Foundation
Breckenridge Grand Vacations Brings Rob A. Millisor RAM Legacy in Action Day to Colorado Mountain College Breckenridge
On June 11, Breckenridge Grand Vacations employees, family members, and sponsors gathered at Colorado Mountain College Breckenridge for a day of service that will support students, strengthen academic programs, and enhance hands-on learning spaces on campus. The volunteer effort was part of Rob A. Millisor RAM Legacy in Action Day, an annual Breckenridge Grand Vacations event honoring the memory of late owner and developer Rob A. Millisor. For nearly a decade, BGV Gives has celebrated Millisor’s legacy through community-centered volunteerism and fundraising, including more than $1.5 million in support for heart health initiatives and programs in Summit County. This year, that legacy of service helped advance four projects at Colorado Mountain College Breckenridge, focused on the campus garden, outdoor classroom, regenerative plots, and outdoor education space. Volunteers spent the day preparing six raised garden beds, clearing invasive growth, refreshing compost, and planting seasonal seeds under the guidance of CMC Culinary Arts staff. The garden supports hands-on learning and creates a living classroom for students to connect food, sustainability, and community. BGV volunteers also helped improve the outdoor classroom, preparing the space for expanded use by Ecoscience and Stewardship and sustainability programs. Four outdoor classroom tables were built on-site, creating new gathering and learning areas for students and instructors. In the afternoon, volunteers constructed two regenerative plot boxes near the outdoor classroom, supporting future learning in soil health, sustainability, and land stewardship. The team also began work on an Outdoor Education beacon field by digging holes for a future avalanche transceiver training area, which will support winter programming and help students build practical outdoor safety skills. Together, the projects reflect the strength of local partnership. BGV’s investment of volunteer time directly supports CMC students and programs while expanding the learning spaces available to the Breckenridge campus. At Colorado Mountain College Foundation,… Read more: Breckenridge Grand Vacations Brings Rob A. Millisor RAM Legacy in Action Day to Colorado Mountain College Breckenridge
Read MoreCMC Mentor Teacher Report 2024–25
Catalysts for Change: Over 100 Mentor Teachers Transforming Rural Education Executive Summary Since the passage of Senate Bill 19-190 in 2019, Colorado Mountain College (CMC) has remained a statewide leader in developing teacher leaders through its Mentor Teacher Endorsement Program. Supported initially by grant funding from the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE), the program has grown well beyond its original scope. In 2024, CMC was also awarded Opportunity Now funds, allowing us to run additional cohorts of mentor teachers and extend our reach across the Rocky Mountains and into rural communities beyond our traditional partner districts. Together, these funding streams have created a powerful inertia of interest in teacher leadership—one that not only strengthens educator preparation but also fosters retention and professional growth for both preservice and early-career teachers. As of the 2024–25 academic year, over 100 certified teachers have completed the endorsement, forming a critical mass of experienced mentors actively shaping the next generation of educators. This momentum has drawn statewide attention. Senator Cathy Kipp, a longtime advocate for educator support, has shown great interest in how the CMC model might be expanded to reach more communities through innovative approaches to mentorship. Her engagement underscores the program’s value as a scalable and replicable strategy for strengthening Colorado’s educator workforce. CMC Program Completers AY 2021–22 = 15 AY 2022–23 = 23 AY 2023–24 = 20 AY 2024–25 = 20 “I value this experience as it is a way to revisit all my tools and develop new ones. Additionally, it gives me a venue to collaborate—for sooo long in my career I have been alone in the room!” Opportunity Now Mentors SU 24 = 22, SU 25 = 28 Creating a Continuum of Leadership CMC was among the first educator preparation programs approved to offer the Mentor Teacher Endorsement in… Read more: CMC Mentor Teacher Report 2024–25
Read MoreCode of Conduct Policy
Mission The Colorado Mountain College Foundation (Foundation) builds sustainable community support for the needs and strategic priorities of Colorado Mountain College (College) and its students. Purpose of the Policy This Fundraising Code of Conduct Policy articulates the ethics and values all individuals fundraising on behalf of the Foundation agree to uphold. This code applies to the Foundation Board of Directors, Foundation staff, contractual fundraisers and volunteers. The purpose of the code of conduct is to observe and promote the highest standards of personal and professional conduct to enhance the integrity of the Foundation and promote the utmost donor confidence. This policy is based on the code of ethics developed by the Association of Fundraising Professionals and Council for the Advancement and Support of Education. Code of Conduct The Foundation is dedicated to the highest standards of ethical conduct in its fundraising activities and business operations. Foundation Board members, staff, consultants and volunteers represent the integrity of both the Foundation and the College as well as the fundraising profession. Hence, those fundraising on behalf of the Foundation agree to uphold the highest personal and professional conduct and to abide by the College’s Policies and Procedures and the Foundation’s Code of Conduct as outlined below. In accordance with the standards set forth by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, the Foundation Board of Directors, Foundation staff, contractual fundraisers and volunteers: Shall not engage in activities that harm the Foundation. Shall not engage in activities that conflict with their fiduciary, ethical and legal obligations to the Foundation. Shall effectively disclose all potential and actual conflicts of interest; such disclosure does not preclude or imply ethical impropriety. Shall not exploit any relationship with a donor or prospective donor. Shall comply with all applicable local, state and federal civil and criminal laws. Shall recognize their individual… Read more: Code of Conduct Policy
