports numerous groups and projects by serving as their Fiscal Sponsor. Through this arrangement, Onward! partners with mission-driven projects that are providing or […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":112,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-134","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/onwardfoundation.org\/Site\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/134","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/onwardfoundation.org\/Site\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/onwardfoundation.org\/Site\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/onwardfoundation.org\/Site\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/onwardfoundation.org\/Site\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=134"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/onwardfoundation.org\/Site\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/134\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10401,"href":"https:\/\/onwardfoundation.org\/Site\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/134\/revisions\/10401"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/onwardfoundation.org\/Site\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/112"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/onwardfoundation.org\/Site\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=134"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n<\/strong>Established December 2010<\/em>
\nSCYC is a youth serving organization that supports connection, youth leadership, communication and community. We are a prevention based organization in Montezuma County that supports youth through out-of-school time programming, substance use prevention programming, and safe driving education. Our Gear Lending Library lends outdoor and recreational gear to local residents, programs and schools at no cost to them. SCYC has been serving Montezuma County since 1999. Visit SCYC’s website<\/a> for information on their activities.\nCortez Panthers Youth Football Fund
\n<\/strong>Established June 2012<\/em>
\n<\/strong>This fund was created to support and supplement the Cortez Panthers Football teams. Cortez Panthers offer youth football to 2nd through 6th-grade students in Cortez, Dolores, and Towaoc.\nSouthwest Colorado Canyons Alliance<\/strong>
\n<\/strong>Established January 2013<\/em>
\nSouthwest Colorado Canyons Alliance is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering awareness and appreciation for the landscape and cultural heritage of the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument through collaboration with the Bureau of Land Management. Via education, outreach, and stewardship initiatives, the Canyons Alliance works to foster a deep connection between the community and the unique landscape of the monument. Visit Southwest Colorado Canyons Alliance’s website<\/a> for more information.\nLeadership Montezuma<\/strong>
\n<\/strong>Established June 2015<\/em>
\nThe purpose of Leadership Montezuma is to cultivate a diverse cohort of emerging leaders from various backgrounds, occupations, and cultures, fostering learning and forging strong connections across the many sectors of our community. Visit their website<\/a>\u00a0for more information.\nMontezuma Orchard Restoration Project<\/strong>
\nEstablished June 2018<\/em>
\nMontezuma Orchard Restoration Project (MORP) is working to preserve Colorado’s fruit-growing heritage and restore an orchard culture and economy to the southwestern region. MORP envisions southwestern Colorado being renowned for an orchard culture and economy based on the legendary quality and diversity of Montezuma Valley Fruits. Visit MORP’s website<\/a> for more information.\nGood Food Collective<\/strong>
\nEstablished April 2019<\/em>
\nThe Good Food Collective works together to build a just and thriving food system in Southwest Colorado.\u00a0 We do this by increasing access to healthy food, supporting farmers, reducing waste, changing policy, and connecting the region.\u00a0Learn more at their website<\/a> and Facebook<\/a> page.\nFour Corners Dance Society<\/strong>
\nEstablished August 2019<\/em>
\nThe Society is a group of dance enthusiasts who work to ensure the longevity of access to ballroom, Latin, swing, and other dance opportunities. Stay up to date with the FCDS by following their Facebook page<\/a>.\nConstruyendo\u00a0<\/strong>
\nEstablished September 2019 \/ November 2021<\/em>Construyendo Poder began in 2018 as a grassroots response to the urgent call for healing, resilience, and community care among monolingual\/bilingual Indigenous, Brown and Latine families. Guided by the principles of healing justice, we recognize that health is not only the absence of illness but also the presence of individual safety, dignity, and collective power.\n
\nEstablished November 2019
\nSOLES, established in 2015, is a year-long program tailored for female-identifying high school youth in the San Juan Mountains. SOLES empowers young women through one-on-one mentorship, leadership development, and immersive nature experiences, including three trips and monthly gatherings. These initiatives aim to empower them to lead healthy lives rooted in wild places, confident leadership, and authentic community engagement.<\/em>\u00a0For more information, visit their website<\/a>.\nD’Voce Community Choir<\/strong>
