#Celebrating80Years: 2017 marked 80 years of working with Colorado’s nonprofits as they seek to strengthen their communities. Throughout 2018, we will be looking back on this history of the outstanding organizations and people the Trustees have had the opportunity to support. On the blog you will find a history of the Foundation’s grant making and a representative organization from every year since our founding in 1937.
Since 1993, El Pomar Foundation has collaborated with the American Council of Young Political Leaders, a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(3), to bring delegations of emerging political leaders from around the world to Colorado. The partnership has brought more than 60 delegations from 40 countries to Colorado, and introduced over 450 participants to aspects of the Centennial State’s local government, policymaking, and politics.
Grantee Spotlight: American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL)
ACYPL was founded in 1966 with a mission to provide young leaders, from both the United States and around the world, with the opportunity to learn about international affairs through meaningful exchanges between people that result in lifelong relationships.
With support from the United States Department of State, international partner organizations, and a wide range of corporations, foundations, and individuals, ACYPL conducts exchanges for rising political leaders from across the United States and around the world. ACYPL exchanges are designed for bipartisan groups of seven emerging leaders under the age of 40 to experience another country’s political environment for 8-14 days. By leveraging its network of more than 8,500 alumni in 128 countries and territories, ACYPL enables participants to visit the capital and up to two other cities in a partner country where they meet with government officials, political parties, elected leaders, policy experts, and members of the business community.
Notable U.S. alumni include 38 members of Congress, participants from all levels of state and local government, and business leaders. Within El Pomar Foundation, Chief Executive Officer William, J. Hybl, Chief Operating Officer Kyle Hybl, and Vice President Mike Buth have participated in the program.
In addition to exchange programs, ACYPL also operates a 5-week professional fellowship program around the theme of government and society for 50 young leaders in partnership with the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative. The organization also administers the Professional Fellows Congresses, two conferences sponsored by the U.S. Department of State focused on building international networks and fostering leadership development.
El Pomar has worked with ACYPL since 1993, in a partnership intended to put Colorado on the world’s map in the eyes of international leaders and to provide opportunities for El Pomar Fellows to participate in cross-cultural exchange and learn more about Colorado and with other globally minded individuals. The Foundation has hosted more than 450 participants since 1993, including delegations from El Salvador and Russia in 2009. Highlights from the year included meetings with the mayors of Denver and Colorado Springs, touring the Olympic Training Center, and learning more about the American healthcare system. ACYPL has also occasionally offered externship opportunities in Washington D.C for current El Pomar Fellows.
El Pomar in 2009
The Foundation made 717 grants totaling more than $13.2 million. These included $1 million in grants to human service organizations through the Colorado Assistance Fund and the continued growth of Regional Partnerships grant making and grant making through the Foundation’s endowed funds. Significant capital grants included $3 million to the United States Olympic Committee for work on the Olympic Training Center; $250,000 to the construction of the Clyfford Still Museum; and $150,000 for the renovation of the student union building at Fort Lewis College.
Spotlight by Emily Padgett