Our 3 Group #4
March 3, 2009 Regis University
Theme: Would funders invest in energy efficiency projects for nonprofits?

--XCEL wants to fund green jobs (energy audits, etc.)
--Mile High Youth Corps setting the stage in green work and wants to tap into energy efficiencies in projects
--Workforce doesn’t exist to put the funding for these programs to use
--How big would the workforce have to be?
--80 million is available for Colorado residential weatherization work from the stimulus package—not including funding that already exists
--Very few funders fund capital—would they be willing to put some money in for work for nonprofits that they’d like to see continue
--CDBG funds available for shelters, child care centers, etc. that have 24/7 services
--How to fully subsidize energy efficiencies?
--Why was the allocation put towards residential?
--Is there a timeline for the money to be spent? 2 years.
--There are behaviors that improve energy efficiencies
--No infrastructure at the local and federal level to handle the amount of money in stimulus, so each office will divide up the money, then it will flow into each state. Some of the training funding will come from unemployment
--Nonprofit sector was overlooked and maybe when the local dollars come down, maybe some funding will come to nonprofits
--50% of dollars will be federal competitive grants- block grants
--Watch federal grants—this is an unprecedented amount of funding (for weatherization)
--Outreach pieces (Splits project in Denver) we have to be creative about the dollars spent and keeping that fluid
--XCEL is targeting small businesses. Residential will take care of itself. We’re trying to take advantage of the
--Partnerships between nonprofits to utilize the funding (Rebuilding Together and Mile High Youth Corps)
--Adams County Headstart hoping to consolidate a few centers and then expand if needed
--This stimulus package is to be distributed by 2010 (not necessarily spent)
--How do you construct your grant applications?
--Must be responsible for the maintenance of it
--Other funders who don’t focus on capital funding how would they explain this to their trustees and tie it to their mission?
--Getting the message ready for funders is important
--XCEL has three years of data of permanent about energy savings (Urban Peak, Warren Village, etc.)
--Denver Funders Forum on March 14 being hosted by XCEL to discuss this topic
--Residential work and training of green jobs with youth corps—would you also train folks who are not in the corps (as long as they are under the age of 25)
--10 work force centers across the state; when youth corps kids are aging out, perhaps that would be a partnership with a work force center
--New builds can be leveraged with dollars from XCEL—should be part of the course of action
--PRI (foundations funding nonprofits) loaning money to nonprofits at a 2% rate—could nonprofits borrow money from foundations for an up front investment and used for a new boiler or water heater, for example
Solar installation would be done for a new building or there is money available for solar school

QUESTIONS FUNDERS WOULD ASK:
Who are the workers t o do the weatherization work? Where would you find them?
How would funding be allocated? Prioritization within the sector
Is there stimulus money for green jobs training to install energy efficient measures?
Why are state funds only available for residential weatherization?
Is there stimulus money available for nonprofits to use for energy efficiencies (we think the answer is no)
How would investing in energy efficiency translate to the mission of funders
--for funders who don’t focus on capital funding how would they explain this to their trustees and tie it to their mission?