Spanish Peaks Alliance for Wildfire Protection
Protecting the Spanish Peaks area from the impact of destructive events!
Spanish Peaks Alliance for Wildfire Protection
EIN: 83-3584908
as of October 2024
as of October 15, 2024
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
The Spanish Peaks Alliance for Wildfire Protection 501(c)(3)'s main focus is to form collaborations between state, federal, and local grantors and partners to facilitate mitigation funds for reducing wildfire risks for homeowners and local communities.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
CSFS Reimbursement Grant FRWRM Awardee
SPAWP was awarded and continues to apply for allocation funds for matching reimbursement costs to work with community members to mitigate the areas around their homes to prevent destruction by wildfire. The passage of House Bill 20-1057 during the 2020 Colorado legislative session provided updates for the Forest Restoration and Wildfire Risk Mitigation (FRWRM) grant program, administered by the Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS). The FRWRM program was created during the 2017 legislative session when the Colorado General Assembly passed Senate Bill 17-050, which consolidated the Colorado Forest Restoration Grant Program (previously administered by the CSFS) and the Wildfire Risk Reduction Grant Program (previously administered by the Colorado Department of Natural Resources (CDNR)).
This competitive grant program is designed to assist with funding community-level actions across the entire state to: reduce the risk to people, property and infrastructure from wildfire in the wildland-urban interface (WUI); promote forest health and the utilization of woody material including for traditional forest products and biomass energy; and encourage forest restoration projects. This project project reduces risks to assets, loss of Human lives and Wildlife as well as creates work employment for Contractors.
Hwy 12 WUI (Wildland Urban Interface)
In September 2020, the Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) was awarded the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Hwy 12 Grant with Spanish Peaks Alliance for Wildfire Protection (SPAWP) as the main implementation partner.
The purpose of this $300k grant is to use its funds to create a continuous 17 mile “Shaded Fuel and Fire Break” 150 feet on either side of Hwy 12 (from Cucharas Pass to La Veta) on both state and private lands, as the only evacuation route out of the Cuchara Valley. A shaded fuel brake is a zone where the density of the forest is reduced by removing fuel on the ground and increasing tree crown spacing to provide an area where, in case of a wildfire, the firefighters could safely and effectively fight the fire.
USDA/USFS Slash Burn Pile collaboration with SPAWP
SPAWP (Spanish Peaks Alliance for Wildfire Prevention) facilitates discussions, negotiation and collaborations between the USDA/USFS (US Dept of Agriculture/US Forest Service), Huerfano County Dept of Emergency and Disaster Mgmt and local Communities to create designated areas for Slash Collection Piles for Supervised Burning by the USFS. SPAWP hosts community slash pile collection events at mutually agreed location in the mountain forested area of La Veta, CO area.
Slash-burning is a complimentary form of fire mitigation designed to keep forests healthy and prevent dangerous wildfires by safely burning leaves, pine needles, downed trees, standing small trees, and thick vegetation. The U.S. Forest Service burns piles of woody debris (slash) in an effort to reduce hazardous fuels.
Colorado Spring Creek Fire Erosion and Ips Beetle Mitigation Project
In December 2020, the Spanish Peaks Alliance for Wildfire Protection (SPAWP) was awarded a Federal Financial Assistance grant from the US Department of Interior - Bureau of Land Management for the amount of $25,000 with an additional $30,000 in 2021.
The cooperative agreement goal is to reduce erosion and Ips beetle threats that are a direct consequence of the burned BLM land, specific to Silver Mountain (Majors Ranch POA) and South Middle Creek which were deeply impacted by the 2018 Spring Creek fire. Specific objectives underway include
- Addressing continued erosion and excessive runoff from public lands as necessary for soil stabilization and reforestation
- Facilitating treatment of public lands by providing access through private property
- Addressing excess flow and sedimentation to ensure that culverts (and other infrastructure) maintain their integrity and functionality
- Reducing destruction of property and roads from uncontrolled water flow from public lands
SPAWP Next Level - capacity building grant
In early 2021, the Spanish Peaks Alliance for Wildfire Protection (SPAWP) was awarded reimbursement funds of $75,000 as part of the AIM (Action Implementation and Mitigation) program sponsored by the COCO organization (Coalitions & Collaboratives, Inc) and included a matching component in the form of dollars and in-kind contributions, including volunteer hours.
The goal of this grant was to strengthen SPAWP’s implementation capacity by funding a part-time Executive Director and a Wildfire Mitigation Team to coordinate project implementation and community engagement, facilitate wildfire mitigation assessments and to revitalize Firewise Communities. While the original team had turn-over, SPAWP successfully sponsored 2 demo projects and hosted multiple training and education sessions within a 4-county area, including a community forum in late 2022 which provided updates about extensive area wildfire protection activities and collaboration among US, CO State, local and area non-profits.
Where we work
Photos
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
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 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, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We act on the feedback we receive
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback
Financials
Revenue vs. expenses: breakdown
Financial data
Spanish Peaks Alliance for Wildfire Protection
Revenue & expensesFiscal Year: Jan 01 - Dec 31
Spanish Peaks Alliance for Wildfire Protection
Balance sheetFiscal Year: Jan 01 - Dec 31
The balance sheet gives a snapshot of the financial health of an organization at a particular point in time. An organization's total assets should generally exceed its total liabilities, or it cannot survive long, but the types of assets and liabilities must also be considered. For instance, an organization's current assets (cash, receivables, securities, etc.) should be sufficient to cover its current liabilities (payables, deferred revenue, current year loan, and note payments). Otherwise, the organization may face solvency problems. On the other hand, an organization whose cash and equivalents greatly exceed its current liabilities might not be putting its money to best use.
Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Documents
President
Mr. Phillip Craig Yenzer
Craig Yenzer graduated from Oklahoma State University with degrees in physical education and mathematics. Coach Yenzer began his coaching career in Newkirk, Oklahoma, eventually becoming Head Football Coach and Athletic Coordinator to the Midland High Bulldogs. Craig was honored by the Texas House of Representatives with a Joint Resolution congratulating his 38-year career in education, coaching, and administration.
Craig developed many skill sets during his coaching career including the organization of programs, working with budgets, personnel and staffing management, community advocacy, and relations development. He was a contributing member of the administrative staffs of two large Texas High Schools.
Craig, and his wife, Tammy, have now five generations deep of love for the Spanish Peaks region.
Spanish Peaks Alliance for Wildfire Protection
Officers, directors, trustees, and key employeesSOURCE: IRS Form 990
Compensation data
There are no highest paid employees recorded for this organization.
Spanish Peaks Alliance for Wildfire Protection
Board of directorsas of 02/27/2024
Board of directors data
Mr. Phillip Yenzer
Phillip Craig Yenzer
Cody L. Siebert
Sherri L. Jones
Brad Snow
Dawn Lervik
Steven Davis
Rob Golding
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 ? Not applicable -
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
No data
Transgender Identity
No data
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data