The number of nonprofits in La Plata County is a source of consternation for some community members, but determining whether the region is oversaturated is complicated, nonprofit directors say.
“Would we ever say there are too many small businesses in La Plata County?” asked Monique DiGiorgio, managing director of Local First, a nonprofit that represents local independent businesses and nonprofits.
Most nonprofits are filling a unique niche and cannot simply be merged together, she said.
The Southwest Colorado Nonprofit Economic Impact Report found 450 tax-exempt organizations filed with the IRS across the five-county region in Southwest Colorado.
In 2017, La Plata County was home to 109 nonprofits and Montezuma County was home to 36 that brought in revenue and can accept tax-exempt donations. These numbers exclude business leagues and chambers of commerce.
The high number of nonprofits leads to competition for donor dollars.
Jeroen van Tyn, executive director of Stillwater Music, said he has spoken with businesses that feel a bit overwhelmed by requests after getting multiple calls from charities in a week. When he hears those concerns, he sympathizes with the potential donor.
Feeling overwhelmed by requests for money is known as “donor fatigue.” It can happen at any time, said Lynn Urban, president and CEO of United Way of Southwest Colorado. But nonprofits also must be competitive about soliciting donations, she said.
“If you don’t ask, you don’t get any gifts,” she said.
However, she also encourages nonprofits to work together on similar missions and not compete when it is not necessary.
As the director of a music education nonprofit in town, van Tyn has confronted the issue of overlapping services. He has spoken with groups such as BeFrank Foundation and Durango Arts Center about how their missions intersect, he said.
While the nonprofits decided not to merge, they do work closely together and don’t see each other as competitors, he said. For example, BeFrank Foundation will store instruments in Stillwater’s building, he said.
“By working together, there is way more upside than downside,” he said.
For Urban, problems in the region such as homelessness, addiction and needy children show that the work of nonprofits is not done.
“Every year, as we are looking at needs in our community, we always have gaps,” Urban said.
mshinn@durangoherald.com
