The number one reason to join the Entrepreneur's Foundation of Colorado (EFCO) is to help strengthen the culture of giving in our communities. By joining EFCO when your company is young, you get to send a strong message of corporate citizenship in the Colorado community to your employees, investors and fellow community members. You acknowledge that a part of your success is due to the amazing state that you work in. As your company grows, EFCO helps its members spread the word of corporate citizenship through local volunteering programs and fundraising activities.

EFCO membership happens through a simple mechanism of a stock grant, usually in the form of a warrant to purchase common stock, roughly equal to 1% of your Series A equity. This equity grant is administered by the Community Foundation Serving Boulder County and can be allocated to any Community Foundation in Colorado. In addition, your gift can be allocated to any specific charity or areas of interest supported by your company. Only at the time of a liquidity event, the money flows directly to the organizations you allocate it to. There is no fee of any sort anywhere along the way - the Community Foundations are providing this service free of charge to EFCO.

By giving early in the life of the company, you have a chance to build the value of giving back into the corporate culture of your organization. This act allows you to position corporate citizenship with your employees and customers over the lifetime of their relationship with your firm. This is unique leverage that donating to charity on individual basis does not easily provide.

Our success in 2007 and 2008 started in the Boulder high-technology start-up community. Late last year, we began to reach into other industries including venture firms, natural food, biotechnology and clean-technology as well as firms outside Boulder County. Please consider EFCO in 2009 as stronger Companies make stronger Communities.