\nEstablished November 2019<\/em>
\nD’Voce Community Choir began in 2019 with the vision of bringing Christ-centered music to Montezuma County. Donate to D’Voce here<\/a>.\nDARE to be You<\/strong>
\nEstablished January 2020<\/em>
\nThe DARE to be You program is an evidence-based model program to build strengths in youth by working with them through family, school, and community organizations to reduce problem behaviors such as substance abuse, school dropout, and other risky behaviors. Visit the DARE to be You website<\/a> for more great information.\nDolores Youth Baseball<\/strong>
\nEstablished February 2020<\/em>
\nThe goal for Dolores Youth Baseball is to bring baseball back to the Dolores Community for the children who attend the Dolores School District in order to learn and grow while playing baseball together.\nOhana Kuleana Community Garden<\/strong>
\nEstablished May 2020<\/em>
\nLocated in Durango, the Ohana Kuleana Community Garden promotes healthy living, organic gardening, and sustainability to build a strong, supportive community for all.\u00a0Interested in joining the garden, click here.<\/a>\nFour Corners Slow Money<\/strong>
\nEstablished August 2020<\/em>
\nFour Corners Slow Money’s goal is to build a robust local food economy by giving community farmers, growers and local food enterprises a leg up in the Four Corners region. Through community-supported peer-to-peer lending, we provide 0% interest micro and small loans to growers and local food entrepreneurs. Visit their website<\/a> and Facebook<\/a> page.\nDolores Watersheds Collaborative<\/strong>
\nEstablished September 2020<\/em>
\nDWC promotes forest, community and watershed resilience through collaboration. Your donation supports our work to share knowledge and resources; develop approaches that enhance ecological and community resilience to wildfire and changing conditions; and promote industry development of forest products. Visit their website<\/a> and Instagram<\/a> page.\n20MOONS Dance Theatre<\/strong>
\nEstablished December 2020<\/em>
\n20MOONS is a contemporary dance theatre company that believes in the power of art to guide people into profound relationship with themselves, others, and the true nature of the world we live in. We explore, examine, illuminate and connect people to the depth of our shared experience as human beings alive, now, in this world. Collaborating with dancers, musicians, and other artists, we aim to shake up perceptions of reality, leading to transformation on the cellular level of our individual and collective being. Visit their website<\/a> and Facebook<\/a> page.\nLOR Foundation Fiscal Fund<\/strong>
\nEstablished June 2021<\/em>
\nLOR Foundation provides individuals a source for grant funds to use towards charitable and educational pursuits within Cortez. Have an idea for improving quality of life in Cortez? Start the conversation with our Cortez Community Officer, Nicci Crowley<\/a>. Visit their website<\/a> and Facebook<\/a> page to see what projects are happening.\nCortez Farmers Market<\/strong>
\nEstablished March 2022<\/em>
\nWe are a group of independent producers who want to support the local community with locally grown produce, dry beans, eggs, local meats, fresh flowers, local honey, homemade goods, and specialty vendors selling prepared foods, and beverages. Our customers are friends and families in our area who wish to support their local producers to ensure the small producers continue to thrive. For more information visit the market website<\/a>.\nDurango Wild Soul<\/strong>
\nEstablished August 2022<\/em>
\nDurango Wild Soul is a local organization providing high-quality, deeply meaningful and connective nature-based programming for youth. We currently serve children from ages five – teen from several counties in the area through both our school year and summer offerings. As an organization, we are deeply committed to the value of relationship with nature, as well as to the children and families we serve. Check out their website<\/a> to learn more about their roots and big vision.\nCortez BMX<\/strong>
\nEstablished September 2022<\/em>
\nAs a USA BMX sanctioned track Cortez BMX strives to provide a safe, fun, and competitive racing environment. Cortez BMX promotes sportsmanship, leadership, and hard work through a racing atmosphere that values encouragement, accomplishment, and physical activity.\nCortez Pickleball Club<\/strong>
\nEstablished October 2022<\/em>
\nThe mission of the Cortez Pickleball Club is to encourage the growth and development of pickleball in the Cortez area.\u00a0 For more information visit their website<\/a>.\nMCHS Band Boosters<\/strong>
\nEstablished December 2022<\/em>
\nThis group supports the award-winning Montezuma-Cortez High School band program-an organization dedicated to fostering musical excellence, personal growth, and strong community values in our youth. Every year, this renowned program empowers students to develop their talents, build character, and create lasting connections through music. Help us continue to inspire, educate, and grow the next generation of musicians and leaders.\nPueblo Seed and Grain Hub<\/strong>
\nEstablished February 2023<\/em>
