Thanks to Nanette, executive director of RMVCA, as well as the entire board of the Rocky Mountain Venture Capital Association for their support of our mission. For the second year, EFCO was the proud beneficiary of proceeds from sponsors and the annual poker tournament. These proceeds will be leveraged to help expand EFCO in Colorado this year and to support the work we’re doing with local entrepreneurs and companies.

Venture Capital in the Rockies Winter is the premier venture capital conference in the Rocky Mountain West, bringing together almost 400 entrepreneurs, investors and the service providers that support them. Over 20 companies presented at this year’s conference. It is great combination of business and winter entertainment that takes place annually at Beaver Creek.

It is with sincere gratitude that I thank the sponsors of the poker tournament. All of their sponsor dollars went directly to EFCO:

• CBRE
• Holme Roberts & Owen
• KPMG
• Rocky Mountain Venture Capital Association
• Square 1 Bank
• Silicon Valley Bank
• TriNet

Executive Director Job Description

Mission of Entrepreneur’s Foundation of Colorado (EFCO):
The mission of EFCO is to drive Corporate Social Responsibility and build a “culture of giving” in the startup business community of the front range of Colorado. We accomplish this by encouraging companies to give a portion of their equity to local charities through EFC Entrepreneur’s Foundation of Colorado (EFCO)

History and Organizational Overview
The Entrepreneur’s Foundation of Colorado was founded in 2007 by entrepreneurs, for entrepreneurs. EFCO encourages local companies to give back to their community and integrate this giving culture into the fabric of their business. To date more than 30 companies have donated a portion of their equity to local non profits through EFCO (a list of member companies can be found here: http://efcolorado.org/wp/active). The Foundation has generated over $100,000 in proceeds back to the community since its inception and expects several upcoming events to generate an additional $1M-$2M over the next 18 months.

EFCO Statement of Organizational Values
To make a significant positive impact in the community, EFCO believes:

• Start-up companies are part of their community ecosystem
• The stronger the community, the stronger the company
• Companies need to be socially responsible, and consciously give back to the communities where they operate
• In nurturing the philanthropy and volunteerism of our member companies.

Vision
A community of Colorado Front Range start-ups, working together to make Colorado a better place to live and build a company.

Position Description:
EFCO is a fund of The Community Foundation Serving Boulder County, where the Executive Director (ED) would be based and be part of the greater team of the Foundation. The ED will be an independent contractor, with day-to-day reporting to the President of the Foundation, and accountable to the EFCO board of directors – a volunteer board of experts from the entrepreneurial community.

The Executive Director’s high level duty is to further the mission of EFCO through active day-to-day management, facilitation of investee relations and capacity building, development of infrastructure and growth of the membership and its activities through:

• Work with the EFCO Advisory Board and full membership to expand support and grow members.

• Promote strategic philanthropy of our members by providing quality educational opportunities for member companies and the nonprofit community
• Connect every member to the work and success of EFCO
• Advance administrative aspects of the organization to operate the organization in an efficient and responsive manner
• Become the EFCO ambassador to the public and external organizations, to raise our voice as the premier philanthropic organization for entrepreneurial companies across the Front Range.

• Raise awareness of the importance of corporate philanthropy within the Colorado entrepreneurial community and within organizations by positioning EFCO as the leader in this field

Assumptions:

1. Executive Director position is part-time (average 20 hours per week)
2. Executive Director is supervised by and reports to the President of the Community Foundation
3. Executive Director is a contractor of  The Community Foundation

Specific responsibilities include:

Member Recruitment & Other Fundraising

• Assist EFCO Advisory Board in membership recruitment, including cultivating relationships with prospective members

• Develop leads from current members
• Work closely with the EFCO board in the development and implementation of specific recruitment plans to meet recruitment objectives

• Prepare grant proposals and reports to diverse funders to maintain and expand EFCO program

• Pitch EFCO program to area companies, maintain contact, and report on success

• Oversee recruitment events

Member  Education, Engagement, & Retention

• Responsible for the transition from prospect to engaged member including closing, follow up and active participation in EFCO

• Build personal connections with all members to ensure their desired level of engagement and retention

• Be an active member in the national EF program including attendance at annual EF retreat and corporate citizenship events

• Oversight and coordination of member and prospecting events

• Coordinate New Member orientation

• Stay current on organizational capacity best practices and venture philanthropy

• Assure that all member and prospect tracking is current

Communications

• Maintain regular communication with EFCO Advisory Board

• Oversee the production of a quarterly enewsletter and appropriate blog posts

• Supervise the creation of content for and further technical development of the EFCO website

• Manage communications with prospects and members

• Supervise the development and implementation of all communication materials, including EFCO reports

• Coordinate with The Community Foundation’s (TCF’s) Director of Advancement on certain EFCO and TCF marketing and communications materials