Read MoreCash and Investment Policy
Mission The Colorado Mountain College Foundation (Foundation) builds sustainable community support for the needs and strategic priorities of Colorado Mountain College and its students. Purpose of the Policy The Colorado Mountain College Foundation, Inc. (Foundation) is a non-profit corporation organized under Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code (Code) and incorporated under Article 40, Title 7 of the Colorado Revised Statutes of 1973. The Foundation adopted, amended, and restated Articles of Incorporation May 23, 2006. The Foundation was established primarily to promote the welfare, development, growth, and being of Colorado Mountain Junior College District (College) but also to support affairs of its community. The Foundation’s fiscal year runs from July 1 through June 30. In carrying out its mission, the Foundation raises funds which it must administer, manage, and invest. Such funds may be contributed without restriction (unrestricted), with temporary restriction(s) (temporarily restricted) or with permanent restriction(s) (permanently restricted). The purpose of the Cash and Investment Policy Statement is to establish a clear understanding of 1) the nature of the Foundation’s financial assets and scope, 2) applicable laws, regulations, and principles, 3) the identity of the Foundation’s fiduciaries, delegation authority, responsibilities, 4) standards of conduct of fiduciaries, 5) investment objectives, philosophy, strategy, asset allocation, and tolerable risk, 6) investment vehicles, 7) spending policy, 8) rebalancing policy, 9) coordination of fiduciary responsibilities, 10) monitoring process, 11) policy review process, and 12) approval and effective date. I. Nature of Financial Assets and Scope The Foundation has unrestricted financial assets which may be used as its fiduciaries deem necessary including for operational costs; such funds are accumulated from administrative fees on contributions per the Foundation’s Administrative Fee Policy as amended February 18, 2021 and undesignated donor contributions. The Foundation also has temporarily restricted financial assets which it will utilize according to donor… Read more: Cash and Investment Policy
Read MoreAdministrative Fee Policy
Mission The Colorado Mountain College Foundation (Foundation) builds sustainable community support for the needs and strategic priorities of Colorado Mountain College and its students. Purpose of the Policy As the facilities and programs of Colorado Mountain College (College) expand, the role of the Foundation is critical. Fundraising at the Foundation not only includes soliciting contributions, but also gift processing and accounting as well as donor stewardship. Hence, to recover a portion of the Foundation’s management costs, an administrative fee will be assessed for all gifts. The Foundation also serves as a Fiscal Agent for Government and Complex Grants the College receives, for which an administrative fee is required to ensure sound reporting and programmatic management. Definitions Fund Types Current Use Fund: a fund established to receive and expend gifts intended by the donor to be used for current purposes or programs; a fund that is not an endowment. Endowed Fund: a fund established to receive and invest gifts made by donors with a portion of the earnings used for restricted or unrestricted purposes. An endowed fund protects the gift in perpetuity by responsibly investing the principal (corpus) and distributing an annual payout realized from a portion of the investment income allowing the fund’s real value to increase over time. Gift Types Gift: the charitable and irrevocable transfer of money or property given voluntarily. Gifts may be designated for specific purposes and the donor may require reporting on the use of gifted funds, but they may not require returns be they financial, or real or intellectual property. Some gifts may receive naming recognition. Grant: A grant is essentially synonymous with a gift except that they come from a charitable foundation or corporation. Government Grant: A grant that is resourced via State or Federal funding. Gift-in-kind: the charitable and irrevocable transfer of… Read more: Administrative Fee Policy
Read MoreHonoring the Ute Legacy: Mural Reveal at CMC Rifle
On May 22, the Rifle Campus came alive with history, art, and community as CMC unveiled a powerful new mural honoring the Ute people and their deep-rooted connection to the Colorado River Valley. The event, which drew a large and heartfelt crowd—including members of the Frost family—was a moving celebration of culture and storytelling. Created by Rifle-based artist Jeremy Velasquez, the vibrant mural expands upon the campus’s longstanding tradition of depicting the region’s ranching, mining, and agricultural heritage. Now, that legacy includes the voices and history of the Ute people—Colorado’s original stewards of this land. At the heart of the mural is Kenny Frost, a respected Southern Ute leader and advocate who spent decades shaping policy and preserving Indigenous culture in Western Colorado. His legacy includes organizing the first United Ute Powwow in more than a century, helping ensure the respectful reburial of ancient remains, and embedding Native voices into federal land planning. Also featured at the event was Larry Cesspooch, a filmmaker, Navy veteran, and storyteller from the Ute Indian Tribe. Through spoken word and ceremony, he shared the Ute Creation Story, the rich seasonal traditions of his people, and offered a blessing for the mural and all present. Together, the mural and celebration marked a significant moment for CMC and the Rifle community—a visual and spiritual reminder of shared history, ongoing presence, and mutual respect.
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