ALAMOSA — San Luis Valley Rural Philanthropy Days are returning in 2019. Jan Oen and David Strong serve as organizers for the event and made a presentation to the San Luis Valley County Commissioners Association on Monday.

Quite simply, the event is designed to connect San Luis Valley non-profits with other funding sources around the state. San Luis Valley Rural Philanthropy Days takes place once every four years. 

The event has proven to be beneficial in previous years having brought $23 million in outside funds to the San Luis Valley. The event is organized through the Anschutz Foundation and is intended to match potential funders with needs. Strong pointed out that beneficial results have come from matching area non-profits with some of the most generous foundations in Colorado.

Oen referred to the process as non-profit “speed dating.” Representatives from each party involved can have a discussion and determine whether a potential partnership may or may not be feasible.

Mineral County Commissioner Ramona Webber also spoke highly of the event pointing out that additional dollars are generated for local business since there are a great deal of incoming travellers who attend.

The event was last held in Creede. This year it will be in Del Norte. Oen and Strong made a request to the counties for support as the event costs around $60,000 to produce. The request will be processed and answers from each county will be given by March.