\nAn initiative to adapt Southwest regional food production and consumption to hotter, drier conditions by establishing a seed repository and infrastructure for open-pollinated, drought-tolerant grain and legume field crops. Services and activities include food-grade seed cleaning and testing, demonstration gardens, recipe and product development, as well as training and education in areas of grain literacy and food security in support of human and planetary health.\nFor Love and Babes<\/strong>
\nEstablished March 2023<\/em>
\nFor Love and Babes\u00a0is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting parents in our community through connection, education, and compassion. Our mission is to provide a safe and welcoming space where parents can come together to share experiences, listen deeply, and support one another.\n
\nEstablished March 2023<\/em>
\nThe Lost Canyon Bike and Skate Park is a modern recreational space for our community in Joe Rowell Park in downtown Dolores. The Lost Canyon Group will provide maintenance, promote programming, and continue to build and expand this incredible resource.\nMCHS Drama Boosters<\/strong>
\nEstablished November 2023<\/em>
\nThe MCHS Drama Boosters provide essential funding and support for the MCHS Drama Department throughout the school year to allow them to bring quality theatrical productions to our community and to teach students the arts of performance and design.\nMontelores Coalition<\/strong>
\nEstablished December 2023<\/em>
\nThe Montelores Coalition is a diverse group working together to balance sustainable outdoor recreation and conservation of natural, agricultural, and cultural resources to serve the unique needs of Colorado’s southwest corner.\nSquirrel Congress<\/strong>
\nEstablished December 2023<\/em>
\nSquirrel Congress celebrates local culture by facilitating quirky experiences and productions in order to strengthen our community through partnerships with local businesses and nonprofits. Visit their website<\/a>.\nCortez Youth Basketball<\/strong>
\nEstablished December 2023<\/em>
\nCortez Youth Basketball is a group of volunteers who help middle school aged boys and girls play basketball.\u00a0 They work with 6th, 7th, and 8th grade teams that travel to play.\nMCHS Track Boosters<\/strong>
\nEstablished February 2024<\/em>
\nThe MCHS Track Boosters provide essential funding and support for the MCHS Track Team to allow kids to participate without additional costs.\nMontezuma County Fair Junior Livestock Committee<\/strong>
\nEstablished May 2024<\/em>
\nThe Montezuma County Fair Junior Livestock Committee is here to empower and inspire the next generation of leaders in agriculture by providing educational programs, hands-on experiences, and leadership opportunities that foster an appreciation for the importance of agriculture in our community. Our vision is to cultivate a thriving community where youth are empowered to learn, grow and excel. Through our efforts we envision a future where agriculture youth are inspired to lead with knowledge, passion, and a commitment to sustainable farming and ranching practices.\nSouthwest Colorado Concerts<\/strong>
\nEstablished July 2024<\/em>
\nThe mission of this group\u00a0is to present an annual series of live, world-class, classical and contemporary concerts at a cost broadly affordable to the community.\nReNew<\/strong>
\nEstablished July 2024<\/em>
\nThe mission of ReNew is to provide assistance to victims of domestic violence, adult sexual assault, and adult survivors of child sexual abuse through crisis intervention, public education, and awareness.\nSTUDents Tackling Unhealthy Decisions<\/strong>
\nEstablished October 2024<\/em>
\nSTUD is a team of high school students that facilitates various prevention programs for the youth of the Dolores County Community that encourage safe and healthy choices. Our overall goal has always been to reduce the rate of underage substance use\/abuse and have a safer and healthier community\nSouthwest Community Justice Coalition<\/strong>
\nEstablished December 2024<\/em>
\nThe Southwest Community Justice Coalition works hand in hand with our community providing restorative practices and transformative solutions to address conflict and cycles of harm in order to heal and build relationships and a stronger, safer and more just southwest Colorado.\nSustainability Alliance of Southwest Colorado<\/strong>
\nEstablished December 2024<\/em>
\nThe Sustainability Alliance of Southwest Colorado (SASCO) networks with local organizations, businesses, governments, and individuals to create a more just society that prioritizes environmental stewardship, social equity, and a thriving local economy.\nFour Corners Community Band<\/strong>
\nEstablished February 2025<\/em>
\nTo provide quality, public musical entertainment for the Four Corners area and to provide an opportunity for area musicians to continue their involvement in music.\nLamp Post Creative Learning Center<\/strong>
\nEstablished March 2025<\/em>
\nLamp Post Creative Learning Center aims to provide a facility and\/or campus to house plays, learning groups, classes, and clubs to meet the needs of our community for ages children to adults who desire to explore and learn. This space will be a place to build a vibrant community through active learning, integrity, hard work, dedication, and faith. It will be a space where a variety of people can come and share their knowledge, craft, and expertise to others. This will be a place for creators to have a space and resources to practice their craft and Creative Teachers to teach others.\nCortez Arts District<\/strong>
