Thanks to Nanette, executive director of RMVCA, as well as the entire board of the Rocky Mountain Venture Capital Association for their support of our mission. For the second year, EFCO was the proud beneficiary of proceeds from sponsors and the annual poker tournament. These proceeds will be leveraged to help expand EFCO in Colorado this year and to support the work we’re doing with local entrepreneurs and companies.

Venture Capital in the Rockies Winter is the premier venture capital conference in the Rocky Mountain West, bringing together almost 400 entrepreneurs, investors and the service providers that support them. Over 20 companies presented at this year’s conference. It is great combination of business and winter entertainment that takes place annually at Beaver Creek.

It is with sincere gratitude that I thank the sponsors of the poker tournament. All of their sponsor dollars went directly to EFCO:

• CBRE
• Holme Roberts & Owen
• KPMG
• Rocky Mountain Venture Capital Association
• Square 1 Bank
• Silicon Valley Bank
• TriNet

Executive Director Job Description

Mission of Entrepreneur’s Foundation of Colorado (EFCO):
The mission of EFCO is to drive Corporate Social Responsibility and build a “culture of giving” in the startup business community of the front range of Colorado. We accomplish this by encouraging companies to give a portion of their equity to local charities through EFC Entrepreneur’s Foundation of Colorado (EFCO)

History and Organizational Overview
The Entrepreneur’s Foundation of Colorado was founded in 2007 by entrepreneurs, for entrepreneurs. EFCO encourages local companies to give back to their community and integrate this giving culture into the fabric of their business. To date more than 30 companies have donated a portion of their equity to local non profits through EFCO (a list of member companies can be found here: http://efcolorado.org/wp/active). The Foundation has generated over $100,000 in proceeds back to the community since its inception and expects several upcoming events to generate an additional $1M-$2M over the next 18 months.

EFCO Statement of Organizational Values
To make a significant positive impact in the community, EFCO believes:

• Start-up companies are part of their community ecosystem
• The stronger the community, the stronger the company
• Companies need to be socially responsible, and consciously give back to the communities where they operate
• In nurturing the philanthropy and volunteerism of our member companies.

Vision
A community of Colorado Front Range start-ups, working together to make Colorado a better place to live and build a company.

Position Description:
EFCO is a fund of The Community Foundation Serving Boulder County, where the Executive Director (ED) would be based and be part of the greater team of the Foundation. The ED will be an independent contractor, with day-to-day reporting to the President of the Foundation, and accountable to the EFCO board of directors – a volunteer board of experts from the entrepreneurial community.

The Executive Director’s high level duty is to further the mission of EFCO through active day-to-day management, facilitation of investee relations and capacity building, development of infrastructure and growth of the membership and its activities through:

• Work with the EFCO Advisory Board and full membership to expand support and grow members.

• Promote strategic philanthropy of our members by providing quality educational opportunities for member companies and the nonprofit community
• Connect every member to the work and success of EFCO
• Advance administrative aspects of the organization to operate the organization in an efficient and responsive manner
• Become the EFCO ambassador to the public and external organizations, to raise our voice as the premier philanthropic organization for entrepreneurial companies across the Front Range.

• Raise awareness of the importance of corporate philanthropy within the Colorado entrepreneurial community and within organizations by positioning EFCO as the leader in this field

Assumptions:

1. Executive Director position is part-time (average 20 hours per week)
2. Executive Director is supervised by and reports to the President of the Community Foundation
3. Executive Director is a contractor of  The Community Foundation

Specific responsibilities include:

Member Recruitment & Other Fundraising

• Assist EFCO Advisory Board in membership recruitment, including cultivating relationships with prospective members

• Develop leads from current members
• Work closely with the EFCO board in the development and implementation of specific recruitment plans to meet recruitment objectives

• Prepare grant proposals and reports to diverse funders to maintain and expand EFCO program

• Pitch EFCO program to area companies, maintain contact, and report on success

• Oversee recruitment events

Member  Education, Engagement, & Retention

• Responsible for the transition from prospect to engaged member including closing, follow up and active participation in EFCO

• Build personal connections with all members to ensure their desired level of engagement and retention

• Be an active member in the national EF program including attendance at annual EF retreat and corporate citizenship events

• Oversight and coordination of member and prospecting events

• Coordinate New Member orientation

• Stay current on organizational capacity best practices and venture philanthropy

• Assure that all member and prospect tracking is current

Communications

• Maintain regular communication with EFCO Advisory Board

• Oversee the production of a quarterly enewsletter and appropriate blog posts

• Supervise the creation of content for and further technical development of the EFCO website

• Manage communications with prospects and members

• Supervise the development and implementation of all communication materials, including EFCO reports

• Coordinate with The Community Foundation’s (TCF’s) Director of Advancement on certain EFCO and TCF marketing and communications materials

