GOLD2024

Spanish Peaks Alliance for Wildfire Protection

Protecting the Spanish Peaks area from the impact of destructive events!

aka SPAWP   |   La Veta, CO   |  http://www.spawp.org
GuideStar Charity Check

Spanish Peaks Alliance for Wildfire Protection

EIN: 83-3584908


Mission

Our mission is to collaboratively protect the Spanish Peaks area, people, and wildlife from the impact of destructive events.

Ruling year info

2019

President

Mr. Phillip Craig Yenzer

Main address

PO Box 421

La Veta, CO 81055 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

83-3584908

Subject area info

Environment

Agriculture, fishing and forestry

Population served info

Age groups

NTEE code info

Alliance/Advocacy Organizations (C01)

IRS subsection

501(c)(3) Public Charity

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

Tax forms

Show Forms 990

Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

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

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

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.

Population(s) Served
Age groups

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.

Population(s) Served

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.

Population(s) Served

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

Population(s) Served

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.

Population(s) Served

Where we work

Our Sustainable Development Goals

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We shared information about our current feedback practices.
  • 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

  • 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

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

    We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback

Financials

Spanish Peaks Alliance for Wildfire Protection
Fiscal year: Jan 01 - Dec 31

Revenue vs. expenses:  breakdown

SOURCE: IRS Form 990 info
NET GAIN/LOSS:    in 
Note: When component data are not available, the graph displays the total Revenue and/or Expense values.

Financial data

SOURCE: IRS Form 990

Spanish Peaks Alliance for Wildfire Protection

Revenue & expenses

Fiscal Year: Jan 01 - Dec 31

SOURCE: IRS Form 990 info

Fiscal year ending: cloud_download Download Data

Spanish Peaks Alliance for Wildfire Protection

Balance sheet

Fiscal Year: Jan 01 - Dec 31

SOURCE: IRS Form 990 info

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.

Fiscal year ending: cloud_download Download Data

Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

Documents
Form 1023/1024 is not available for this organization

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 employees

SOURCE: IRS Form 990

Compensation
Other
Related
Show data for fiscal year
Compensation data
Download up to 5 most recent years of officer and director compensation data for this organization

There are no highest paid employees recorded for this organization.

Spanish Peaks Alliance for Wildfire Protection

Board of directors
as of 02/27/2024
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board of directors data
Download the most recent year of board of directors data for this organization
Board chair

Mr. Phillip Yenzer

Phillip Craig Yenzer

Cody L. Siebert

Sherri L. Jones

Brad Snow

Dawn Lervik

Steven Davis

Rob Golding

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • 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

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 2/2/2023

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
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Male, Not transgender
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or Straight
Disability status
Person without a disability

Race & ethnicity

No data

Gender identity

No data

Transgender Identity

No data

Sexual orientation

No data

Disability

No data