BOOTSTRAPS INC
Helping mountain-area students reach their educational dreams since 1945.
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
It's almost impossible to find a job that does not require some sort of education beyond high school, yet for many high school graduates, college or technical school is out of reach due to limited finances. Families struggle to assist their children in reaching their educational dreams and often incur significant debt.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Scholarships
Bootstraps awards scholarships to graduating high school seniors from the Conifer/Evergreen, CO area. Scholarships are based on a combination of merit and financial need. The value of the scholarships range from $1,000 for one year to $24,000 for four years.
Interest-free Loans
Bootstraps awards interest-free loans for one year up to four years. The value of the loans is between $1,000 and $3,500 for one year. Students make monthly payments upon graduation to repay the loans. The repaid loans are then "recycled" to other students.
Interest-free Loans to Continuing Students
Bootstraps makes interest-free loans to students who received a Bootstraps award upon graduation from high school. These loans average $1,000 and can be renewed for a total of four years. Upon graduation from college, recipients make monthly payments. Once the loan is paid in full, the funds are "recycled" as loans to other students.
Where we work
External reviews

Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn 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?
Bootstraps' want to eliminate financial barriers to continuing education for students of the Evergreen and Conifer, CO area.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Bootstraps awards last dollar scholarships to graduating high school seniors in Evergreen and Conifer, CO as well as interest-free educational loans.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Since 1945, Bootstraps has awarded $4 million dollars in scholarships and loans. Through our programs, students who did not have financial means are able to receive a continuing education. Bootstraps has strong support from the community that we serve, ensuring that we can help students who are the most in need.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Since 1945, Bootstraps has awarded $4 million dollars in scholarships and loans. Through our programs, students who did not have financial means are able to receive a continuing education.
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 identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, 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?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for 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
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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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.
BOOTSTRAPS INC
Board of directorsas of 02/25/2022
Ms. Kimberley Viergever
No Affiliation
Term: 2019 - 2020
Ms Jennifer Richey
Samson Eberhart
Stephanie Titus
Shelbi Perry
Kimberly Lange
Kimball Herfurt
Coldwell Bank Real Estate
Sue Freytag
Jefferson County Schools
Chet Curry
Lori Frease
Conifer Area Chamber of Commerce
Kelsey Smith
Platte Canyon School District
Lauren Davis
Melanie Cook
Ernst & Young
Nancy Viergever Whitesell
Nancy Whitesell
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
No data
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
Equity strategies
Last updated: 01/13/2021GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.