Colorado National Monument Association 2023 Recap

Hello, CNMA friends and supporters! As the year winds down, we want to take a few moments to share the Colorado National Monument Association 2023 recap.

First, what a whirlwind of a year 2023 has been for us, and guess what? It’s all thanks to our fantastic members, donors, partners, volunteers, and incredible staff.

Colorado National Monument Association 2023 Recap and Highlights

• We proudly contributed over $60,000 to Colorado National Monument, supporting essential projects and programs.
• Thanks to your ongoing support, CNMA Membership has brought in $20,000 this year—your contributions keep our mission alive.
• Our Bookstore Sales hit $638,922 by the end of November (gross sales), marking a 7.6% increase from the previous year. It’s been our most successful year yet!
• Additionally, through grants and donations, we’ve been able to go above and beyond, offering substantial support to the NPS and driving positive changes for CNMA.

Thank You to our Community

We also want to extend a sincere thank you to our community supporters, from Grand Junction Rotary’s BANFF Film Fest to Ramblebine’s Beer Release to Hot Tomato’s Nonprofit of the Month. Your backing means the world to us.

This year, we embarked on new ventures, partnering with Conservation Colorado, the Wilderness Society, and Protégete create the first ever Grand Valley Latino Conservation Week Celebration. We’re also proud to be a part of the Western Slope Outdoor Volunteer group, joining hands for local outdoor volunteerism.

Community engagement was a priority for us, evident through the success of events like the Monuments and Canyons Plein Air Art Invitational and our CNMA Walks and Talks. Plein Air featured over 20 incredible artists and brought in over $4,000 for the monument. CNMA Walks and Talks featured 36 unique programs with over 500 attendees, fostering a deeper connection within our community.

Thanks to the Western Colorado Community Foundation, we now have a brand-new website packed with cool features, including an event calendar, membership accounts, blogs, and Spanish language translation—a step forward in accessibility.

Looking Ahead to 2024

We’ve wrapped up our CNMA Strategic Plan 2024-2027 and are actively working on creating an action plan with tactics and measures of success to align with our Plan’s goals.

2024 marks a significant milestone for CNMA—it’s our 60th Anniversary! As we gear up for this celebratory year, stay tuned for special programs and events, including a concert series. We’re also excited to celebrate the completion of a long-awaited project!

We aim to raise $60,000 for our 60th year, dedicated to addressing priority needs within Colorado National Monument and have pledged to give the park $75,000 at a minimum. However, the giving can start now (and we can give more) if you are interested in some end-of-year giving. Your support will help fund seasonal positions for the monument which is a vital need right now.

Thank you for your unwavering support of CNMA and Colorado National Monument. We’re looking forward to crossing paths with all of you in the park soon.

With Gratitude,

Johanna van Waveren

Executive Director

Lead image of snow on red rock formations by David Smith.