• Write and disseminate blog and social media updates throughout the year to highlight EFCO’s successes

• Implement 2012 Communications Plan

• Represent EFCO in public presentations to nonprofit sector

Office Administration

• Develop and maintain an annual work plan including objectives, measures, and budget

• Oversee the financial management of the organization, including supervision of accounts payable, preparation of financial reports, tracking member donations, and reconciliation with The Community Foundation records and EFCO Advisory Board

• Maintain database of partners, prospective members, press contacts, and community groups

• Hire and manage all staff, volunteers and interns

• Oversee database management

Qualifications

The successful candidate:

• Has demonstrated leadership abilities
• Has fundraising experience
• Is able to work with and organize individuals with divergent viewpoints
• Can think strategically and work in a collaborative manner with the various EFCO constituencies
• Is highly organized
• Can represent EFCO  in the community to increase the organization’s visibility and recognition
• Has a minimum of five years work experience (volunteer management & coordination, grantmaking experience a plus)
• Has excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
• Has integrity, is intellectually curious, has a sense of humor and is a “people” person, capable of leading, managing and inspiring a diverse group of successful, entrepreneurial individuals
• Has experience working with or on a nonprofit board or entrepreneurial company
• Is resourceful

This is a contract position.

To apply, please send a cover letter*, resume, and three professional references to Tu.T.Phan@gmail.com No phone calls please.

*In your cover letter, please articulate how your experience in the above categories makes you the best candidate for this position. In addition, please highlight how you envision the EFCO model making a positive impact on the entrepreneurial community and beyond.

EFCO  is a fund of The Community Foundation http://www.commfound.org

EFCO is an affiliate of Entrepreneurs Foundation Network http://www.efbayarea.org/ef-network

Please join the companies and members of the Entrepreneurs Foundation of Colorado on the weekend of September 10^th and 11^th to “Honor Lives Changed” on September 11, 2001 by “Changing Lives today.”   We are working with four community organizations to support volunteering and fundraising efforts in both Boulder and Denver.

To honor the 10^th anniversary of the tragedy of September 11, 2001, the Entrepreneurs Foundation of Colorado is launching a new annual event, Changing Lives Day. As an affiliate of the Global Entrepreneurs Foundation, the Colorado Chapter is joining a growing number of EF affilates to focus our members into service around this weekend.  Like our annual volunteer events in April, with Boulder’s Volunteer Connection and Denver’s Metro Volunteers, this organized event will make it easy and fun for our member companies to get out and give back.

For our inaugural  “ Changing Lives Day” we are excited to offer two volunteer opportunities in Boulder, as well as two in Denver.

Boulder – Saturday, September 10^th:  The 22^nd annual Cause for Paws Doggie Dash

This 4K run or 3K walk at the Boulder Reservoir is the largest fundraiser for the Humane Society of Boulder County. Please consider registering to participate on your own corporate team (minimum team size is 6, maximum team size is 15) or the EFCO team.   Based on the amount of pledges you raise, you can win some very cool gifts too.

Denver – Saturday, September 10^th:  Rocky Mountain PBS’s Kids Fun Fest

Please consider volunteering in Downtown Denver to help Rocky Mountain PBS host their annual Kids Fun Fest.  Register to help between 6:30 AM and 3:30 PM on the Volunteer Match Site.

Boulder – Sunday, September 11^th- : The Buffalo Bicycle Classic

Please consider registering to participate on your own corporate team or the EFCO team for a 14, 35, 50, 70 or 100 mile bike ride for scholarship funds to CU’s Department of Arts & Science students like Cindy.  To volunteer, talk to Dennis Berry via the volunteer page.  As a team, we will compete to win the team competition.  Don’t miss the chatter on the race facebook page.  Feel free to donate to our team too.

Denver Events – Sunday, September 11^th: Extreme Community Makeover

Please consider contacting Angela to help ECM at God’s Grace Church in the Westwood part of Denver between 9:00 AM and 2:00 PM.  Extreme Community Makeover coordinates volunteer teams to partner with underserved people to improve their own homes and neighborhoods.

About the Entrepreneurs Foundation of Colorado

The Entrepreneurs Foundation of Colorado was formed in 2007 by a volunteer board and five companies:  Collective Intellect, Me.dium, Newsgator, Rally Software and Tendril.  As the Colorado affiliate of the Entrepreneurs Foundation, we are committed to building strong companies and stronger communities through 1% equity and profit endowments as well as volunteering to community non-profits.  We have approximately 25 member companies and 10 alumni who have given over $100,000 and thousands of volunteer hours to our Colorado communities.  For more information on EFCO, please visit efcolorado.org or contact our board members.