• Write and disseminate blog and social media updates throughout the year to highlight EFCO’s successes

• Implement 2012 Communications Plan

• Represent EFCO in public presentations to nonprofit sector

Office Administration

• Develop and maintain an annual work plan including objectives, measures, and budget

• Oversee the financial management of the organization, including supervision of accounts payable, preparation of financial reports, tracking member donations, and reconciliation with The Community Foundation records and EFCO Advisory Board

• Maintain database of partners, prospective members, press contacts, and community groups

• Hire and manage all staff, volunteers and interns

• Oversee database management

Qualifications

The successful candidate:

• Has demonstrated leadership abilities
• Has fundraising experience
• Is able to work with and organize individuals with divergent viewpoints
• Can think strategically and work in a collaborative manner with the various EFCO constituencies
• Is highly organized
• Can represent EFCO  in the community to increase the organization’s visibility and recognition
• Has a minimum of five years work experience (volunteer management & coordination, grantmaking experience a plus)
• Has excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
• Has integrity, is intellectually curious, has a sense of humor and is a “people” person, capable of leading, managing and inspiring a diverse group of successful, entrepreneurial individuals
• Has experience working with or on a nonprofit board or entrepreneurial company
• Is resourceful

This is a contract position.

To apply, please send a cover letter*, resume, and three professional references to Tu.T.Phan@gmail.com No phone calls please.

*In your cover letter, please articulate how your experience in the above categories makes you the best candidate for this position. In addition, please highlight how you envision the EFCO model making a positive impact on the entrepreneurial community and beyond.

EFCO  is a fund of The Community Foundation http://www.commfound.org

EFCO is an affiliate of Entrepreneurs Foundation Network http://www.efbayarea.org/ef-network

Please join the companies and members of the Entrepreneurs Foundation of Colorado on the weekend of September 10^th and 11^th to “Honor Lives Changed” on September 11, 2001 by “Changing Lives today.”   We are working with four community organizations to support volunteering and fundraising efforts in both Boulder and Denver.

To honor the 10^th anniversary of the tragedy of September 11, 2001, the Entrepreneurs Foundation of Colorado is launching a new annual event, Changing Lives Day. As an affiliate of the Global Entrepreneurs Foundation, the Colorado Chapter is joining a growing number of EF affilates to focus our members into service around this weekend.  Like our annual volunteer events in April, with Boulder’s Volunteer Connection and Denver’s Metro Volunteers, this organized event will make it easy and fun for our member companies to get out and give back.

For our inaugural  “ Changing Lives Day” we are excited to offer two volunteer opportunities in Boulder, as well as two in Denver.

Boulder – Saturday, September 10^th:  The 22^nd annual Cause for Paws Doggie Dash

This 4K run or 3K walk at the Boulder Reservoir is the largest fundraiser for the Humane Society of Boulder County. Please consider registering to participate on your own corporate team (minimum team size is 6, maximum team size is 15) or the EFCO team.   Based on the amount of pledges you raise, you can win some very cool gifts too.

Denver – Saturday, September 10^th:  Rocky Mountain PBS’s Kids Fun Fest

Please consider volunteering in Downtown Denver to help Rocky Mountain PBS host their annual Kids Fun Fest.  Register to help between 6:30 AM and 3:30 PM on the Volunteer Match Site.

Boulder – Sunday, September 11^th- : The Buffalo Bicycle Classic

Please consider registering to participate on your own corporate team or the EFCO team for a 14, 35, 50, 70 or 100 mile bike ride for scholarship funds to CU’s Department of Arts & Science students like Cindy.  To volunteer, talk to Dennis Berry via the volunteer page.  As a team, we will compete to win the team competition.  Don’t miss the chatter on the race facebook page.  Feel free to donate to our team too.

Denver Events – Sunday, September 11^th: Extreme Community Makeover

Please consider contacting Angela to help ECM at God’s Grace Church in the Westwood part of Denver between 9:00 AM and 2:00 PM.  Extreme Community Makeover coordinates volunteer teams to partner with underserved people to improve their own homes and neighborhoods.

About the Entrepreneurs Foundation of Colorado

The Entrepreneurs Foundation of Colorado was formed in 2007 by a volunteer board and five companies:  Collective Intellect, Me.dium, Newsgator, Rally Software and Tendril.  As the Colorado affiliate of the Entrepreneurs Foundation, we are committed to building strong companies and stronger communities through 1% equity and profit endowments as well as volunteering to community non-profits.  We have approximately 25 member companies and 10 alumni who have given over $100,000 and thousands of volunteer hours to our Colorado communities.  For more information on EFCO, please visit efcolorado.org or contact our board members.

