CERF is actively fundraising in order to be prepared for future consequences directly related to the 416 Fire.
So far, CERF has helped more than 200 community members with job interruption and almost 200 evacuees with bridge funding directly related to the 416 Fire. In addition, CERF is supporting the Community Emergency Assistance Coalition (CEAC), a collaborative multi-agency effort aimed at providing emergency assistance to individuals and families facing a financial crisis, that will help folks that will have long-term financial struggles as direct results of the 416 Fire and not duplicate services.
Next CERF will support nonprofit fundraising efforts and infuse cash into small businesses related to tourism affected by the 416 Fire.
This is a win-win-win proposition. It enables nonprofits to strengthen relationship with local businesses by using the grant to pay for things they usually ask be donated. It improves the ability for nonprofits to meet budgets, especially since we anticipate Corporate Sponsorship dollars to be down in the second part of 2018.
It infuses cash into our small businesses, and enables CERF to ensure the money raised by the community to support the community is spent in the community. It also encourages community members to spend these gift certificates (plus some) with local businesses, and in turn increase the City of Durango’s lodgers and sales tax.
