ROCKY MOUNTAIN CONSERVANCY
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Programs and results
What we aim to solve
The Rocky Mountain Conservancy is dedicated to the protection and conservation of Rocky Mountain National Park and similar public lands. Our work is primarily focused on these goals through education, stewardship, and philanthropy.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Conservation Corps
The Rocky Mountain Conservancy established the Rocky Mountain Conservancy-Conservation Corps (RMC-CC) in 2003 to provide youth, ages 18-25, with the opportunity to perform conservation work in the Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forests (ARNF) and Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP), while learning about natural resource careers and developing a conservation ethic.
The Rocky Mountain Conservancy provides this opportunity for youth by offering thirty-six internships to high school graduates interested in exploring our nation's public lands, developing a stewardship ethic, and exploring career opportunities in conservation. These interns are spread across six crews consisting of one leader and five crew members. Each crew will spend eight weeks in the field with the National Park Service or USDA Forest Service maintaining trails, restoring watersheds, and improving recreation sites for future visitors. These crews spend these weeks designated to a particular region or ranger district of the public lands, including the Boulder, Canyon Lakes, and Sulphur Ranger Districts of the Arapaho Roosevelt National Forests and the east side of Rocky Mountain National Park. Over the course of this time, interns will learn about a variety of conservation methods, network with natural resource professionals, and engage community groups in volunteer projects. Through this experience, the Conservation Corps crews become stewards of sustainable trail use and public land conservation.
In addition to their eight weeks spent in the field, interns will engage in three to four weeks of outdoor leadership and backcountry ethics training, conservation education, and career development seminars. These programs ground the field work in conservation leadership and stewardship ethics to foster the next generation of conservationists.
Based on past success of the program, the RMC-CC expects crews to spend at least 14,400 total hours outdoors completing projects, participating in field classes, or attending training; crews will spend 80% of this completing on-the-ground conservation projects on public lands and the remainder will be spent developing outdoor skills and an understanding of natural resources.
The program actively targets recruitment of localized populations, specifically undeserved youth along Colorado's Front Range in an effort to better connect communities to their local public lands and to empower opportunity youth with the job skills, experience, and confidence to succeed in their personal and professional life.
Next Generation Fund
This fund supports youth education in and around Rocky Mountain National Park including:
Junior Ranger Program
Park Internships for college students
Environmental Education for children
Exhibits and Facilities for children
Field Seminars for children and families
Fellowships for post-graduates
Land Protection
Being prepared to take action when new opportunities arise to purchase and protect land and vital open space is an ongoing priority. Since 1985, the Rocky Mountain Conservancy has purchased over 150 acres of private land and turned it over to Rocky Mountain National Park and other public land partners.
Trail Improvement Fund
Rocky Mountain National Park is well-loved by $3 million visitors each year. Consequently, trails are continually in need of maintenance. Sometimes new trail construction is needed. The Conservancy's Trail Improvement Fund helps to support all of these efforts so that visitors will have a safe and enjoyable experience and so that the resources are protected for the future.
Where we work
External reviews
Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of participants attending course/session/workshop
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Age groups, Low-income people
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
2020 and 2021 numbers due to COVID-19 pandemic. 2022 limited number of classes.
Average grant amount
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Total number of classes offered
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Next Generation Fund
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
2020 and 2021 numbers due to COVID-19 pandemic. 2022 limited number of classes.
Number of books published for previously published writers
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
48 books specifically for Rocky Mountain National Park History and Natural History.
Number of volunteers
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Related Program
Land Protection
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
2020 and 2021 numbers due to COVID-19 pandemic. 2022 limited number of volunteer events.
Total number of new organization members
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of acres of land protected
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Related Program
Land Protection
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Number of conservation actions at site(s)
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Conservation Corps
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Miles of trails maintained, hazardous trees removed from trails, trail drainage structures constructed, wetland crossings constructed, acres managed for invasive plants, check steps created and more.
Number of endowments
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Next Generation Fund
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Number of overall donors
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
The Rocky Mountain Conservancy promotes stewardship of Rocky Mountain National Park and similar lands through education and philanthropy. The Rocky Mountain Conservancy envisions present and future generations valuing the importance of Rocky Mountain National Park and other public lands and understanding their relevance to our culture and to ourselves.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Our current strategic plan includes:
Enhancing our organizational identity and branding;
Expanding our membership program;
Revitalizing our educational sales;
Keeping our Field Institute and educational programming relevant;
Developing philanthropic support; and
Ensuring organizational sustainability.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Since 1931, the Rocky Mountain Conservancy has been producing educational publications, offering seminars, supporting research, and providing aid and philanthropic support to Rocky Mountain National Park and our other public lands partners. The Conservancy is one of the oldest cooperating associations working with the National Park Service.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
The Rocky Mountain Conservancy has:
Recently completed four land protection projects for Rocky Mountain National Park including the purchase of the last commercial in-holding, Cascade Cottages for $3.4 million.
Our Field Institute and the National Park interns funded by Rocky Mountain Conservancy are reaching out to more audiences and increasing their participation numbers.
Our membership program has grown by 1,500 new members.
Our Conservation Corps program has grown to include six crews and in 2017 we are adding a two week high school program.
Since 2013, Rocky Mountain Conservancy educational sales have increased 66% enabling us to provide more financial aid to our public lands partners.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN CONSERVANCY
Board of directorsas of 06/26/2023
Mr. Brian Ross
Mr. Walt Borneman
Charles Cofas
Timothy Davis
Katherine Dines
Howard Fry
Stifel Nicolaus & Co.
James Pickering
Brian Ross
Colorado Conservation Trust
Zachary Wiebe
Walter Borneman
Lynne Geweke
Christina Kraft
Kim Skyelander
Laurie Mathews
Rich Fedorchak
Claudine Perrault
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data