5 Organizations Working To Improve Lives In Colorado

5 Groups Bettering Colorado's Quality of Life

The Impact of Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado

Wildlife Conservation Facts

• There are more than 1,000 species worldwide defined as endangered
• 4% of the mammals in the world are wild animals. 36% are human beings and 60% are farm animals
• The global wildlife population decreased in size by approximately 52% between 1970 and 2010
• 30% to 50% of all species are possibly heading toward extinction by mid-century
• Freshwater ecosystems are home to more than 100,000 known species of plants and animals
• Freshwater habitats lost 83% of their vertebrate populations between 1970 and 2014
• There are approximately 26,000 wild polar bears, but this population is expected to decline 30% by 2050
• 1 kg of ivory can sell for as much as $1,000
• An average of 96 elephants are killed for their ivory in Africa each day
• More African elephants are being killed for ivory than are being born

WildEarth Guardians' Ecosystem Restoration

In Depth

Whether it comes in the form of broad, sweeping environmental improvements or more personalized forms of change, organizations are stepping up throughout Colorado and doing whatever possible to make a difference. In no particular order, here are several groups across the area whose work and efforts are bettering the quality of life for the residents of the Centennial State.

First up, #1 is Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado. Since 1984, this group has partnered with conservation and land agencies and relied on thousands of people annually to provide a volunteer workforce for outdoor stewardship projects. Each year, this organization has run recreation and habitat improvement projects throughout every corner of Colorado. All together, over 125,000 individuals across the state have volunteered through the program.

Defined simply, outdoor stewardship is the responsible management of natural resources for the benefit of present and future generations. Projects that the Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado have completed include trail construction and maintenance, habitat restoration and invasive species management, tree planting and urban gardening, and park improvements and historic restoration.

Defined simply, outdoor stewardship is the responsible management of natural resources for the benefit of present and future generations.

Coming in at #2 is Goodwill Industries of Denver. This organization aims to offer education, career development, and employment opportunities that will help Colorado residents in need achieve self-sufficiency and success. When individuals donate gently used goods, items that would otherwise be destined for landfill are recycled and re-purposed. This creates an opportunity for individuals to shop for necessities at affordable prices.

Goodwill pledges to provide job opportunities to Colorado residents in need, despite a disability, limited work history, or other disadvantaging condition. Additionally, Goodwill offers job readiness training free of charge for anyone who needs it, as well as another free training program specifically tailored to helping adults with barriers to employment find careers in the banking industry.

Up next, #3 is WildEarth Guardians, a group that protects and restores the wildlife, public lands, rivers, and climate of the American West. This organization has celebrated a wide range of victories, from banning leg-hold trapping in the state of Colorado to protecting its public lands from coal mine expansion.

This organization has celebrated a wide range of victories, from banning leg-hold trapping in the state of Colorado to protecting its public lands from coal mine expansion.

One of WildEarth Guardians' biggest projects is Colorado for Clean Air. By confronting federal fracking approvals, forcing EPA sanctions, holding oil and gas companies accountable to the Clean Air Act, and exposing illegal pollution permits, the group aims to take down fracking and restore a breathable atmosphere to Colorado. WildEarth Guardians is willing to maintain aggressive advocacy and legal action until a change is made for the better.

#4 on this list is Bolder Advocacy, an organization made up of lawyers, coaches, and non-profit experts with the goal of making advocacy easy and accessible for other nonprofits and foundation leaders. This company promotes active engagement in democratic processes and institutions by giving foundations the confidence to advocate effectively while protecting the right to do so.

Bolder Advocacy equips nonprofits with the knowledge required to be powerful advocates. The staff attorneys conduct workshops and trainings, as well as one-on-one technical assistance by phone and email. Additionally, the organization's website is a place where users can search a collection of how-to's, fact sheets, reports, and examples of past nonprofit success stories.

Additionally, the organization's website is a place where users can search a collection of how-to's, fact sheets, reports, and examples of past nonprofit success stories.

Last, but not least, at #5 is Colorado WaterWise, which seeks to address the state's complex water challenges. This group maintains efficiency through connecting communities, creating solutions, and providing resources to members. By uniting stakeholders who are invested in water efficiency in the state of Colorado, it strives to foster the integration and innovation of education and technology.

Colorado WaterWise has laid out a clear plan of action for creating a more sustainable future. There are multiple committees, each focused on tackling a unique element of environmental stewardship. For example, the educational events group seeks to spread awareness about the need for water conservation, and the tools committee works on developing new outdoor water-efficient technology and resources.