CEO – Ryan Martens, Ryan@rallydev.com

Administrator – Amanda Ford, Amanda@commfound.org

Board Members: Cindy Haag – Rally Software; Chris Barge – The Community Foundation Serving Boulder County; Josie Heath – The Community Foundation Serving Boulder County; Joshua Forman – Symplified; Karyn German – Closely; Keith Olivia – Roberts & Olivia; Ken Fugate – Square One Bank; Lee Reichert – Lathrop Gage;  Mike Platt –Cooley; Tom Keller- Serial Entrepreneur

Trustees Emeritus: Frank Amoroso, Brad Feld, Kirk Holland, Bill Roberts, Kyle Leffkoff, JB Holston, and Tim Connor

If you love entrepreneurship and supporting our community, don’t miss the final event of year 2 for Boulder’s own Unreasonable Institute – The Unreasonable Climax.

All our 26 entrepreneurs will be presenting for 5 minutes each at the Historic Boulder Theater! Our goal is to pack the Boulder Theater! Attendees are flying in from Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Austin, and even Mumbai! The audience will include venture capitalists both from Boulder and from across the US, a Time Magazine Hero of the Planet, an education pioneer recognized by Barack Obama, and the CEO of Richard Branson’s Carbon War Room. You’ll hear from entrepreneurs recognized by the World Health Organization, contracting with the US Navy, funded by the Indian Government, and partnering with WalMart. We’re biased, but we think this will be the most inspiring 5 hours of your life.

It is actually three great events that you can pick and choose from or be a VIP and go to all three:

• 26 Entrepreneurs giving you the 5 minute story of their social enterprise in the Historic Boulder Theater
• An intimate dinner with all the fellows, mentors and staff at the St. Julian
• A pajama party for VIP supporters, fellows, mentors and staff

What could be more fun and important on your Friday afternoon and evening than this?  (See the details, registrations and discount code for members of the entrepreneurship community below)

I am so fired up about this because, I have been spending my first sabbatical from Rally, as the Entrepreneur in Residence at this summer’s Unreasonable Institute.  From personal experience, I can tell you this is an unreasonable class of fellows who all can impact at least a million people in the world. These social entrepreneurs all have hugely impacting stories that fill your head and heart with the glorius feelings of joy and hope.  In addition, they all have real businesses that are working and they need your help to grow and prosper.  Please forward this to all the employees in your company.

 

Enter “CommunityDiscount” as discount code to get 40% off! - Click here to get signed up!

(please treat this discount code top secret… thanks) 

Hope to see you there – Ryan Martens

 

 

 

 

If you are interested in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Integrated Philanthropy or the Entrepreneur’s Foundation, Don’t miss this event in Austin at the end of March.

Let’s Play Conference Brochure

I attended the last event in San Jose, California in May of 2009 and it was fantastic.  Very practical session and experienced folks teaching you and your team how to be great at CSR.  Two of our board members are going, please let Amanda or I know if you plan to attend.

Next week is the Rocky Mountain Venture Capital Association’s annual pitch event in the Beaver Creek, Colorado, also known as VCIR Winter.  In addition to all the great pitches, and networking highlighted on the VCIR Winter blog, we will be there to introduce the Entrepreneur’s Foundation concept to all the companies, entrepreneurs and service providers.  We will introduce EFCO with a short talk early on February 9th and have a table on set up to answer questions during lunch.    In addition, we have created a special partnership with the VCIR Poker Tournament on Wednesday night with a fundraising opportunity benefiting benefit EFCO directly.

I can not thank the RMVCA board enough for helping us elevate our message to their team, sponsors and participants.  As a result of their support, we have received direct sponsorship of EFCO for this event from RMVCA itself, Silicon Valley Bank, KPMG, Square 1 Bank, Cooley Godward, Holmes, Roberts and Owens LLP and Holland and Hart.

If you are interested in the Entrepreneur’s Foundation, please make sure to stop by our table or track down one of board members or company members.  They will be waring these badges.

Last week in the Denver Business Journal, Bruce Goldberg helped us announce changes to the EFCO model that expand support beyond just 1% of equity for fast growth companies, to include 1% of Profit in LLC, LLP and S corporations.
Based on a review of other Entrepreneur Foundation Affiliate models and a desire to increase our reach and services, our board voted to expand the membership model for EFCO. Beginning in March of 2010, we now have two different membership models and an optional membership fee.

• For equity-financed, high-growth companies, we continue to offer the 1% equity model. This model works through a warrant mechanism that executes at change of control.
• For partnership and profit-centered businesses, we are now offering a 1% of profit model. This model allows more profit focused firms to donate 1% of annual and/or 1% of liquidation profits to EFCO. This mechanism operates through non-binding promissory note.
• For all members, we have created a new EFCO operating fund at the Community Foundation serving Boulder County. This is now an optional, but default, 10% allocation to this fund for all new members. We will use this fund to operate EFCO and provide services in the forms of community volunteering, marketing and education services.
• For all members, we have created an optional membership fee. Like the new EFCO fund above, these fees will fund services in the forms of community volunteering, marketing and education services. These modest, $1,000 to $3,000 per year fees, directed at the large members (greater than 50 employees), will be instrumental in helping grow an income stream with a goal of hiring a part-time Director in 2011.

