Bridging Communities: How Yampa Valley Community Foundation Unites Northwest Colorado

Steamboat Springs, the largest city in Routt County, is a tourism-driven ski town known for arts and recreation. Upriver in the city of Craig, the county seat of Moffat County, a rich tradition of ranching and farming carries on as multi-generational families preserve their livelihoods through irrigation and sustainable land use.

These communities in Northwest Colorado, connected by over 200 miles of the Yampa River, may look completely different based on their histories and economies. But their challenges, and the solutions their residents are working toward, sound remarkably similar. Tim Wohlgenant, who took over as CEO of the Yampa Valley Community Foundation (YVCF) in 2020, discovered this on his listening tour through the area.

"I needed to get a sense of the pulse of the larger community we represent,” Wohlgenant recalls. “There are a lot of scattered towns here, each with its own character and shared history."

As he spoke with community members, a common thread emerged: the shared generosity and helpfulness of communities bound by a deep commitment to supporting one another and recognizing their shared values. Ultimately, the tour highlighted the importance of YVCF's mission: to serve as not just a funding entity, but as a bridge to understanding, cooperation, and shared prosperity.

Shared River, Shared Future

Community foundations and education-focused organizations are scarce in this region. With only one community foundation supporting more than 100 active nonprofits in Northwest Colorado, funding can be a significant challenge. That’s where YVCF comes in, partnering with nonprofits, government agencies, and individuals to address these gaps. In one example, educators across Routt County were widely concerned with “brain drain” – young people leaving the valley due to a lack of local opportunities.

"Maybe students will go away for a college degree, but we want them to come back and practice agriculture here," Wohlgenant explains.

Welding class at South Routt School District, part of the RISE initiative supported by Yampa Valley Community Foundation. 

YVCF worked with the Hayden and South Routt school districts to help them create a full range of career and agricultural education programs, from culinary arts to ranching to beekeeping and more. Virtual classes allowed students from towns 30 miles apart to learn from one another while workshops afforded hands-on experience.

The programs required significant investment – about $1 million in matching funds for state grants – to renovate schools and equip them with the necessary facilities.

“When we saw the scale of what was needed, we knew this project fit our core values,” Wohlgenant says. “It was collaborative, regional in scope, and focused on preserving the community culture we all cherish.”

Beef processing class at Hayden School District, supported by Yampa Valley Community Foundation’s RISE initiative.

The foundation works closely with school districts to support emerging opportunities outside of the school’s annual budget cycles, said Emily Beyer, a former YVCF staff member and current Grants and Strategic Partnerships Manager at Steamboat Springs School District. That approach was a boon when the Steamboat Springs district needed a bilingual family liaison to support Spanish-speaking families, YVCF helped raise the funds that secured the position for two more years.

"YVCF grants don’t follow a formal cycle," Beyer adds. “They happen when donors learn about a meaningful opportunity. Compared to state grants, this process is faster, easier, and incredibly impactful.”

YVCF’s affordable housing initiatives, like the Grow Your Own Routt County Educator Fund, help recruit and retain local teachers.

Leading From the Front

Wohlgenant sees leadership as a core responsibility for the foundation. "You can think you're on the right side and still not be in the majority,” he says. “But it’s important to lead, even when it's difficult. It's easy to lead when everyone agrees with you."

Residents of Casey’s Pond Retirement Community celebrate the preservation of their homes, made possible by Yampa Valley Community Foundation’s $30 million affordable housing initiative.

For instance, YVCF helped secure a $24 million donation to purchase a property as part of a 20-year affordable housing project and endorsed its annexation into the city. When the annexation vote failed, YVCF stayed focused on residential solutions, quickly raising $30 million to preserve a senior living center and skilled nursing facility, then made low-interest loans available to help fund affordable housing in Craig and Hayden.

“We’ve found that by taking leadership positions and solving problems, we can raise more money and create lasting impact,” Wohlgenant adds. “Ultimately, it's about ensuring this rugged, beautiful valley remains a home for all who cherish it."