CEO – Ryan Martens, Ryan@rallydev.com

Administrator – Amanda Ford, Amanda@commfound.org

Board Members: Cindy Haag – Rally Software; Chris Barge – The Community Foundation Serving Boulder County; Josie Heath – The Community Foundation Serving Boulder County; Joshua Forman – Symplified; Karyn German – Closely; Keith Olivia – Roberts & Olivia; Ken Fugate – Square One Bank; Lee Reichert – Lathrop Gage;  Mike Platt –Cooley; Tom Keller- Serial Entrepreneur

Trustees Emeritus: Frank Amoroso, Brad Feld, Kirk Holland, Bill Roberts, Kyle Leffkoff, JB Holston, and Tim Connor

If you love entrepreneurship and supporting our community, don’t miss the final event of year 2 for Boulder’s own Unreasonable Institute – The Unreasonable Climax.

All our 26 entrepreneurs will be presenting for 5 minutes each at the Historic Boulder Theater! Our goal is to pack the Boulder Theater! Attendees are flying in from Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Austin, and even Mumbai! The audience will include venture capitalists both from Boulder and from across the US, a Time Magazine Hero of the Planet, an education pioneer recognized by Barack Obama, and the CEO of Richard Branson’s Carbon War Room. You’ll hear from entrepreneurs recognized by the World Health Organization, contracting with the US Navy, funded by the Indian Government, and partnering with WalMart. We’re biased, but we think this will be the most inspiring 5 hours of your life.

It is actually three great events that you can pick and choose from or be a VIP and go to all three:

• 26 Entrepreneurs giving you the 5 minute story of their social enterprise in the Historic Boulder Theater
• An intimate dinner with all the fellows, mentors and staff at the St. Julian
• A pajama party for VIP supporters, fellows, mentors and staff

What could be more fun and important on your Friday afternoon and evening than this?  (See the details, registrations and discount code for members of the entrepreneurship community below)

I am so fired up about this because, I have been spending my first sabbatical from Rally, as the Entrepreneur in Residence at this summer’s Unreasonable Institute.  From personal experience, I can tell you this is an unreasonable class of fellows who all can impact at least a million people in the world. These social entrepreneurs all have hugely impacting stories that fill your head and heart with the glorius feelings of joy and hope.  In addition, they all have real businesses that are working and they need your help to grow and prosper.  Please forward this to all the employees in your company.

 

Enter “CommunityDiscount” as discount code to get 40% off! - Click here to get signed up!

(please treat this discount code top secret… thanks) 

Hope to see you there – Ryan Martens

 

 

 

 

Big news from Tendril  including a huge announcement that energy giant Siemens is both investing in Tendril and will be co-marketing the company’s Tendril Connect product line for utilities. This on the heels of the launch of the company’s Energize application suite for management of home energy costs in real time. The first prime customer for Energize is Origin Energy, one of Australia’s largest and most progressive utilities.

There is a great event happening in September for people interested in serving on a non-profit board. It is also a great place for non-profit employees to get some professional development. It is being put on by an EFCO sister organization – Social Venture Partners. More info at this link:

Boulder County Board Match is Boulder County’s premier event strengthening non-profit boards and the dedicated volunteers serving our community.  This evening conference will provide residents with education on non-profit board service, current board members with growth opportunities, and non-profit staff with professional development.  Residents and non-profits will make connections during workshop sessions and at a table fair/networking hour.  This event is being reasonably priced at $30 per person to encourage broad community participation.

Many thanks to the EFCO folks who came out to Growing Gardens on a blustery spring day to dig in the dirt, transplant herbs and plants, fertilize and generally have fun while contributing to the great efforts of Growing Gardens.  Growing Gardens’ mission is to enrich the lives of  Boulder County residents through environmentally sustainable gardening programs that empower people to experience a direct and deep connetion with plants, the land and each other. 

Corporate Social Responsibility is an important part of the culture of  EFCO. Continue to check our website for additional volunteer opportunities.

We had over 75 people show up and help Growing Gardens get ready for their annual fund raising sale. Employees from Rally, Application Experts, Tensegrity, and Symplfied were there. As well as representatives from Roberts & Olivia LLC, Intel Capital, and Boulder Community Foundation. All in all the event was a huge success.
It’s not too late to help out Growing Gardens – if you need a plant or seedlings for your garden this year, come to their annual sale on May 14/15, May 21/23, or May 28.

The Office for University Outreach, is starting a program for a digital storytelling project with first generation Mexican immigrant boys and girls at the Casa de la Esperanza in Longmont (The Casa is a residential community for low-income Mexican immigrant families run through Boulder County).

They are looking for old laptops or digital cameras that could be donated. If you or your company have any that are no longer serving you, please donate them to a worthy cause. Please contact Claire Young, cyoung@symplified.com, for more information.