We are thrilled with the impact we have had in the local community in our first three years. We hope these changes will allow us to spread this culture of giving and philanthropy to a much larger community of Colorado businesses. These models are working at other EF Affiliates around the country and we believe it will work here in Colorado.
Thank you so much for your support. Let us know if you have any questions.
Ryan

Brad Feld handed me the reins of EFCO at the beginning of 2009. When Brad and I co-founded EFCO, Brad said he’d be CEO for two years and then it would be my turn to guide the 100% volunteer board to the next level. In reflection, it has been a great year that focused mainly on expanding our team for expansion in 2010 and 2011. We did three things of note in 2009:

• grew our board,
• grew our membership, and
• celebrated our success,

Before I reflect on the accomplishments of 2009, I want to really thank Brad for his great work as CEO over the past two years. If you do not know Brad, he has many gifts, one of which is ability to reshape and re-conceive version 2 of the things he is passionate about. Shaping a culture of giving in the next generation of business and community leaders is certainly one of those areas of passion for Brad.
In 2006, Brad came to me wanting to help reshape a program that Mike Platt, Rally’s lawyer from Cooley and a good friend, and I created in 2003 at the Community Foundation Serving Boulder County. This 1% club as we called it, was centered on donating 1% of equity of start-ups to your local community. This early giving model was based on an overall concept being promoted by Salesforce.com. What Brad did was help reshape the 1% Club into version 2 by simplifying the model and getting affiliated with an International effort know as the Entrepreneurs’ Foundation.

Grew our Board
We started in 2007, with five companies and volunteer board of 7. In 2009, we thanked Kyle Leffkoff, Tim Connor and JB Holston for their board service and welcomed Kirk Holland, Seth Levine, Frank Amaroso, Tom Keller and Ken Fugate onto the board. Chris Barge from the Community Foundation also stepped up to help our efforts. If it was not for these volunteers we would not be recruiting or coordinating great volunteering events. Thank you folks!

Grew the Membership
In 2009, we added 6 new companies to our membership including:

• Ping Gadget – see blog post on Ping Gadget joining EFCO
• miRagen Therapeutics – see blog post on miRagen joining EFCO
• DataVail – lead by Mike Jones
• Ignighter – TechStars graduate lead by Adam Sachs
• Gnip lead by Eric Marcoullier and Jud Valeski
• Next Big Sound – a TechStars graduate lead by Alex White, David Hoffman and Samir Rayani

There are couple of things to note about this group of recruits. Ignighter and Next Big Sound continue to add to the constant flow of companies from the TechStars program and miRagen represents our first bio-tech industry member. These members provide early equity to EFCO, but they also provide volunteers for local community efforts like iVolunteer day.
Contact me or other board members to find out more about EFCO and how to join.

Hey folks. I just found out about a really interesting local event called SnapCamp that I wanted to bring to your attention. At EFCO, and the community foundation, we helpd SnapImpact get up and running on the first edition last year. Now it is time for you to think about helping them with Version 2.0!
SnapImpact is a Boulder-based group of volunteers whose goal is to use their startup and technical experience to “Make doing good easy.” Their latest project will take place the weekend of February 19-21, when an incredibly talented crew will be holing up in the TechStars Bunker creating version 2.0 of the engine that powers Serve.gov.
This is a fantastic opportunity to use your skills for good in a great local setting.
When: 5 p.m. February 18 – 5 p.m. February 21
Who: You!
* Developers: Code up a storm. No experience necessary. (We’ll be using Scala/Lift and will get people up to speed.)
* Front-end developers and designers (UI/UX and CSS): Make the site sexy and effective.
* Marketing gurus: Defy the generic with your brilliance and ideas.
* Ops execs: Help organize and scale the operation.
* Non-profits: Give us feedback in real time.
Where: Downtown Boulder at the TechStars Bunker
For more information or to sign up visit http://snapcamp.eventbrite.com.

If you missed the 2009 EFCO Recruiting Event, you can read about the event and view some videos from the event at:
Rocky Radar
Colorado Startups Video from David Cohen
We could not have had such a great event without our sponsors including:

Boulder Ventures, Cooley Godward-Kronish,LLP, Ground Floor Media, Hogan and Hartson, Kendall, Koenig & Oelsner, Rally Software, Quist Valuations, Salesforce.com Foundation, Square1 Bank and TechStars Investors.

Thank you all for your involvement, support and attendance.