Two years ago, Veterans Community Project (VCP) had four staff and had just started working towards their mission of providing veterans housing via tiny homes as well as wraparound support. A grant from the Local Change Foundation, a nonprofit providing support to Front Range nonprofits, students and local disaster relief, opened the door to a lasting collaboration that provides support on multiple levels.
First, VCP received $15,000, freeing the budget to complete construction on veteran housing during a period of intense growth and change for the nonprofit. They then started attending Local Change’s free professional development seminars, helping their staff grow without cutting into the budget.
Lastly, they became connected with other grantees in the foundation’s network. There, they met another nonprofit — Safe Shelter of St. Vrain Valley, which focuses on domestic violence. The two started joining forces to provide more services to female veterans who have experienced sexual trauma and domestic violence.
“Sometimes it can feel a little lonely in this space,” said Jennifer Seybold, executive director at VCP. “I’m so grateful for organizations like Local Change who have tools, support and belief in what we do in a tangible way.”
The ongoing relationships and granteed support are thanks to Jennifer Hinderliter, executive director of Local Change. Having worked in nonprofit spaces for many years, she understands firsthand what the community needs.
Currently in her third year at Local Change, Hinderliter has initiated a rebranding to differentiate from Elevations Credit Union, which houses and supports the foundation, the free training webinars, and continued involvement with those who receive their funds.
“Now that I’m in a position to give back and support amazing nonprofits in the area, I want to go beyond funding and support our grantees with other resources throughout the year,” she said. Local Change’s support comes at a time when many nonprofits are seeing more challenges.
According to the Fundraising Effectiveness Project (FEP), donations declined in late 2024 from certain donor groups, and overall donor retention dipped. At the same time, the end of COVID- era funding will likely mean increased demand for nonprofit services.
To understand and address the Front Range community’s changing needs, Hinderliter keeps in contact with those who’ve received foundation funds as well as Elevations members. Those talks led the foundation to establish affordable housing as a priority alongside mental health and education, two areas that have been central to the foundation since it started in 2010.
Since that beginning, the foundation has given over $4 million in grants, scholarships, and disaster relief. In 2024, they awarded $70,000 in grants to local nonprofits and $85,000 in scholarships to local students. The foundation’s positive work in Front Range communities is certainly felt within the credit union — Elevations employees have said it inspired them to apply, and it’s something they are proud to be a part of. Seybold has felt the credit union staff’s support as well. An employee-led group focused on serving veterans has started volunteering with VCP. The relationship is so strong, she gets recognized when she walks into a branch.
“I think there’s an incredible culture at Elevations and at Local Change,” she said. “It’s really
unique.”
Just as VCP focuses on the many individual needs veterans have in addition to housing — health, education, financial wellness and more — the foundation offers multiple levels of support to each nonprofit it works with.
“We can’t do it without community investment. We need the community to know who we are and what we need,” Seybold said. “I can’t think of another organization that’s had that through thread.”
You can donate to Local Change or establish a scholarship at www.elevations.com/foundation.