\nEstablished March 2025<\/em>
\nThe Cortez Arts District aims to enhance our cultural landscape, develop creative spaces, and drive economic growth through collaboration.\nMCHS Football Boosters<\/strong>
\nEstablished April 2025<\/em>
\nThe MCHS Football Boosters provide essential funding and support for the MCHS Football Team to allow kids to participate without additional costs.\nWildwood Dance Project<\/strong>
\nEstablished April 2025<\/em>
\nAt Wildwood Dance Project, we are dedicated to reimagining the art of dance by blending movement, media, and community. Rooted in Durango, Colorado, and inspired by the diverse landscapes and cultures of the Southwest, we use the language of the body-amplified by technology and social media-to tell stories that connect, challenge, and inspire. Through collaborations across artistic disciplines and performances in unconventional spaces and on film, we seek to make dance more accessible, inclusive, and resonant for audiences everywhere. We dance. We create. We inspire.\n360 Arts Now<\/strong>
\nEstablished August 2025<\/em>
\n360 Arts Now is a full circle approach to creativity. Joyful collaboration and robust inclusivity unites people of all ages, through creative expression. Creating nuanced stories and original theatre.\nGood Samaritan Center\/Good Sam’s Food Pantry<\/strong>
\nEstablished October 2025<\/em>
\nGood Sam’s mission is to ensure we all have access to healthy food and supportive connections while working together to build a more just food system.\nDurango Farmers Market<\/strong>
\nEstablished October 2025<\/em>
\nThe mission of the Durango Farmers Market is to support agriculture and the local community of farmers and ranchers by providing a vibrant marketplace. Within this marketplace, we aim to support the growth of sustainable food networks and local small businesses, enhance access to education, and boost the local economy.\nMontezuma Civic Hub<\/strong>
\nEstablished December 2025<\/em>
\nThe Montezuma Civic Hub builds trust, belonging, and collaborative capacity across Montezuma County, equipping community
\nmembers, nonprofits, businesses, and local governments with skills to co-create solutions and strengthen the foundation
\nnecessary for a thriving community and economic prosperity.\nMontezuma County Athletics, Training and Sports (MCATS)<\/strong>
\nEstablished January 2026<\/em>
\nFocuses on player development to create champions in and out of competition.\nZU Arts Initiative<\/strong>
\nEstablished January 2026<\/em>
\nZU Arts Initiative sustains free, accessible cultural programming in Montezuma County while ensuring fair compensation for local
\nartists and musicians. We serve as the cultural commons of our community, making high-quality arts experiences available to all
\nresidents regardless of ability to pay.\nSand Canyon Therapy Community Access and Support Initiative<\/strong>
\nEstablished January 2026<\/em>
\nThe mission of the Sand Canyon Therapy Community Access & Support Initiative is to remove barriers to mental health care for children and families in rural communities by providing direct assistance, access to specialized services, and community-based resources that promote stability, dignity, and well-being.\nMontezuma County Fair Board<\/strong>
\nEstablished January 2026<\/em>
\nThe purpose of the Fair Board is to organize, coordinate, and manage a community event known as the Montezuma County Fair. The Fair Board shall be the Managing Board of the Montezuma County Fair appointed by and under the direction of the Board of Montezuma County Commissioners.\nHOPE Street Medicine<\/strong>
\nEstablished February 2026<\/em>
\nThe Sih Hasin Street Medicine program exists under the Indian Health Service at Northern Navajo Medical Center in Shiprock NM, but there is need to have a separate branch of the team who is able to see ALL patients, not solely IHS beneficiaries. This fund is to supplement the work done by the Sih Hasin Street Medicine Team so that ALL of our unsheltered patients may be seen for healthcare needs.\nWildbelly Fermentation Fest<\/strong>
\nEstablished February 2026<\/em>
\nWildbelly Fermentation Fest is a gathering to celebrate the magic of microbes. Through education and hands-on learning we aim to make fermentation approachable and inspire others to connect with the cultures that transform simple ingredients.\u00a0 The Festival will be held in Mancos, CO on November 7th and 8th, 2026.\u00a0 For more information and tickets go to:\u00a0 www.wildbellyfermentationfest.com<\/a>\nBear Smart Durango<\/strong>
\nEstablished March 2026<\/em>
\nFormed in 2003 Bear Smart Durango works to reduce human-bear conflict in the greater Durango area. We work proactively to prevent human and bear conflict from happening in the first place with the goal of keeping people safe and allowing bears to thrive in their natural environments. We do this via our conflict mitigation, education, policy and special programs. Learn how they help people help bears by visiting their website<\/a>,\u00a0Facebook<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Instagram<\/a>\u00a0pages.\nManos Unidas<\/strong>
\nEstablished March 2026<\/em>
\nCommunity organizing and mutual aid with dignity and respect for our neighbors\n