The Community Foundation serving SW Colorado aims to support local development and education through hands-on, educational programs that benefit both students and the community. It collaborates with local businesses and education entities to provide practical learning opportunities.
The grant program, referred to as CAUSE (Community Action Utilizing Service Experience), is designed to offer high school juniors and seniors in La Plata County a unique, hands-on paid summer internship experience during June. The program focuses on providing comprehensive learning opportunities through a blend of in-office work and offsite training with local marketing professionals. The grant supports local nonprofits by offering them a complete marketing/social media campaign designed by the interns, alongside an operational grant to cover marketing expenses. This initiative not only aims to bolster the capacity of local nonprofits through enhanced marketing efforts but also seeks to equip students with valuable professional skills and experience in the marketing and social media domain.