PARK CITY — Utah's first community foundation is growing by leaps and bounds and the idea of one organization to coordinate and disperse charitable contributions locally is spreading across the Beehive State.
In its second year, the Park City Foundation gave $100,000 to local nonprofit groups, including Friend of Animals, the Park City Museum, the Park City Performing Arts Foundation and Peace House Inc. The funds were used mostly for health and human resources and education, but conservation, animals and sports also got a monetary boost.
The foundation was able to match its contribution level from 2008, despite tough economic times for businesses and residents alike in 2009, according to foundation spokeswoman Trisha Worthington. Funds were awarded based on a competitive grant process.
The extra work has meant new staff members and a mid-winter move to bigger offices. The foundation, which operates independent of city government, is headed by a board of directors.
This year, the foundation used free passes to Park City Mountain Resort and the Canyons Resort to garner donations. The "Community Pass" also gives donors the chance to golf free at seven courses around Wasatch and Summit counties.
The community foundation was created by former Park City Mayor Bradley Olch about a year after he left office.
"We were the only Western resort community that didn't have one," Olch said. "We're really taking the lead in helping other nonprofits and helping donors with philanthropic needs."
The new model allows small donors, such as wealthy second-home owners, a chance to manage donations without creating their own foundations, Worthington said. The "donor advised funds" are less expensive than independent foundations and come with better tax benefits.
The model has been used extensively throughout the world, but Utah didn't get its own foundation until 2007. Now, the Community Foundation of Utah serves the state as a whole. Barely a year old, the statewide organization just received its nonprofit tax designation last spring.
Community Foundation of Utah director Fraser Nelson said people thought she was crazy to start a foundation during a recession but she believes that the need for a group like hers has become apparent.
"We're learning that nonprofits have been really struggling financially," Nelson said. "I think we need to take a long-term approach."
Seeking sustainability
The Park City Foundation works closely with City Hall but is not directly accountable to the municipality. Earlier this year, the two organizations joined together for the second annual "Save Our Snow" event about dealing with the economic effects of climate change.
The organization also received Knight Foundation funding to create ParkCityGreen.org, which allows residents to calculate personal carbon and water impacts. The site offers helpful tips on efficiency and sustainability and is the first of its kind in the nation.
e-mail: rpalmer@desnews.com